In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Teacher’s Pet.”
Tell us about a teacher who had a real impact on your life, either for the better or the worse. How is your life different today because of him or her? ~ Daily Prompt 02/01/2015
Laurna and Murna were two sisters that lived down the road from me and were my best friends in second grade. We ate lunch together every single day. One day at lunch, as usual, we were together in the lunch line and got separated by tables. I was the last one to be seated at one table and they began the next table. I was anguished over our separation. I stood up and over the noisy crowded room yelled, “Laurna, Murna!” They didn’t hear me, so I yelled again.
Suddenly a teacher who was on lunch-room duty came and grabbed me by my arm and yanked me up from the table. She told me she was taking me to my teacher for a spanking. I had no idea what for! Why was I getting a spanking? Because I yelled for my friends? Apparently, it was because this lunch duty teacher had motioned for me to sit down and I didn’t mind her.
The truth is, I didn’t see her motioning for me to sit down.When my teacher got back from lunch she took me to the back of the class behind a partition and walloped me several times with a wooden paddle. I happened to have on jeans that day so it was very painful.
After my paddling, I laid my head on my desk and cried for the remainder of school day. I was humiliated and I had been punished for something I didn’t know was wrong.
About a month after this happened, we had eye tests at school and it was discovered that I was near-sighted and needed glasses. I didn’t see that teacher motion for me to sit down because I COULDN’T see her.
I think the impact that this had on me wasn’t the fault of my teacher that only carried out what she was told to do, but of that old cranky prune that picked me up by my arm and marched me to the principal’s office.
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BEAUTIFUL WORDS 
😦 I can’t like this! It makes me sad for tiny little you!!!
I know! It was awful. But when you think about it, look how many children are punished for things they didn’t know were wrong. An adult assumes because they know something is wrong that a child knows that too. It isn’t so. All things are pretty much “right” for children until they learn different. Many many times as a very young child my dad would spank me for things I didn’t know was wrong because he assumed that I knew what he knew (my mom too).
Good point! We think we’re teaching by correcting them. When perhaps that ‘teaching’ is the first lesson they’ve ever had on that matter.
Exactly. I hope I didn’t do the same thing with my kids.
Ditto Priceless, but I know without a doubt I made mistakes. No doubt! But they have forgiven me and love me any way. 🙂
Well that was not the nicest way to find out you needed glasses! 😥
No kidding!! LOL!
Horrible nasty teachers doing that to my little Joy! I would paddle that cranky old prune!
Yes, I agree and I wish you had been there to take up for little bitty me. (LOL)
😦 So sad the things we remember like this that made such an impact on our lives. All we can do is remember and act differently to our children and grandchildren and others – eh? xo
Yes, that is all we can do. We can’t change the past. But we do have the opportunity to change our future. Hopefully I had the wisdom to raise my children less brutally. ((Hugs!!)) xoxo
“old cranky prune” hee hee 🙂
There’s nothing worse than getting punished for something you didn’t do.
Yes, I know! I got a lot of spankings when I was little (leather belt on bare bottom) for things I did that were “bad” and I had no idea what was considered “bad.” For me, it seemed just being a little girl was a bad thing because I got beatings every night for quite a long time!
Sorry for the my little tangent.
Aw so sad Beth. As a teacher I learned something that puzzled me, why some children could not sit still no matter how many times they were told. Of course we know now it may well have been all those E numbers they were consuming. We always check for that unbelievable additive, mono sodium glutamate, it gives Phil and I what we call ‘the Itchy otchies’ !
Oh yes, those additives! Also, ADD and ADHD. I am glad you commented. I tried to put your blog on my “blog highlight post” yesterday and I went into it when I was getting the url and you have it on private. No one can read your posts unless you give them permission. Are you aware of this?
Aw that’s terrible! 😦 The other day my teacher got on to talking about how he had punishments like this when he was young. Things have changed so much since then.
Yes, it has. I don’t think teachers are allowed to spank students anymore. Is that correct?
that’s correct where I’m from, though there are probably places where it does happen still..
I don’t think it allowed anymore in the US. I think that is a good thing after what happened to me.
Yes, it’s a shame that had to happen to you, but at least it doesn’t happen anymore
Yes, thank goodness!
Now there is a story!
Yes sad that the teachers or lunch moderator only had the sense to follow the rules. Communication is the key here. There is always two or more sides to an event, getting all the facts are important.
Of course back in the day rules from adults where to be followed even when we didn’t know what they were.
Your last line, rules from adults were allowed even when we didn’t know what they were speaks a lot. I was about 3 or 4 years old and every night getting a spanking with a leather belt on my bare bottom for doing bad things during the day and I had no idea what those bad things were. Apparently, my parents felt that since they knew such and such was a bad thing to do I was suppose to know it was bad too. (ie., climbing on top of the roof of a house). How was I suppose to know it was dangerous? What is dangerous?
This is sad! Definitely not a good example by a teacher as a mentor.
Thank you Ruchi! I agree with you. 🙂
Oh, poor little you. I remember you telling me this story in a comment. One of the worst feelings for me too is being beaten for something that’s not my fault.
It is terrible! Adults back then assumed little ones knew the same thing they knew. How could we? It all has to be learned. Thanks Ameena!
Oh yes, and cranky prune? Nice choice of words 😀
Thanks! That is what I remember of her. She left me such a “pleasant” memory. NOT!!