I saw this somewhere before, but still agree 100%. My own opinion people are getting smarter on some things, but are lacking in common sense and many don't know the basics that I had learned by the 4th grade.
Don't want to Hyjack the thread, but got a story to tell sort of in align with this way of thinking. This is a real life story, it helped make me who I am today.
When I was starting the 7th grade 1962, I was the tallest kid in the 7th grade. I ruled 7th grade. One of my teachers Ruby Givins had grown up with my Dad, and had babysat me when I was small. Second period, first day of school. Ruby had already heard from first period teacher how rowdy this class was, and that there was a few trouble makers in it. Ruby knew she had to get a handle on this group or she would loose complete control for the year.
Ruby quietly entered class room, biggest kid in class was standing with back to the door, shouting at another student, being a real smart___. Ruby pulls chair out from behind desk, then slams it down on hardwood floor. Everyone then take notice of her being in room and looks for a desk and sits down, taking their time. Ruby then says, "Roggie Hunter, come up here". So I got up, looked around the room and laughed. As I slouched to the front of the room with a big smirk on my face, the rest of the class was snickering. Ruby sat down in her chair now in front of her desk. When I reached the front of the room she told me to stand there right beside her, facing her. Ruby looked up at me, standing there smirking, and loudly said, "I spanked your butt when you were this long", as she held out her hands indicating I was real small. Then she yelled, "And I can still do it". Ruby reached up and grabbed the front of my shirt, and jerked. There I stood wearing leather soled shoes, on hardwood flooring where the janitors used an oiled sweeping compound. Those floors were slick. My feet went out from under me, and I fell right across Ruby's lap. Ruby reached around and grabbed her paddle. Ruby laid into me with that softball throwing right arm of hers, for five licks. Caught by surprise I yelled every lick, and each lick made a mean smacking sound on my tight jeans. Needless to say she had everyones attention and no body was laughing anymore. After the fifth lick Ruby shoved me out onto the floor. As she shoved me she also lifted and twisted me, so that I landed on my back, and I hit the legs of the kids in the front row. There I was in a rather awkward position, so as I tried to turn over and get up, Ruby kicked me in the behind, yelling "Don't you be looking up that girls dress, just get up". I was about half way up, Ruby turned and without seeming to do anything she kicked my foot out from under me. Down I went again, right on my face this time. Ruby stood up saying to the class, "He sure is a clumsy guy". This time I was mad, and I got right up turning to face her. Ruby pointed her paddle at me and said "You go sit down right now, before I give you another paddling. And if you aint careful, (Yes Ruby talked like the Hillbilly that she was) I'll call Billy (My Dad) and hav3e him watch me give you another one. You know what that will mean". Meaning when he got me home, my old man would really lay into me. I sat down and shut up. From that point on that was the best behaved class Mrs Givins had. Word got around, and the other classes did not give her a hard time either. My self esteem was busted for a while, but I got over it. I did have to take a couple of guys down a few notches when they brought it up after class. That helped put me back on top. Being the biggest, I ruled the 7th grade.
Years later my folks moved next door to Ruby and her Husband. The four of them got real close again, and I would see Ruby when I went back to visit. In later years Ruby was bedridden. Ruby sent word that the next time I came to visit she wanted to see me. I was living in DC then, and got back there about every three to four months. When I got there Ruby took my hand and said she needed to apologize for what she had done to me in the 7th grade. Then she started crying about it. She said she hated that she had done that to me, but she had to get control of that class. It was apparent I had the respect and and fear of everyone in that class. So by proving she could take me down she gained the respect and fear of the entire 7th grade, at my expense. She had felt guilty for that all those years, and asked if I could forgive her. I told her there was nothing to forgive, I got over it in a couple of days. She laughed and said "Yea as I remember you had to whip two guys out behind the band room in the days that followed". "One of them you whipped pretty bad, and his mother came down and insisted the principle do something about it". "I convinced Mr Cleavenger to let it slid this time, I told him what I had done, we decided you needed to do that to get your self esteem back". Ruby and I laughed. Ruby Givins was the best teacher I had in all the years of school.
