Just wish all us thoughtful people could figure out a way to control our so-called “representative government.”

Part of the certificate requirement was six months of student teaching. I was not surprised to learn that none of the education courses required by the college for certification provided anything of value towards the actual classroom experience. The most helpful skills I had learned that applied toward teaching and classroom control I had learned from ROTC.

Back in those days, the late 60’s, we also had an advantage present day teachers apparently do not, and that was the rule of ‘en loco parentis’ – In place of the parent. That allowed the teacher to disciple as if they were the child’s parent. As applied in Minnesota schools that did not mean a teacher could hit, spank, or paddle but you could at least touch them in order to control.

A key point was that you dressed for the role. A good part of teaching is speaking and acting, and if you looked the part of someone who could command respect you had won half the battle. I note today in many cases the rules of dress code have slipped significantly.

The eraser thrown at the student was also used, although the near miss with corresponding ‘WACK’ as it hit the wall behind was just as effective. So was the solid oak meter stick slammed on a desk top. Today the student would just as likely pick up the eraser and throw it back at the teacher. Why? Respect. If the kids have no respect for their parents, or elders, they start with an attitude of no respect for the teacher.

This is not just a school problem, it’s a societal problem. We expose our children to so much bad behavior through television, and compound that by lack of parenting, what do you expect?