Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1915-05-14

b-cs, to those who had arrived at
'SHE FED THE OLD HEN" stage
in the old Elementary Book.
Then there were the corresponding
number of classes in Geography,
Grammar, and Orthography, to say
nothing of the usual half dozen spell
ing classes, each heard in turn. lined
I'D around the room, toes even with
the crack in the floor, the scholar
whose toes would sometime slip from
the prescribed line, being succeeded
by the pupil next below, who was US
ually upon the watch for just such
thing to happen.
Writing the lessons, was an ex-
ercise then unknown; hence, writing
was a class by itself. AS it was inn
possible to do justice to so many
classes, during regular school-hours,
with an additional hour added to the
afternoon, it was my custom, during
winter term, to have writing school
upon some certain evening during the
week. We never expected, nor did
we receive any additional pay for
overtime.
Every rural district, had it's "bully'
the "Big Jim," of the neighborhood,
who led in all deviltry, and was idoliz-
ed as a Hero by his mates. The dis
trict of which | am now writing, prov
| ed no exception, as found, much to
my humiliation; and although the
circumstances / am about to relate,
did not add to my self-glorifcation,
| shall record it as it actually occur
red.
Before entering upon my duties as its
teacher, (it being my second winter
| term), / was duly warned, to "look
out for a certain big Jim," who tried
out all new teachers, and if the
teacher chanced to be "only woman.
he made life to her burden, should
she have the nerve to remain until
the end of her term, as it was no un-
usual occurrence for woman teach
er" to give no her school, ere the
term was half completed.
In early days the Big stick, was
an important factor in the school
room. The teacher first entering up
on her duties. felt it incumbent upon
herself to unfold sheet of fools-cap
i and read therefrom, previously pre-
pared set Of Rules, for governing the
school. followed by words of warning.
and various penalties to be meted
out TO the offender who would willful-
lv violate any of the prescribed laws.
Fighting between pupils, called for
the most severe penalty, which was
whipping. Previous to the third
week. there had been no serious out
Sreak among the scholars: every thing
had moved alone ina highly satisfac-
tory manner. Big jim. in his deport-
ment. had been almost ideal. and ]
beoan TO believe that he Through DO
nular feeling of neighborhood preju-
1ice). wos the innocent victim of ad-
verse criticism, but, alas:
i 1t so happened, during certain
noon-hour, that a little girl came
running into the room, crying: &c
Teacher, big Jim and Frank are hav-
Il ing a orful fight, and Jim started il
too; he grabbed Franks cap and
throwed it way, up on top OF the
school-house. an now they is fightin
|, Jest orful," then others followed, cor.
!, ROTATING the report.
Immediately calling school, the
combatants were the last to enter the
room, and one look in their direction
| was sufficient proof, that it sure, hac
been "a orful fight Words fail tc
do justice to their appearance. Being
! told to take their places at the front
of the room, they md so, without 9
moments hesitation. Looking at thos.
, two rugged country boys, then II
their teens I knew. should either on,
} turn upon me- to Eight back" would
go down, in the first second Of ths
| first. of the first round. The mere
. thought of such an outcome, scared m,
J into almost a state of paralysis
3 HEAVENS: What should / do?'
' There they stood, knowing they hat
Z violated one of the most stringen
{ rules of the school, and whipping
must be their punishment; and Their
: stood, realizing that my reputation
for government. hinged upon the out
5 come Of the encounter; while, at tn,
ell same time Il realized the fact. tina
: was afraid to tackle them. To M
e at least the situation assumed mos
: hideous outlook.
q All at once, the following brillian
e idea came to the rescue, it really say
ed the day, and as it turned out, for
I tunately, saved my reputation. TAX
ing from the desk two whips, at leas
three feet in length, handed one t,
: each boy. then placing the boys ia
: enough apart, so they could not ge
> at each other with fists, took
e ruler. and explained to them, the frs
" boy that moved out of position, woul
: receive an additional stroke from tn
o the ruler; then ordered them to "whi
i each other. "They at first appeare
/. somewhat surprised, then, no doub
It thinking they might turn the Who'll
n performance into a farce, they wen
d at it. Frank, perhaps, rememberin
|: some former punishment, receive
II from the fists of his enemy, brough
:, the end of his hickory with such fore
II as to arose the ire of his opponen
h who responded in earnest" and til
r whipping, was on.
e, Ere the fifth blow had descende,
p both boys we're bowling and dancin
If with pain, but / dared not call a ce.
r, sation of hostilities. until they bot
h, declared they chad enough and wei
" willing to shake hands before goin
Is to their seats. Should those boys /
living, (they would be somewhel
n around the age of sixty years), ar
ii should they read this reminiscenc
lie they would, after all these year
,u learn for the first time, that it ws
ir through deadly fear of them, resor
sr ed to the foregoing method for ca
t, rying out the law of prescribe
or punishment. for be it understood, tha
n. was one Of the secrets, that I as
Is woman kept inviolate.
er expected the school-board wou
demand my resignation, also, that n
s. certificate would be revoked, and WI
d, happily surprised, when the boal
s. congratulated me upon the meth'
ry employed, adding: "You were n
Is, strong enough. to give them VIII
ne they deserved:" Let me add her
ct that in all the subsequent years
e. my reign as a school teacher, tn
ye was the last time the big stick we
~ into action.
to Boarding Around" often prov
en- one of the unpleasant experiences
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