A Little Fear is a Good Thing

I once had a student tell me I run my classroom like the military. I think I’m okay with this. I am the daughter of the man so many have come to call “The General.” I don’t put up with much tomfoolery when it comes to my classroom. If you can’t come to work than you can get out. The more I teach the more I realize that I am turning into Robyn LeMasters. I’ve said some things that I know were said by her growing up. For instance, I once had a chronic tardy student show up twenty minutes late with some elaborate story of late buses. My response? “Do you think I care about any of this? Get to work.” I know for a fact Robyn LeMasters used to say something quite similar.

I have also come to realize how much I envy those nuns who got to hit kids with rulers back in the day. There are some days I might feel the need to “accidentally” throw markers across the room. I once had a security guard tell me she threw a shoe at a kid when she couldn’t catch him running. I WAS SO JEALOUS! I should have taught in the 70’s.

These thoughts led to a conversation with Nick LeMasters, who said, “I’m a fan of putting a little bit of fear in kids. I think there should be 10% fear in any adult-child relationship.” This transformed into us discussing the “weapons of choice” used by parents way back when. When it came to my parents my brothers feared getting their hats flipped off, while I feared a cheek squeezing. I’ll tell you what…it kept us in line.

The below was the reminiscing of Nick LeMasters. We all know I love a good Nick LeMasters Childhood Memory.

Dad: I’ll tell you what. I was scared to death of Marty and Joan LeMasters. Grandma Joan more than anyone. She would whip out that wooden spoon and my blood would turn cold.

Me: Excuse me? A wooden spoon?

Mom: My mom used to use a paddle that had the rubber ball ripped off. You knew she meant business if that came out.

Dad: The wooden spoon was Grandma Joan’s weapon of choice. One time she took that wooden spoon out and turned on Tommy…

Me: Why? What was Tommy doing?

Dad: Being typical Tommy LeMasters. Up to no good. Anyway, she chased him around the kitchen and when she couldn’t catch him she threw the spoon at him. It narrowly missed his head and shattered into pieces against the wall.

Me: Oh. My. Gosh.

Dad: Tommy broke down laughing. We all broke down laughing…except Grandma Joan.

Me: WOW! That is amazing. I seem to remember you telling me about a juice glass full of wine shattering on that wall, too. That room saw A LOT of action.

Dad: Another story for another time.