I’m So Monticello

A new fad on Facebook is, “I’m so Monticello…” People will write about the things of the past in Monticello or their hometown.

It has been amazing how that when reading these it causes us to travel down memory lane and then we realize just how much has changed since those days. Many people have written about school teachers who made a difference in their life. Much has been said about the Great Coach Davis of Monticello. He was truly a great man and left his mark on many people in this area as he challenged them to be their best.

One conversation was about something that I don’t think we experience anymore in our schools. It was about the paddling’s we received when we misbehaved. I was one that was on the receiving end of a few of these down through the years. I was always clowning around and had to have attention, therefore I would end up in trouble and facing the great Paddle.

I even got a paddling my last day of school in 1981. Several of us decided to bring water guns to school. I came around the corner outside behind Mr. English’s art class, expecting to see Joe Lawson. My gun was filled with cold water and I had it ready to drown him. To my surprise it wasn’t Joe standing there, it was our teacher D.J. Shepherd. I made a split second decision. I decided that since I am senior and this is my last day of school, and he already saw the water gun, I might as well shoot him. After all I reasoned within myself what can he do?

After squirting Mr. Shepherd, he then escorted me to the ag shop. To my surprise he summoned Mr. Ben Strength from across the hall to be his witness as he disciplined me with a Paddle. Here I am just a few days shy of 18 years old, towering over both of them in size, but still about to receive a paddling. I got four licks that day.

Ben Strength did not just witness, but he helped administer the punishment. The two of them altered giving me the licks. I felt like they were enjoying themselves. (I still do) I did learn that day a valuable lesson, “If you break the rules you will be punished regardless of what special day it might be.”

Many people do not believe in paddling as a discipline whether at school or home. But I would submit that back in those days we never heard of the violence, such as school shootings, gang wars, and drug deals. Even though my backside hurt for a while I still learned a valuable lesson.

I’ve given my own children whippings down through the years. I’ve not abused them, but I have whipped them. I can probably count on one hand how many times I’ve disciplined each one with this punishment but all three have always known that this was an option.

I still believe the Bible tells us to, “Train up a child.” To train them, discipline is necessary. The bible also says in Hebrews 12:11 (NKJV)

11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

I’m so Monticello that I remember when paddling was a form of discipline in the public school.