Detentions

Podcast- Detentions . . .

Nod your head if you remember the “punishment” of being kept after school - A Detention.

Punishment? I’m inclined to say the kids in our school thought detention was a joke. Let me give you a couple of examples, stick with me.

My graduating class of 1974 (grades 1-12) attended school in three different buildings. 

First, it was Cuba Elementary, a design that followed the era’s more modern, one-story, flat-roof design aesthetic. Here we attended grades one - six. No kindergarten when I started school.

Then we transitioned to the old High School building on Main Street, built-in 1913.  A three-story brick design similar to Jefferson High school from the TV sitcom Happy Days. 

And finally, our new building which I believe opened in 1970, connected, to the old one, via the Gymnasium and Cafeteria.

It was a grand achievement when we finally graduated to the 7th grade, Jr. High on Main Street. This was our first introduction to detention.

Frankly, I can’t remember all the reasons we were put on detention, can you?

Why not?

Simple, in grade school, we had a disciplinarian that relied on the old school method, a spanking. Discipline was never administered out of anger or loss of control. Just one firm thwack.

During those formative grade school years, 1965-1967, the sting of Mr. Tarter’s hand-made paddle was a frequent event. The entire school respected this disciplinarian. His paddle was prominently displayed for all to see.

We received bottom warmings because we were disobedient.

• “No running in the halls.”
• “Stop shooting spit-wads.”
• “Don’t throw snowballs at each other.”

However, when we moved to the High School suddenly the method used to “discipline” unruly behavior was - detention. For example, we were repeatedly told,

• “Don’t slide down the banisters.”
• "Stop shooting spit-wads at the ceiling.”
• “No running up and down the stairs.”

I’m sure, by now, you get the drift - kids have selective hearing. They block out the words, Don’t, Stop, and No to name just a few.

My first detention - caught - sliding down the wooden banisters. My “so-called” punishment was to stay one hour after school and help the janitor sweep the halls, the stairs, and clean the banisters.

You guessed it - now sliding down the banisters (after hours) was even more fun, they were clean and slick. Well, that form of detention didn’t last long.

Then it was on to High School. Our new building had a beautiful modern library that honestly, average students of my academic standing really didn’t visit much.

You see, “I was in that part of the class that made the top half possible.”

Detention became, “Report to the library. Bring paper and pencil with you.”

So, it was off to the library. And let me say this “social distancing” is not a new concept. The group of us, and yes there was always a group, were spaced at least six feet apart at the tables so we would not spend that hour just chattering.

We were assigned an encyclopedia, usually the first letter of our last name, and told to start copying, by hand, on any subject for one hour. I learned more about Benjamin Franklin during detentions than any history class.

You be the judge, was punishment associated with detention effective? Huh, the kids in our school didn’t think so.

This is Patrick Ball, thanks for listening, see you in the next episode.