|
About Evergreen |
Hiding in Coat Rack Strategy by Billy Wright Hilleren |
Featured |
|||||||||||||||||||
|
Published September 8, 2008
I think you might appreciate my main memory of
Mr. Smith. "Mrs. Wright", the name we had to call Mother at school, put me
outside of the classroom standing in the hall when I misbehaved on
this particular occasion in first grade. When I heard Mr. Smith coming down
the hall, I hid behind the coats hanging on the rack, thinking I could not
be seen because I could not see him. Of course, my legs were fully
visible. He stopped right in front of me, called me out from behind the
coats, and asked why I was in the hall. When I told him, he told me to go
with him to his office. There in full sight on the wall was the paddle with
all the nails in it that we had heard he used on the boys. I was petrified.
He sat me in the chair by his desk and talked to me about improving my
behavior. When I managed to speak, I agreed to behave. He then gave me a
sucker and told me to go back and ask Mrs. Wright if I could return to her
class. As I recall, that was the only time I was ever in Mr. Smith's office
and the last time I was punished by having to stand in the hall. Those were
the good old days!
Pelican Footnote: Billy
is the daughter of Barbara Wright (Mrs. Porter), who taught first grade for
29 years at EHS/EES. Billy (Mrs. David) was a 1962 graduate of EES and a
1966 graduate of Bunkie High School. Practicing attorneys, she
and David's law office is located at Oakwold Plantation in Evergreen.
|
       |