[lit-ideas] FW: RE: Re: English Pubic Schools

From: "Andy Amago" <aamago@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "lit-ideas" <lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Thu, 16 Feb 2006 13:50:32 -0500
I didn't see this come through.  In case it didn't, I'm resending it..


----- Original Message ----- 
From: Andy Amago 
To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: 2/16/2006 1:30:23 PM 
Subject: RE: [lit-ideas] Re: English Pubic Schools


I did read it quickly.  My apologies.  I guess there's nothing more to say.  
They beat kids in schools in the U.S., or they did, even though I have never 
seen it or heard of it in any way, shape or form.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: 
To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: 2/16/2006 12:56:39 PM 
Subject: [lit-ideas] Re: English Pubic Schools



<<In Minnesota, well you know that warring Viking tradition, especially on a 
farm.  So you're saying the Scandinavians aren't any more inherently civilized 
than anybody else. >>

I must have told the tale in a confusing way.  My husband grew up on a farm in 
Minnesota.  When his family moved to Springfield, Missouri, the school incident 
happened.  I don't know that I was trying to make any particular point except 
to say that physical reaction to perceived misbehaviour hasn't been frowned on 
that long ago.  His parents were astonished and disconcerted by what the 
Springfield, Missouri teacher did to their Minnesotan son.  Clearer?

Julie Krueger
always striving for clarity, usually missing the mark

========Original Message======== Subj:[lit-ideas] Re: English Pubic Schools
Date:2/16/06 11:53:05 A.M. Central Standard Time
From:aamago@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
To:lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent on:    


I was around 30 or 40 years ago, and it was well established in the Northeast 
that a teacher never hits a kid.  In Minnesota, well you know that warring 
Viking tradition, especially on a farm.  So you're saying the Scandinavians 
aren't any more inherently civilized than anybody else.  I'll buy it.  The 
thing with the Danish cartoons supports that as well.   Religious people tend 
to be more authoritarian than secular people anyway (the Catholic school thing).



---- Original Message ----- 
From: 
To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: 2/16/2006 12:30:45 PM 
Subject: [lit-ideas] Re: English Pubic Schools


My husband grew up on a large farm in Minnesota.  His parents were second 
generation immigrants from Norway, and Norwegian was their first language -- 
they spoke English decently but with a very thick accent.  Think Garrison 
Keillor.  He lived in a tiny town called Kandyhi (not sure of the spelling and 
too tired/sick to look it up).  When he was in 7th grade his parents moved to 
Springfield MO.  The hilarious irony of this is that they chose to move largely 
because relatives were profoundly religious Lutherans and put enormous 
proselytizing pressure on them.  Jim says his Grandmother prayed them out of 
Minnesota.  What they didn't know was that Springfield was the Assemblies of 
God National Headquarters.  The rolling in the aisles stuff was fairly 
frightening to a teen.  In any event, one of his first days in school, a 
teacher called on him.  

"Jim Krueger?"

Jim, in heavy Scandinavian accent.....  "Yaaah?"

Teacher, interpreting response as lackidasical Springfield rude "yeah"

walks to Jim's desk and slaps him in the face.  He had no idea what he'd done.  
Then she informed him he was to respond "Yes, Ma'am".  

I'd have pulled my child out of school so fast it would make your head spin.  
But 30 or 40 years ago it was no big deal.  Today, I think the teacher would 
face suspension or firing.

My Mother, who is a kind, gracious, loving, gentle, devoutly religious woman, 
still insists that my kids should have been spanked when they were little.

Julie Krueger
couldn't bring myself to do it...
[lit-ideas] FW: RE: Re: English Pubic Schools

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