Memories of Hefner Junior High School (Putnam City Schools)

[Pete]

^

I wonder if we overlapped. I finished 9th grade in 1975.

Stan Bryant was a great math teacher who instilled in me a love for mathematics and problem solving that has served me well in life. I still love math.

Besides Dillard and Thurman, the PE coaches were very abusive. I was really good at PE and took it all three years because it was a small escape from the ridiculous oppression in that school, but I know many, many people who were traumatized by the humiliation, belittling, and corporal punishment those guys (Pinkerton, Townley & Fowler) dished out. All 7th graders were mandated to take PE and thus if you were heavy or unathletic, it was an ugly experience. We played masochistic games like "Viking Ball" where the only rule was trying to hit the square of a backboard with one of those red rubber balls (Dodge Ball wasn't much better). Hitting, punching, shoving, tripping and everything else was not only allowed but encouraged. I think people hearing these stories now must think we are exaggerating but if anything, the abuse is understated.

My HS class has an active Facebook page where so many talked about physical and mental abuse at Hefner. Principal Dillard reminds me of the warden in The Shawshank Redemption: using religious beliefs to justify and inflict ugliness on those with no recourse or even ability to defend themselves.

As I said, I was one of the lucky ones. A good athlete, a good student, never got in any sort of trouble. But most people weren't so lucky and even I have terrible stories to tell (was also paddled by Thurman for doing next to nothing; I had large welts for a couple of weeks). After all these years, I still find it upsetting.

[Crisko]

^

I wonder if we overlapped. I finished 9th grade in 1975.

Stan Bryant was a great math teacher who instilled in me a love for mathematics and problem solving that has served me well in life. I still love math.

Besides Dillard and Thurman, the PE coaches were very abusive. I was really good at PE and took it all three years because it was a small escape from the ridiculous oppression in that school, but I know many, many people who were traumatized by the humiliation, belittling, and corporal punishment those guys (Pinkerton, Townley & Fowler) dished out. All 7th graders were mandated to take PE and thus if you were heavy or unathletic, it was an ugly experience. We played masochistic games like "Viking Ball" where the only rule was trying to hit the square of a backboard with one of those red rubber balls (Dodge Ball wasn't much better). Hitting, punching, shoving, tripping and everything else was not only allowed but encouraged. I think people hearing these stories now must think we are exaggerating but if anything, the abuse is understated.

My HS class has an active Facebook page where so many talked about physical and mental abuse at Hefner. Principal Dillard reminds me of the warden in The Shawshank Redemption: using religious beliefs to justify and inflict ugliness on those with no recourse or even ability to defend themselves.

As I said, I was one of the lucky ones. A good athlete, a good student, never got in any sort of trouble. But most people weren't so lucky and even I have terrible stories to tell (was also paddled by Thurman for doing next to nothing; I had large welts for a couple of weeks). After all these years, I still find it upsetting.

OK, here's my story. Rather, my wife's story. Newcastle schools. Wife was in second grade, got caught doing something as innocent as throwing a wad of paper at someone. She doesn't remember for sure, but a very trivial thing. Teacher, Mrs. Osborn (had her in 1st grade, Osborn moved to 2nd grade the next year, to her horror) and did this "terrible" thing. Mrs. Osborn had a circle drawn on the wall, about 6 inches or so higher than the height of the students on the wall. She had to stand tippy toed with her nose in the circle for maybe 15 minutes or so (she can't remember how long, for sure). Was called out if she took a break and was not tippy toed the whole time. Time forward to 6th grade. Had a teacher named Mrs. Murdock. Wife said something to another student during a test. Called out, taken to a storeroom. Murdock had a teacher friend named Mrs. Hoy who was her "witness" to the crime. Murdock had a paddle with holes. Wife was wearing a thin dress and given 5 licks. Moved her forward a foot or more every lick. Then, get this, her SENIOR year. Played basketball, good player for the school in basketball and other sports. Caught by principal Joe Cox coming back from lunch late. OMG. LATE. She ducked down in the car so as not to be seen by Cox, walking the grounds. He sees her, calls her home, parents send her back to school as he requests. He asks her if she wants study hall or 3 licks. She chooses licks. He wallops her, and not with a light wallop. After she worked so hard to help the school in her sports endeavors. This, along with a rape, brain aneurysm, and she's still a trooper. Not too many people can say that. Try if you can.

[Crisko]

I've tried removing "Try if you can." because I'm not trying to say my wife's life has been worse than most. I'm just trying to say if your life or someone's life has been as bad or worse, I'd like to hear about it. Because life on earth is a challenge at times. It helps to hear about others' lives if they've had hard times and wasn't trying to outdo anyone.
Thank you.