Wooden rulers instead of guns

In 1945 my brother and I started first grade in a country school in southeast Kansas. A one-room school with an outhouse behind the school, a hitching post where the teacher could tie up a horse.

We were more than 45 years past the Wild West era, mostly civilized. We had guns for hunting. We didn’t have school shootings. Our teacher didn’t carry a gun although I’m sure she could shoot.

Mrs. Mudd packed a wooden ruler. If you misbehaved, she would whack your hand.

This old saying was so appropriate: Spare the rod, spoil the child. Maybe we should equip teachers with wooden rulers, not guns.

Wade Purcell, Hilliard