The Slice: Old-school ways left impression

I thought we were done with readers thanking teachers.

In fact, I have been telling emailers that The Slice had moved on. But I keep reflecting on one story.

I won’t tell you what to think about it. That’s up to you. But I will say it reminds me that, in the right circumstances, certain old-school approaches to getting a student’s attention could be pretty effective. Of course, today, there probably would be a lawsuit and maybe even dismissal.

David Valandra was in junior high in Skyway, Wash., back around 1960. He had a history teacher named Donald Bradshaw.

“I was just kind of cruising through life,” wrote Valandra. “I was not being very serious in the classroom and so was not very disciplined.

“That all changed one day after smarting off in class a few times. Mr. Bradshaw asked me to step in to the hall. I thought I was going to the office and we all know what happens there. No so this time.

“Mr. Bradshaw came out into the hall, shut the door behind him and grabbed the front of my shirt and slammed me into the wall. That got my attention.

“He went on to explain how disappointed he was in my classroom conduct and how he felt that I had great potential and should apply myself in all that I try in life.”

Valandra got the message. He cleaned up his act.

“I am sure that I wouldn’t be where I am today without the encouragement and discipline of this eighth grade teacher.

“A late ‘Thank you,’ Mr. Bradshaw.”

A tale of two Washingtons: Nadine Joubert’s father was in the U.S. military and her mother was a French war bride during the 1940s.

“My mom spoke very little English, so when my dad told her he was from Washington, she naturally assumed Washington, D.C.”

Joubert’s mom thought she would be living in the nation’s capital. She assumed she would be relatively close to glamorous New York City.

She assumed wrong. When they came to the states, their home was in Deer Park.

A lot of things have been said about Deer Park over the years, but no one has ever claimed it is near New York.

Joubert’s mom had to settle for being close to Spokane.

Today’s Slice question: Which Inland Northwest resident has served jail time in the greatest number of corrections facilities?