A lesson from ‘the tree’

My daughter works for a public school system on the coast that utilizes what they call “restorative circles” to remedy discipline issues at their schools. Parents who now also serve as teachers might consider this method.

Back in the ‘70s through ‘90s I had a paddle in my bottom desk drawer. It was so foreboding the kids called it “the tree.” It must have been in the backs of their minds because if I had to use it over once a year that was rare. The last time I brought “the tree” into the daylight was when the playground supervisor brought in two fourth-grade boys by their shirt collars. She was so upset she just said, “Fix it!” as they tumbled onto the chairs I had for just such occasions.

This wasn’t the first time I had seen them, but I really liked them. It seemed to be time to bring out “the tree.” As I removed it from my desk drawer their eyes grew bigger and bigger. “Boys, the next time you are in trouble you are going to meet ‘the tree’” and I slammed it on my desk top for effect. Mistake. My desk had a glass cover. There was this sickening screeching sound as fingers of cracks covered the entire top. I thought, “Well there’s sixty five bucks out of my pocket.”

The boys reacted in alarm, “Mr. Hughes, you broke your desk!” They were so upset they never got in trouble again and were model students the next two years we shared the school together.

Stan E. Hughes

Spokane Valley