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• "Mr. Snyder, please go to the principal's office and I will join you shortly."
• Oh boy. Those familiar words bring back haunting memories of my visit to the principal's office. You can be sure; Mrs. Ammon would not come into the principal's office, spank you and then go back to her class. On some occasions, I would have preferred her to spank me and get it over with.
• The first thing she had to do was explain to me why what I did was wrong and disruptive to the class. Then, she had to explain to me how this paddling I was about the cat was going to hurt her more than it did me.
• For the life of me, I could never figure out where it hurt her more than it did me. I knew exactly where it hurt me and for the rest of the day it would be quite difficult for me to sit down in my chair. Not only did my posterior glow in pain, but the snickers of my fellow students were even worse.
• At the time of the application of the hickory stick, I really did not like Mrs. Ammon. Looking back, I have a different perspective. I now know that she really had an interest in me as a person. She was trying to discipline me in ways in which I needed discipline from someone like her.
• Years later, I went back and visited my old teacher, Mrs. Ammon. I took to her some books I had written and published. She said she remembered me, I really do not know if she did or not. I had to do one thing and that was to thank her.
• "I want to thank you, Mrs. Ammon, for teaching me to read and to write." Then I handed her my books. She seemed to be so very happy, but not as happy as I was. This teacher made a difference in my life that I did not realize until I was older.
• One thing Mrs. Ammon taught me was that I should not get away with anything. There is a moment of accountability everybody must face. Mrs. Ammon was making sure that I was facing up to the realities of life before I did too much damage to my life.
• It is sad that the politics have taken over our education system today. It is sad that we do not have any Mrs. Ammons with their hickory sticks.
• When I think of Mrs. Ammon I think of what Solomon writes, "He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes" (Proverbs 13:24 KJV).
• It is my opinion that we need more Mrs. Ammons in our school classrooms and less, a lot less, politics.
• Rev. James L. Snyder is pastor of the Family of God Fellowship, PO Box 831313, Ocala, FL 34483. He lives with his wife, Martha, in Silver Springs Shores. Call him at 1-866-552-2543 or e-mail jamessnyder2@att.net. His web site is www.jamessnyderministries.com.
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