17-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:
Friday, March 29, 1912: At school we always march out, and so you see you are supposed to keep step. But woe betide me, I don’t do it exactly right. Mr. Teacher has gone for me three times about it. This afternoon took me by the arm and walked me along part way.
Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:
Hmm—sometimes, I’m not exactly sure what to make of a diary entry. And, this is one of those times . . .
I just giggled at the image — “woe betide me” just says it all in 17-year old “speak”.
Poor Grandma. in strife for getting her marching wrong…”life threatening”… Not. I can just see it.
must have been kind of embarressing. Either she was way of step or the teacher was too persnickity. or both.
That is awesome that the building is still standing. I could just see him grabbing her arm…Glad he wasn’t my teacher…lol
I had the same reaction–I’m glad he wasn’t my teacher.
Sounds like Mr. Teacher was a bit of a perfectionist or a tyrant or both!
I know that times have changed, but I have a really difficult time picturing high school students marching out of school–and of the teacher taking her arm to help ensure that she walked correctly.