It’s funny to think about how much the times have changed with regard to schools and teachers in my little lifetime.
In my early years it was still acceptable for teachers to spank us if we misbehaved or get sent to the office for the strap, which was even worse.
I did get a swat on the butt by my Grade 2 teacher, Mrs. Linklater, when she stepped out of the classroom and returned to find me out of my desk and socializing. I’d been spanked by my Dad plenty of times but the one paddle on the butt by Mrs. Linklater in front of the class was completely humiliating.
I think it was made worse by the fact that Mrs. Linklater was not just my teacher but a close neighbour. Her husband and my Dad were friends. Later on in life when she retired, she took up photography and did the photos for my wedding.
I recall the Grade 5 teacher, Mr. Mateika, who was very well liked by both parents and students, putting a female student over his knee and spanking her. Can you imagine? I think there might have been a slight uproar about that incident, if only by the student herself.
Mr. Mateika was very comical and had us in stitches constantly. He was the teacher who convinced our Grade 5 class we were going to the Rose Bowl parade to play our recorders. Just the thought makes me laugh still today. What a sicko to get a bunch of 9 and 10 year olds excited about getting to travel and take part in something like that.
I want to say that I recall being sent to the office for the strap. But I’m not entirely sure I’m dreaming that memory up. Which, I don’t know why I would, so maybe it’s true.
If you did something especially sinister, you were walked down to the principal’s office and held out your hands, palm up. The principal used a leather strap and you received a couple of stinging lashes with it.
Today, it seems absolutely preposterous. Insane that was allowed to happen. Mid-80’s this was. Not the 1950’s.
Having said all that, I loved all of my Elementary, Intermediate and Junior High teachers. I can’t really think of one over the others that I revered. I had straight A’s and though I complained about school, it was a safe, secure and fun place to be. I was voted Valedictorian of my Grade 9 class at our graduation, the June before we moved onto High School.
High School took place in a different and larger town, with all of the kids from the surrounding little towns attending. I hated it. Those were some of the worst years of my life.
It wasn’t like anything specifically bad happened, I was just completely apathetic. Possibly depressed and not realizing it. Kids didn’t get depressed in those days really.
If I had any influential teachers in High School, it was probably that they stood out for all the wrong reasons.
bloom.planted.north 
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