Uneducated Tears

Belts, paddles, switches, and rulers were once instruments of punishment. Although very rarely, in my early years, a belt was Daddy's favorite. I was always a quick learner and never a glutton for punishment. Some believe that both the home and the schools presently bear the results of unwisely changing the rules with regard to curtailing bad behavior. Others think, 'Good riddance'. Others call for balance. When corporal punishment of kids was applied and acceptable, whether handed down at home or in school, there were always those who never seemed to be persuaded to alter their behavior. As a result, punishment was repeated whether proper or not. Neither the applier nor the recipient ever learned any lesson. However, there would be tears, sometimes by the applier also. I suspect both learned "To WEEP THE TEARS THAT NEVER LEARN". Perhaps the misapplied method was bad medicine for Donnie. Perhaps tenured teacher Miss Peterson wept tears of failure. It should be noted that life is complicated and gives rise to many mysteries. Such convoluted mysteries often force us "TO WEEP THE TEARS THAT NEVER LEARN". As for corporal punishment, I wish. I wish that it had been abolished when I was a kid. Many troubled kids turn out to be the best of citizens. And I've observed that many parents and teachers despise the pain medicine they administer. Need I say More?