Sheridan High School - Syllabus Yearbook (Sheridan, IN)

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Page twelve + -------- History of Adams Township continued need is going to be provided for and Adams Township is truly going to be one of the best in the state. —Elizabeth Bradfield. School Punishment 85 Years Ago On a certain occasion two turkeys were brought to Noblesville, during school session, and the owner concluded to have a shooting match. The turkeys were put up at so much a shot. The number of shots to correspond with the value of the turkey, and the best shot to take the turkey. It so happened that this shooting match took place at the noon hour, two of the largest male scholars of said school witnessing the same, during which time the turkeys were duly inspected by them. On their return to the school house instead of applying themselves to the study of the lessons before them, they concluded to discuss the turkey gobblers. The length of their legs, their beautiful beard had been discussed, and they were about to discuss other features of the birds, but were arrested and their discussion cut short by the teacher informing them that was not part of their lessons for that day, but now, says the teacher “what shall be done with the unruly boys?” The teacher had a table about four feet long and two and a half feet wide in the room. He had a two-inch auger hole bored in one of the puncheons in the floor. So he took one of the boys to the table, laying him down lengthwise on the same, drew his hands and feet down as well as he could and tied them together under the table. The other boy he required to lie down flat upon the floor near the auger hole and gaze steadily down through the augerhole. Thus they remained for the next thirty minutes, which was regarded by the teacher as sufficient punishment, when they were released. This, no doubt, will appear to the teachers and pupils of today as being very harsh, but such was the discipline eighty-five years ago in our schools. The Centennial Syllabus