"DEFEND ARE VETERAN'S"

[IrishAyes]

195. 'fraid so. But realize, that was some 30-odd years ago, and he was just a wee one.

I always called him 'honey' and he honestly thought that was the proper way to conduct congenial negotiations.

She sent him to the principal, who sent him to the school psychologist, who told me he was the best adjusted kid he'd ever met. (Though not politically correct by recent code) Why? Because the shrink, who later became a great family friend, said he tried the usual pressure points and Little Billy simply did not respond. Aren't you afraid the teacher will stay mad at you? No, she'll get over it. Well, what about me, do you want me to get in trouble for this? Don't worry. If anything bad happens, Mom will take care of you. All that could be done was to tell Little Billy to go and sin no more. But that was only the start.

So yes, I think he got a great education. I always talked to him like he was an adult, and that's pretty much how he thought of himself. That child was made for Montessori. That's how he was reared.

But the stories above happened in public school. If there'd been a Montessori around, the teacher wouldn't have been so, well... what we considered odd.