tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5349947899983990762.post2382621446259499741..comments2024-03-18T19:47:35.007-06:00Comments on Standing Into Danger: The Lansdowne Letters: Cursed Fundy Bluehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02132147630106183853noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5349947899983990762.post-41957741884714950992016-09-01T14:10:47.838-06:002016-09-01T14:10:47.838-06:00That's what my teacher in a Roman Catholic sch...That's what my teacher in a Roman Catholic school used to do when I was in Grade 1 in Atholville, New Brunswick. As a teacher of cursive, I have to grit my teeth when I see someone holding his or her pencil incorrectly and trying to write in some awful and inefficient way. LOL Now the elementary schools are no longer teaching cursive. It went the way of spankings, but unlike spanking, that was not a a good thing. Have a great weekend, Peggy!Fundy Bluehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02132147630106183853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5349947899983990762.post-38295471887866620222016-09-01T14:05:50.180-06:002016-09-01T14:05:50.180-06:00These events were disturbing to me as a child, and...These events were disturbing to me as a child, and they still disturb me today. Often I think that Canada's Aboriginals are America's Blacks. We have so far to go to understand the people we share the Earth with.Fundy Bluehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02132147630106183853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5349947899983990762.post-17788370855356832892016-09-01T14:03:02.391-06:002016-09-01T14:03:02.391-06:00Thanks, Martha! You're right on both counts. ...Thanks, Martha! You're right on both counts. Thank goodness strapping is gone from most schools, and yes, we really must work harder to change things for people who are mentally ill.Fundy Bluehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02132147630106183853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5349947899983990762.post-23615886036564894462016-09-01T10:28:22.467-06:002016-09-01T10:28:22.467-06:00I never was strapped in school but I distinctly re...I never was strapped in school but I distinctly remember a teacher who carried a ruler with her on her treck around the classroom and used it to smack hands that weren't holding a pencil correctly. I'm sure your father only used physical force (and not much of it) when it was necessary. Even when I was teaching spankings by the principal was still carried on. Peggyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16610347687911147219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5349947899983990762.post-51190068809708959992016-08-31T19:50:19.320-06:002016-08-31T19:50:19.320-06:00Interesting stories but also disturbing. Interesting stories but also disturbing. sagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17499891950639742366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5349947899983990762.post-67602599494707547222016-08-27T20:05:17.318-06:002016-08-27T20:05:17.318-06:00Thanks goodness things have changed in schools ove...Thanks goodness things have changed in schools over the years. When I was an elementary school child, it was still going on. I never got into enough trouble to get 'the strap' or 'the ruler' but other kids I know did. And it was horrifying. We still have a long way to go with the mentally ill. They are still suffering abuse and mistreatment. We must work harder to change things.<br /><br />Another wonderful post, Louise! I so enjoy these. Thanks for sharing them!Marthahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09262406079948479112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5349947899983990762.post-24539942852179837622016-08-26T17:53:10.478-06:002016-08-26T17:53:10.478-06:00Hi Jean! How lovely that you are brightening the ...Hi Jean! How lovely that you are brightening the world by giving golden daffies to friends. They've always been special flowers to my mother and me, because when I was born, Dad gave Mom a bunch of daffodils. <br /><br />I'm a big believer in the cumulative power of lots of regular people doing their bit to spread a little understanding and generosity. I would always tell myself to "make their day" when I was teaching. So whenever I was going down the hall and met kiddos from any grade or class I tried to make them smile. I had particular fun with the kindies. And I always had a ready hug or more hugs for any kiddo who wanted one. Don't underestimate the value of what you see as a "tiny bit!" It snowballs when others pass on that tiny bit. I feel the same way about my recycling effort! Haha!<br /><br />I hope my blog isn't stressing or upsetting you too much! I know the last few posts have had some rough content. But I need to tell this story! Thank you for your kind and thoughtful comment! Hang on tight and don't blow away! Sending you a big hug!<br /> Fundy Bluehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02132147630106183853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5349947899983990762.post-39295684483604617722016-08-26T17:36:33.275-06:002016-08-26T17:36:33.275-06:00Mental illness, sometimes now as then, the great u...Mental illness, sometimes now as then, the great unknown. Now with tablets, capsules, and more, all the health professionals will hope to treat and cure, and if not, to keep in institutions, or if perhaps maybe somewhat well enough, let the patients into the community, where they flounder and struggle.A little authority goes a long way, far too far , in my opinion, and every person is entitled to fair and honest treatment. Maybe for those years, that lady had many frequent toilet trips, maybe overnight sometimes, and I hope this was true.Be in good spirits, Louise, lately I try and ignore anything that will be stressful or upset me, and although my little bit will never ever make the whole world a safe place, that tiny bit of understanding and generosity might help. This week it was giving some golden daffs to friends. Greetings from a very windy place down here.Nancy Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11854698513524662527noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5349947899983990762.post-6549844741814334892016-08-26T12:49:57.928-06:002016-08-26T12:49:57.928-06:00Oh Lord, you have my sympathy, Jim! I can remembe...Oh Lord, you have my sympathy, Jim! I can remember laughing like that! I used to sing in the choir at the Wolfville Baptist Church when Professor Gmeiner was the choir director and organist. I could see the whole congregations, and sometimes those giggle fits would kick in. I'd bite my tongue and cheeks, dig my nails into my arm, anything to try and stifle those giggles! Yup, that strap did reach up to the wrist! I'm so glad that those days are behind us now!<br /><br />Yes, the treatment of mental illness by the medical profession wasn't much better then: electrical shocks, lobotomies, mental asylums. Of course now we're more humane. We toss the mentally ill out onto the street to become homeless and panhandle ~ while saving taxes and excoriating them at the same time!!!! Makes me proud to have "evolved." <br /><br />"Food for thought" is my favorite diet, Jim! Have a great weekend, my friend!Fundy Bluehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02132147630106183853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5349947899983990762.post-6682939545523653782016-08-26T12:17:03.804-06:002016-08-26T12:17:03.804-06:00Oh were things different when we were in school, e...Oh were things different when we were in school, eh Louise?<br />And when you father was teaching, things were different then as well.<br />My first 'strap' was when I was was 7 and in grade two. My friend and I, along with both the girls school and the boys school, were at benediction in church after lunch.....something struck us funny and we couldn't control our laughing is our lives depended on it!<br />OUCH! Did that strap hurt! Especially as it reached up onto my wrist. Left a lasting impression on me.<br />You have hit a number of important points here....punishment in schools back then, mental illness, and responsibility of the church and state. I must say that the 'white' culture wasn't much better in it's treatment of those poor souls with mental illness.<br />Another 'letter' packed with food for thought, Louise.Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11199777195853274898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5349947899983990762.post-27966687873369059982016-08-26T10:13:32.238-06:002016-08-26T10:13:32.238-06:00Thank goodness we're are slowly climbing out o...Thank goodness we're are slowly climbing out of the primordial slime as a species! I'd rather drown than burn at a stake. Talk about a no win, horrendous situation! I'm afraid that mankind is becoming more inventive in torture today, and that is not a good thing! At least we have people fighting for human rights on a global scale. Have a great weekend, my friend!Fundy Bluehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02132147630106183853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5349947899983990762.post-86376665450606742772016-08-26T10:07:07.656-06:002016-08-26T10:07:07.656-06:00It is a good thing, Debra! I wouldn't want to...It is a good thing, Debra! I wouldn't want to go back to those times for anything! I've finished Kinew's book, "The Reason I Walk." He refers to the sweat lodge a number of times, but he refers to the sundance ceremony more. Both are important to Anishinabe spiritual beliefs. Have a great weekend! Fundy Bluehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02132147630106183853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5349947899983990762.post-24261730937200073472016-08-26T10:03:50.495-06:002016-08-26T10:03:50.495-06:00Hi, Alex! I can't imagine enduring a situatio...Hi, Alex! I can't imagine enduring a situation like that Ojibway woman experienced. I assumed that it was her husband that fathered her children; but now you've given me something worse to ponder. <br /><br />And yes, I admit, there are moments in teaching when I've thought that a swift smack on the butt might be effective in handling someone misbehaving. However, that is always a fleeting reaction; I remember only too well times I was cracked with a ruler and that one time being strapped. I think there are much more effective ways of dealing with misbehavior. <br /><br />I really enjoyed your piece on alternate worlds. I forgot to say in my comment that Tolkien wrote a famous essay ("On Fairy-Stories") about creating secondary worlds, which he termed Sub-creation. He considered this the highest form of art because humans were sub-creating as the Creator created. It's one of the definitive works on fantasy as a genre. The essay is long and not the easiest reading, but it is thought provoking and has a serious tie-in to Christianity. You might find it interesting if you ever have some really spare time! LOL Fundy Bluehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02132147630106183853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5349947899983990762.post-12849867607550369322016-08-26T09:20:51.688-06:002016-08-26T09:20:51.688-06:00Hi, Noushka! It always brightens my day to hear f...Hi, Noushka! It always brightens my day to hear from you! I am, albeit slowly, working on a book about all of this. It's slow going and these posts keep me grounded and moving forward. Thanks you for the kind comment about reading my blog. It lifted my spirits way up! Have a lovely weekend, my special friend ~ I hope you get some good time among your beloved birds! Sending you lots of love and hugs!Fundy Bluehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02132147630106183853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5349947899983990762.post-13466843303887084572016-08-26T09:16:17.287-06:002016-08-26T09:16:17.287-06:00Thank you, dear Linda! Often, finding images to i...Thank you, dear Linda! Often, finding images to illustrate these northern posts is time consuming ~ but then you know all about that because of the videos and inspirational images you post on your uplifting blog. I had teachers who spanked students in front of the class in school. Never happened to me, thank goodness! I'd much rather be strapped, because at least you summon a little dignity. We have come a long way, and it is for the better! Have a great Friday!!! Sending you lots of hugs and love!Fundy Bluehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02132147630106183853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5349947899983990762.post-89189554263095385712016-08-26T08:36:30.325-06:002016-08-26T08:36:30.325-06:00Still amazes me how umm crazy people could be with...Still amazes me how umm crazy people could be with all the curse hocus pocus. Years in a hole would be awful. Does sound like something out of the middle ages. Like the whole, "if you float your a witch and get burned at the stake, if you sink and drown your not a witch." Umm yeah, that's productive.Pat Hatthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07745293224202430152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5349947899983990762.post-56702971668584000472016-08-26T07:33:25.990-06:002016-08-26T07:33:25.990-06:00Oh yes, how our values and mores have changed in 5...Oh yes, how our values and mores have changed in 50 years! That's a good thing.Debra She Who Seekshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01845703092794695023noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5349947899983990762.post-50485409247048127032016-08-26T07:29:31.535-06:002016-08-26T07:29:31.535-06:00How terrible to be stuck in that hole, insane or n...How terrible to be stuck in that hole, insane or not. And that she had two children means someone took advantage of her.<br />Teachers were allowed to spank us when I was in school. I sometimes think they should still be allowed.Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5349947899983990762.post-1544786419027682212016-08-26T06:34:20.300-06:002016-08-26T06:34:20.300-06:00Like Linda, I enjoyed very much seeing this outsta...Like Linda, I enjoyed very much seeing this outstanding photo of you at 10!!<br />Oh my, I would have had the same reactions about these 2 incredible stories that happened to your dad.<br />But putting a living being in a whole for the last 3 years of her life is just too much to envisage. My God! <br />You should put all this stuff in a book, not just on your blog!!<br />You really are the only person I read through... when I have time to visit of course!!<br />Dear Louise, keep well and warm hugs :)<br />Noushkahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11583459949373167021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5349947899983990762.post-35277660794593693592016-08-26T04:19:10.115-06:002016-08-26T04:19:10.115-06:00Louise, I love all your photos! Especially the on...Louise, I love all your photos! Especially the one when you were 10 years old...beautiful! Yes, I remember corporal punishment in schools in the 1960's when I was a little girl. A teacher could spank a child who misbehaved, and never hesitated to do so. Thank you so much for sharing. It goes to show that we have come a long way since then...some of the progress is very good, some not so good, but a long has changed. Hugs to you, my cherished friend.Lindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12692170857496442623noreply@blogger.com