Repost Home schooling for all ages part 2

[derry-boychild]

Part 2

Eleanor Baxter’s account (Cont)



The Schoolroom: I need to tell you about Harriet Williams. She is Susan’s little sister. She was 28 by the time Katie returned home. She now lived on the West Coast. Harriet is a very able interior decorator and negotiator.



Both Susan and I had actually decided to move before Katie’s return. The original plan was that I would live on my savings and Fred’s insurance for a few years. I would supervise a more creative education for Sarah, Barbara and Elizabeth, as well as Emma as she got older. At the time I thought that maybe I could help Maggie get a High School equivalency. I was not thinking of anything very unusual for Maggie just then.

Our plans, of course, changed when Susan and I decided that we needed to change the terms of Katie and Greta’s presence in our families. We decided that it would be possible to both educate and discipline our older more wayward offspring.


Harriet had found wonderful homes for both Susan and myself. In some ways planning for keeping Katie in check was a little easier. All that would be needed would be for her bedroom to be kept open and for the parent of babysitter to keep checking between Katie and Sarahís bedtimes. Plainly there would not be much she could do wrong in front of Sarah, who was not yet 7 but who would clearly let us know what was happening



Quite rightly Susan wanted Barbara to have her own room. She could be trusted with considerable autonomy. Greta was different. Harriet came up with a solution. Greta’s small bedroom would have large glass door, which had once belonged to a department store. It would be easy for the responsible adult to check on her.

We installed baby monitors in each of the older girls’ bedrooms (as well or course in Emma’s nursery.)


My home had four floors. The basement was very suitable to be a large schoolroom. We had a large kitchen diner on the ground floor. One floor up there was my bedroom and Emma’s nursery. The attic had Sarah and Katie’s room as well as Elizabeth’s. It was a bit of disadvantage that the one bathroom was right up there. As time went on, that arrangement turned out to have some advantages in keeping troublesome childish alleged adults in their place.


All Elizabeth and Sarah’s clothes were in wardrobes in their rooms. Elizabeth had a lock on her wardrobe. I wanted to make sure that neither Katie nor Greta could borrow clothes without permission.



Katie’s wardrobe was in my room. It was also locked like mine. I would choose and leave out Katie’s clothing each morning.



When we started school I wanted to bring home to Katie and Greta just how much they needed to know. Most adults and older children do not do much out loud reading. Sarah was VERY good at reading both to herself and reading out loud. I mentioned that it might be a good idea for Katie and Greta to do some out loud reading in preparation for their education. I deliberately did not push it.



I explained rather more carefully to Barbara and Elizabeth. They practiced each night in the hotel rooms. Susan also practiced some math techniques for both Sarah our better-behaved older daughters. She offered to tutor Greta and Katie. They were less enthusiastic.

We arrived on July 3rd. Of course we did not start teaching on July 4th. I did, however, ask each girl to prepare a chapter to read out loud. I offered Dickens, Austin, Melville and Steinbeck to Barbara, Elizabeth, Greta and Katie. Sarah wanted to do a British book called ‘The Railway children’. She had loved the classic movie made of it.


On July 5th I supervised the girl’s first lessons. I had allocated each girl a chair. I found 3 small chairs, which would be comfortable for Sarah. Katie and Greta were allocated the other smaller chairs. Barbara and Elizabeth were given ordinary adult type chairs.


The “Teacher’s” chair had been chosen by Harriet, who had, after extensive e-mail consultation, furnished our whole home. It was large and had no arms. It would be suitable for reminding Katie and Greta of the consequences of misbehavior.

As I have said I am not in favor of a lot of standardized tests. However it is necessary for a teacher to know where her students are. In the case of certain students I felt it would be no bad thing for them to be aware of just how much they needed learn.


We started out with the out loud reading. We did it in alphabetical order of given names.


Barbara 12, managed, with only modest difficulty, to read the first chapter of ‘A Tale of two Cities’. Elizabeth read a chapter from ‘The Grapes of Wrath’, rather well I thought. Greta struggled very hard with a chapter from Emma. It was clearly not good enough. Katie did very badly trying to read ‘Bartleby the scrivener’.


Sarah’s reading of a chapter from ‘The Railway children’ was lovely.



Then we did a math test. Sarah was given a test for 8 year olds. Barbara was given a test for 13 year olds. Elizabeth one for 15 year olds. The older girls were given tests aimed at 17 year olds.


Sarah passed very easily as did Barbara and Elizabeth. Katie and Greta did not pass. That afternoon we went to a children’s play area. Katie and Greta sat on benches reading teen novels that they would be asked to read out loud for us later. I pushed Sarah in a baby swing.

I also met an old friend and made a new one. Harriet Williams was there with her 4-year-old daughter Lucy. Her British friend Caroline Murphy was there with her 4 year old a twin John and Jane. In addition her 13-year-old daughter Rose was there.

Katie had complained:

“But even kids don’t go to school in the summer.”

I explained:

“Well Sarah, Barbara and Elizabeth are enjoying their studies. And you two really NEED to put in some study time.”



Katie did not argue back. The testing phase took only two days. Greta had just about managed the out loud reading of a teen novel. Katie had not. The first book she read out loud satisfactorily was a reader for 8 year olds.

In the end Katie’s math level turned out to be 9 and Greta’s 8. Sarah was able to do 10 year old’s figure work.


This confirmed what we had assumed. We had to supervise the worksheets from Katie and Greta very closely. Barbara and Elizabeth tended just to chat to Susan or me. They then decided what they wanted to study. I looked at their essays (other than math an science which were Susan’s department.)

It was real pleasure mentoring Barbara and Elizabeth

Sarah obviously needed a fair amount of help, just based on her age. She would have been bored to tears preparing for standard tests I encouraged her to ask questions and think for herself.

Katie and Greta needed to be told exactly how much they needed to do to hope to pass a GED.


After a week I was very satisfied with the progress we were making. I felt that after a couple of years Katie and Greta would be able to do High School equivalency and some version of SAT tests. So too, I imagined would Elizabeth. I knew that the nearby State University was prepared to take younger students who were outstanding. I expected to pay fees for Katie’s higher education and that Elizabeth had real chance of getting a scholarship



Katie’s birthday was July 10th. During that time we had made a number of friends with children in Sarah’s age group. I decided that this would set the style for my first-born’s 24th birthday.


I had thought that Katie as well as Greta had accepted her status. She knew she had no other choice. She also knew that I could use the hairbrush if needed. I persuaded myself that over the next year my hairbrush would be deterrent, rather like in the cold war. The fact that I COULD use it might mean that I never NEEDED to do so. I turned out to be very wrong.


Most of Katie’s gifts were educational books. To each child or adult she managed:



“Thank you very much.”

It was not wonderfully convincing but no worse than most of thanks children and teenagers tended to give.

Then Sarah gave Katie a gift. I knew that Sarah had chosen the gift herself. I did not know what it was. Katie slowly unwrapped what turned out to be a ‘drink and wet’ doll. Katie’s response was:

“Thank you, I suppose.”

I was not happy but let it slide. Sarah was disappointed. She explained

“Barbara thought it would make it easier for us to be room mates.”

Katie’s response appalled me:

Well Barbaraís a f***ing n****r b****. And you can keep this.

Katie then threw the doll at her little sister.

For half a minute I froze. I was not sure what to do, or rather how to do it. Then I was inspired:

”The food won’t be ready until half past five. It’s a lovely day. Aunt Susan can take the littler children to the play ground.


I had discussed Greta and Katieí’ special status with Caroline Murphy. Her little children joined Sarah and 8 more under 10s. I dialed Caroline’s cell phone. She agreed that Rose might watch. As soon as the younger children had gone I addressed Katie:

”This is your 24th birthday. You acted like a two year old. The only reason Sarah’s gift was not suitable for you is that you are too immature for it. You know what you need to ask for.

Katie was embarrassed by the stranger.

But she’ll see it.

Katie pointed at Rose. Rose had a response

“I already know you are supposed to be a grown up but that you get spanked and your mouth washed out with soap when you are naughty.”

Katie then curtsied and asked:

Mommy I was very naughty will you please spank me.”

I pulled her over my knees. I slowly pulled up her skirt and down her panties. This time I started severe and got fiercer

WHAP


WHAP!!



WHAP!!!

In about ten seconds Katie was crying and saying.


”Mommy I’m very sorry.


“I’m so sorry


“Please stop.”

Out of the corner of my eye I saw other reactions. Barbara just nodded. Rose’s eyes grew. She was clearly shocked at how severe a spanking I could give.

The spanking lasted 20 minutes. It was longer than I had ever spanked her before. Corner time lasted half an hour. We set out the food. I made it clear to Katie:

“I know it’s your birthday but you are going to go to bed at half past five without any supper.”

At ten past five I asked Rose to collect Sarah but leave the other small children. Katie curtsied and apologized both to Sarah and to Barbara. Then I led her upstairs. I took her to the bathroom I stripped my 24 year old. I supervised her cold shower. I put her into her footed ‘jamies and got a plastic apron.

Then Katie had to kneel down in front of Barbara and ask:

”I used a very evil word. Would you wash my mouth out with soap?

I added:


”I think a mouth soaping every evening after supper and every morning after breakfast for the next week is called for.”


I remembered very clearly how efficient the 12 year old was as getting a wash cloth VERY soapy and making sure the whole of the inside of the mouth was thoroughly washed out.


I did NOT let Katie rinse her mouth until the morning.
Elizabeth Baxter’s Account



Childhood memory: It took me two years to forgive Cat for what she did to me just before she left home. I was 7. I was worried about Dad, quite rightly so, he was slowly dying. A couple of times a week I woke up in a wet bed.


Cat was supposed to be babysitting me. She had probably drunk a bit. She had a half a dozen of her friends around- boys and girls including Joe Williams, who I thought was cute. Cat had gone to the store to buy diapers in the biggest size. I do mean diapers not dry nights or something like that. Then she told me that she would make sure I put one on.


I resisted. She was then much bigger than me. She gave me a hell of spanking. All of her friends laughed cheered and joked. By the way I heard from Mom that Cat had NOT dealt with Sarah, our two month old sister’s messy diaper.


I cried again when Mommy got a glimpse of my bottom. I did not tell her exactly why I had been spanked. (It was even more embarrassing because I had indeed wet the diaper that night.) The thing is that Mommy then simply did not believe in spanking, and she still does not think that 7 year olds should be spanked.



Instead of being all apologetic Cat just ran out. I later found out that the Realtor wanted her full time after her work that summer



Why I first spanked Katie and Greta: I had not forgotten all of this when everything changed. I was 14 and actually already bigger and taller than my 24-year-old sister. Part of my education that summer was helping little Sarah and also helping to supervise the older, but more backward members of our little group.

Susan was very busy. She had spent the morning talking about math. I was working on a history project, which she just trusted me about as I did the Internet research. Now Susan had to go to see a couple of people to help with tax audits. Mother knew and understood this.



Susan gave the three ‘younger’ girls Katie Greta and Sara a sheet to calculate in their heads. It was not hard stuff: 1000 divided by 25 was one of the questions.


I was to supervise. Barbara was sharing the supervision. Suddenly I noticed something hidden. Katie and Greta were using a calculator, which was NOT allowed. I reached out and removed the calculators. Then I ordered the two troublesome ones into opposite corners.


Barbara and I had a brief chat. At first I thought I should spank Katie and Barbara should spank Greta. I had been told that Barbara had already spanked Greta. Barbara had a better idea.


”First I spank Katie and you spank Greta. Then I’ll spank my sister and you’ll spank yours.”

Now the couch we had was fairly long. We remembered ‘Auntí Clareí’ training and agreed that we should be doubly sure of taking control. So I walked to Greta’s corner. I took her hands, she did not resist. Then I tied them very tightly. She suddenly broke corner time rules


”Hey want are you doing?”

I explained:

”Preparing you for your spanking.”


I then took Greta by the ear and led her to the large sofa. I saw Barbara had my sister in a similar position. The sofa was long enough that the spanking could be simultaneous. Each naughty girl was pulled over a lap. Her legs were left in the air. We each pinned up the dresses to make sure that we had easy targets.

This was my first ever spanking outside training. I remembered both what I had done to Mommy that day and all the advice of Aunt Clare. The first spanking only lasted about 3 minutes. Never the less both of our charges cried and kicked and seemed to have been really defeated.


They went back to their corners. I checked on Sarah. Barbara and I each had a coffee. Then it was time for the next spanking. Like my mother, and unlike her own Barbara is left-handed. I am right handed. This meant that the easiest target for our hairbrushes was relatively untouched when we started on our sisters.
This spanking was longer and more severe. I remembered Katie’s cries apologies and promises of better behavior as her spanking went on. Barbara and I had agreed 15 minutes. By that time the two girls were thoroughly defeated. We untied them and unpinned their dresses. We wanted their full hour of corner time to include them having to hold their frocks right up.


Susan arrived. She saw the two girls in the corners and I explained. Susan congratulated us.

”Well done Elizabeth and Barbara. You clearly have the authority you need.”



Then the doorbell rang. It was Harriet Williams, Barbara and Gretaís aunt. She was holding the hand of her husband.

Now I believe that a lady should keep her name on marriage. It was easy for Harriet Williams because Joe was already a Williams. Harriet had married him thinking she could easily change him. Joe, 24, has a pretty face and a cute behind. I heard later about his time at school. He had missed a lot of school and had been VERY loud and rude to teachers.


I should explain that he is white. Hearing him talk you might think that Joe was an African American. He uses all kinds of phrases that he hears from rap and sees on TV. He has been known to use rather bad words about women and gay people.

Susan also explained that except for occasional small pieces of very unskilled work that she arranges Joe is unemployed. He has no High School diploma. He had gone to a few classes, but then he started missing them.


All this conversation took place in the kitchen dining room. Susan then led her sister and brother in law downstairs to the schoolroom. He saw Katie and Greta in their corners. Their butts showed evidence of their spankings. They also knew that Sarah would have reported it if they had let their dresses down.

”So you were not joking about Eleanor and you spanking the older students.”

I explained what had happened. Susan added:


”Barbara and Elizabeth will also have the authority to spank you.”

Harriet reminded her husband:

”Or of course I could divorce you.”


Katie and Greta’s corner time was over. We had lunch together. I could easily see a girl having a crush on cute Joe. It was also clear, that despite his married status, Katie still had such a crush. I guess she would have loved to spend more time with him. I was glad that the first thing Joe had seen of her for 7 years was her very red behind. It must have been deeply embarrassing.


It was a week after Katie’s 24th birthday. After what she had pulled then she had been sentenced to a week of mouth soapings. So, after supper, she came down in her ‘jammies. We all got to watch as Barbara did a really thorough job on her dirty mouth and Mom took her to bed. I guessed that we would not hear obscenities or racial epithets from Katie for a LONG time



BATHROOM PROBLEMS: A few months later I needed the bathroom early in the morning. I got there at just after six AM. It was locked. I just struggled. It was still locked after 7pm. I asked Mom and she knocked on the door.


Who is it?

She got no answer.

At 7.40 the room was still locked. Mom was then quite angry. She shouted:


”Katie youíve been there for nearly two hours. Get out NOW!”

I then heard from inside:

”Go away, you’re ruining my bath.”

Sarah looked very frightened. She was fidgeting quite violently as was I. Mom gave the door a kick. The lock broke. She saw some of what Katie was doing. She ran in and pulled the shower curtain. Sarah just got onto Emma’s potty-chair in time and I just got onto the main toilet in time. All this meant that the bathroom door now had no lock.

That hot lunchtime after some hard studying we went to the children’s play area. There were some bigger swings for older children, you just held onto the chains. There were also swings that you got put into for safety reasons.


Mommy and Aunt Susan agreed that it would be a good idea to reinforce Katie and Greta’s status. Greta fitted easily into the childish swing. Katie resisted.


”Do you want a spanking from ME?”

Asked Aunt Susan. Katie let herself be put into the swing. The way it was set up it was not going to be easy for her to get out. That made babysitting at a distance easier.



We again met and Caroline and Rose. We talked about the problem, especially the ‘potty problem’. Rose laughed. Then she realized what we meant.

”In England a potty is like what a little one sits on when being ‘potty trained’ the other thing is always a toilet. I had visions of you guys all sitting on like a toddler potty chair. I guess it was kind of funny.”

It was also inspiring to Mom and I. That night we went shopping. We found what we needed. There were some ‘child commodes’ like potty chairs for say 7 year olds who had problems. We were sure that Katie would fit on one. We also went to an old fashioned shop. I got a slightly different container for Katie’s pee pee. And also fitted some stuff inside the potty which would tend to reflect sound.

We got new locks. That night, with Rose kindly acting the part of Katie, we did a lot of rehearsing. We were sure that we would be able to deal with our little one without too much fuss.

For Sarah and I Mom stood outside the bathroom door whilst we showered. She made sure it stayed shut. I stood there for Mom’s shower and for her bathing little Emma. For Katie’s shower Mom stood INSIDE the bathroom door.

Then Katie saw something about the clothes her Mommy had laid out for her.

”Mommy, these look like training panties. I can’t wear them Can’t you get some others?”

Mommy said nothing but she did pat her hand with the hairbrush. Of course there was a very good reason why Katie’s new underwear looked like training panties, that is what they were.

Mommy made Katie have two big glasses of grapefruit juice at breakfast. She also offered, and Katie accepted three mugs of coffee. Katie could not see the clock. I could see it was two minutes to nine. I went upstairs with my tool kit and the lock. We heard Barbara and Greta arrived. Greta of course had a key to our front door. Neither Katie nor Greta had a key to her own front doors.

It did not take long for me to fix a really strong lock on the bathroom door. I walked down three flights of stairs to the schoolroom.

”There is now a proper lock on the bathroom and keys for all the people mature enough to be trusted in the bathroom.”


I gave bathroom keys to Greta, and Mom. I gave Barbara 2 one for her and for Aunt Susan. I gave a key to little Sarah. After a pause Katie realized what had happened.


Where’s my key?

Our Mommy explained:

”Katie dear, just now I don’t trust you just to go to the bathroom when you want. I will be there when you really need the bathroom.”

We had what seemed like an ordinary morning in the schoolroom. I read some carpentry books and did some practical work at the bench at one end. Barbara was reading about the American Civil War. Katie and Greta did a Math test. Mom made very sure they could not get a calculator. We all watched for the signs. Fairly quickly Katie started fidgeting. She kept saying nothing.

[lucian31]

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