Family Discipline

Discipline was rather strict most of the time at our house. Charles was the main infractor and got into trouble frequently, mainly by “acting up”. Mother would infrequently use a switch cut from a bush, but not very enthusiastically. We acted as though her switchings hurt more than they did. We knew we were in trouble when Daddy came home and got an earful about our high jinks. He would ‘invite” Charles (and sometimes me) to his “office” - the bathroom of the master bedroom. There we would be invited to lean over and feel the whack of his belt on our behind. Those really stung! Much later we would get much worse beltings at the Boy Scouts, Troop 1, Peachtree Heights. These were awarded if we had not fulfilled assignments, etc. The boys would line up, belts in hand and the perpetrator would run the length of the line and receive many belts. But the worst was initiation into the Chi Phi Fraternity at GA Tech. There each pledge had a paddle on which each brother had to initial on hand off during pledge week. Some brothers were easy, some downright merciless. I saved my paddle and finally contributed it recently to the Chi Phi Fraternity House at GA Tech.