A Teacher’s “Burning” Lesson set a Career Path

My Front Porch Volume 310 for Publication the week of Oct. 2, 2023

Sam Houston is a syndicated columnist and newspaper executive. He is also an author, actor, playwright and entertainment producer/promoter.

A Teacher’s “Burning” Lesson set a Career Path

Recently, I was told a tale by a good friend regarding his elementary school days in Abilene.

It would seem my friend was a typical west Texas boy of the late 50’s. He rode stick horses, played ball, and had a group of friends with whom he was joined at the hip. They played at the vacant lot in the neighborhood when school was out, spent the night at each other’s houses, and sat close to each other in their classroom. They ate their lunch together, played at recess, and fussed and fought with each other over the usual boyhood issues. Boys being boys, they would sometimes be ornery.

One day one of the boys brought a small package of Diamond wooden matches to school with him. Since this was a time when many people smoked cigarettes, matches were plentiful and found almost everywhere. Jimmy Jack took this box from the kitchen, where his mother used them to light the kitchen stove when she was ready to cook. The box was small but full of wooden matches and was easily concealed in Jimmy Jacks’ back pocket as he bounded out the door to school.

Jimmy Jack did not really have a plan on what to do with the matches, and he fully understood he was not supposed to have them in his possession. His mother had warned the 8-year-old of the dangers of matches and forbade him from playing with them lest he start a fire or burn himself. The boy was not a bad boy, and though he knew he was disobeying his mother, he weighed the possible anger of his mother with the admiration of the other boys for bringing matches to school, and the choice was made.

While standing as a group on the playground before the school day started, Jimmy Jack could not wait to tell the other boys what he had done. When they saw what Jimmy Jack pulled out of his back pocket, there was an audible collective “wow” in admiration and disbelief. Naturally, the urge to use one of the matches was overwhelming, so the boys went around the corner of the gym where their actions would be less visible. Jimmy Jack struck one of the matches and lit a small pile of dried leaves on fire.

Just as the leaves caught fire, Miss Etta Mae Ewing, the school secretary, was walking up the sidewalk and smelled the smoke. She investigated, and as she came around the corner, the boys saw her and attempted to stomp out the evidence of their “crime.” Unfortunately, Miss Ewing knew something was up and told the boys to go to the principal’s office.

All five of the boys walked the slow walk of death to the office, knowing they were in serious trouble. Mr. Hunsucker, the Principal, was a big man and, while friendly, intimidated the students with his stature and authority. When he asked who had brought the matches, none of the boys spoke up. Jimmy Jack was silent because he wanted to avoid the consequences of his actions, and the other four, because they could not stand the idea of being a “squealer” on their buddy. Whatever punishment would be dealt out, they would rather suffer the consequences than turn on their friend.

After making several inquiries as to whom was responsible and getting nothing in response but blank stares from the culprits, Mr. Hunsucker announced since no one would come forward, all the boys would get a “lick.” He ordered the boys to line up, facing the wall, had them bend over, and proceeded to go down the line and give each boy a swat on the backside with his paddle. Two licks had been delivered as Mr. Hunsucker worked down the line to Jimmy Jack. When he delivered his blow on the offender, the paddle landed exactly where the box of matches was hidden. The box ignited, creating flames and smoke coming from the backside of Jimmy Jack’s britches. Seeing the smoke and feeling the heat of the incineration, the boy dropped on his backside and drug himself on the hallway floor like a wormy dog, hoping to get away from the heat. The shocked principal scampered to put out the fire and protect Jimmy Jack from injury. The other boys screamed and shouted unsure what had happened. It was quite a scene.

The fire was soon extinguished, and while Jimmy Jack had a small burn on his backside, no more “licks” were delivered that day. Each of the boys had to spend a day after school writing, “I will not play with matches” 200 times and could not go outside to recess for a week.

My friend claims the incident was a great educational moment. He maintains a sense of pride as all the boys protected their friend with their silence, even if it meant putting themselves in jeopardy.

Another lesson was also learned. None of the boys ever brought matches to school again, and curiously, Jimmy Jack may have been inspired to his future professional calling, as years later he became a fireman!

Educators never know what impact they will have on their students.

Thought for the day: The best teachers are the ones that tell you where to look, but not what to see.

Until next time…I will keep ridin’ the storm out.

sam@hcnews.com