I was actually finishing first grade and beginning second grade. We used to play a game like tag but with prisoners, like Capture The Flag. We used to catch someone and go "are ya a Rebel or are ya a Yank?" I also got whacked with a yardstick for talking in class once after being sternly warned. Marched to the principals office with two others, made to turn around, drop our pants AND underpants and three whacks with a yardstick. Far more embarrassing than painful. Good old fashioned effective American punishment. The shame made me behave, and the "pain" did no damage whatsoever.
Spare the rod and spoil the child. People think that Bible verse means a guy punching his son in the face when he walks in from 7th grade class to "make him more of a man." Because they grew up in homes like that they think punishment in any physical form makes you a "Nazi." So they throw the Bible out entirely.
We also use to sing a song where the chorus and perhaps the title was "Way Down Yonder In The Paw Paw Patch."
I lived close enough to GM&O railroad tracks to spend many hours walking along railroad tracks, back in the days when you could, and playing on them. We were smart enough to get off when a train came. We weren't out for mischief, not much anyway and certainly not crime. "F" units galore pulling long trains, with cabooses and friendly crews. No, I reckon Gulfport don't look like nuthin' Ah'd figger on seein' these days.
