“In this house, we do not break shit with hammers.” — Image courtesy of iamachild.wordpress.com
My wife is a Gymnasium teacher, which, in American terms, means she works with students from 5th grade all the way up through high school. She’s basically a really high-end prep school teacher, and her students are some of the best and brightest Germany has to offer. Additionally, these students want to be in school; acceptance into a Gymnasium is based upon academic merit, and students must graduate from a Gymnasium before they are allowed to attend a university. Combined, these factors contribute to a focused educational environment without much need for corporal punishment.
My wife, however, spent the last year in the United States as an assistant teacher at a primary school, where she worked with children from kindergarten through 5th grade. You can imagine the stark contrast in maturity she experienced working with a bunch of snot-nosed ankle biters in America. Although she is not a fan of physical punishment, my wife voiced her frustration with one of the more unruly children thusly:
THE WIFE: “I am not saying to spank the child, but sometimes diamonds are made under pressure.”
Click here to learn more about the term “Denglish.”
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