One of our Sunday school teachers at church shared this event that took place in her classroom just a few days ago.

After meandering conversation, Boy 1: “Hey, did you know in some schools if you get in trouble you can get a spanking by the principal.” Girl 1 replies, “Yes, my mom says when she was in school they called it licks.” Boy 2, with utterly horrified expression asks, “You mean you went to the principal’s office and HE LICKED YOU?”

While she was enjoying that interchange between her 4th graders, I was teaching our oldest group of people at church. Yesterday was my first Sunday with them. They proudly informed me that they were members of the Greatest Generation. And it’s true. When I teach that group, nostalgia reigns. I hear stories of flying in the Army Air Corps during World War II. One lady told me that if her husband was still alive they would have celebrated 63 years of marriage on July 5th. They really are a fun group. And they are a group that is thoroughly familiar with licks at school…My generation is familiar with that form of punishment as well from the standpoint of being on the receiving end.

When I attended Monterey High School in Lubbock, our assistant principal was Mr. Zorns. Respectful students of course called him just that. They referred to him as Mr. Zorns. And then there were others among us who called either called him “Zippy Zorns” or just “Zippy” for short. Such guilty individuals of course must remain unnamed.

Monterey High School legend has it that he earned such a nickname, because he could administer licks in such an efficient and potentially painful manner. I am pleased to share the fact that his name was well earned. He was indeed very effective with the paddle.

I saw Mr. Zorn’s obituary in the Lubbock Avalanche Journal in 2007. When I read the details of his life, I realized probably for the first time that he was a real guy. And it also occurred to me that Mr. Zorns really cared about the students entrusted to his disciplinary care. When he administered his infamous “Zippy” licks, he was simply trying to maintain some sense of order and control in our high school. I see his role differently today, because I have noticed what a lack of such discipline and order in our high school has caused.

Are licks effective? Is corporal punishment damaging to kids who are being abused at home? In my estimation, there are actually better and more effective means of punishing kids. In today’s schools, we have police officers working on the campuses. I think that it is a good thing for kids to receive disorderly conduct citations in some cases. Granbury has a separate Behavioral Transition School that has taken the concept of In School Suspension to the next level. It is very effective. I have been privileged to serve in a mentoring program over there that really seems to make a difference.

Zippy was a member of the Greatest Generation. He graduated from Meadow High School in 1948. Giving out corporal punishment was what principals of that generation did. Yes, I must confess. I called him “Zippy” and not Mr. Zorns. I can tell you firsthand what his “licks” felt like.

His colleagues today are probably making different choices, but they are facing a new set of challenges with kids. As times change, there will always be a need for lots of discipline and lots of love to go with it! Thankfully Zippy never licked any of us to my knowledge. Is it possible that licking may have been a better deterrent than licks…I suppose the class of 1980 will never know…