Guest post by Annika Barranti
Being away from home is hard on Laura, but she is too proud to say anything to Ma and Pa. Still, Pa knows her better than anyone and asks if she doesn’t want to “make a clean breast of it.”
Afraid that her folks will not let her return to the Brewsters’ if she tells them about Mrs. Brewster—and Laura cannot imagine going back on her word and leaving before the term is up—she tells Pa only of the troubles she is having with the children at school.
Pa’s advice to Laura is to find a way to manage Clarence, rather than try to boss him. Ma, oh wise and gentle Ma, suggests that Clarence just wants attention and that if Laura makes sure he doesn’t get it, he’ll change his ways. (Funny how this has become conventional wisdom but it never seems to work for me…)
After a happy, comfortable weekend at home, Almanzo drives Laura back to the Brewsters’ place. He says, “I’ve got an idea it’s pretty tough, staying at Brewster’s,” and Laura excuses her discomfort as homesickness.
It’s funny how much I’m fixated on it, re-reading this chapter, but Laura downplays her own feelings so much; in her place now, 130 years later, I would not have stayed for two days and would have no compunction going back on my word given such bad living conditions. Granted, I am quite a bit older than she was. Still, times and expectations sure were different, and it seems to me that Laura was an exceptional girl even for her time.
Laura realizes when Almanzo drops her off with a “Good-by till Friday!” that he may be hoping to become her beau. She does not dwell on it at the time, but (spoiler alert!) brings it up again in the following chapter. Funny that she’s only just noticed that he likes her.
So how does Laura manage Clarence? Wisely, she begins by managing the younger, easier to understand students. Ruby and Tommy often fight over their spelling book, so Laura rewards them for their good recitations by allowing them to take turns writing their spelling words on the blackboard, allowing the other child to use the book. Martha struggles with grammar, so Laura goes over the lesson with her at lunchtime so as not to take time away from the other lessons. Clarence finds out that she studies at night to keep up with her class in town, and he is impressed.
And as for Clarence, he is so far behind Martha and Charles in history, Laura gives him a special (and shameful) assignment: a mere three pages. It takes just until Friday for Clarence, taking his cue from Laura and studying at night, to catch up with the rest of the class.
Mischief: managed. (Sorry, I couldn’t help it.)
It wasn’t just a matter of going back on her word — it was that if she quit her school in the middle, she wouldn’t get paid and she would never get another. (And Mary would have to leave college and it would be all her fault….)
I always chuckle at the bit where Laura offers Ruby the chance to ‘write her spelling words on the board’ as a reward. Last week she punished Clarence and Charles by making them write their missed words on the board.
But Pa was on the school board and the area was so desperate for teachers that they waived the age requirement, I doubt she would have never got another.
I feel for Laura because I could never have kept the happy face on that she did.
I’d wondered if Clarence wanted the teacher’s attention in more than a teacher/pupil way. Notice he really starts drawing attention to himself after the “teacher’s beau” comment. I’ve wondered if that’s part of the reason he shapes up is he realizes how much she’s doing and doesn’t want to look slow.
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Often I have wished Laura would of told Pa and Ma about about the situation at the Brewsters, don’t forget in reality, The State paid for Mary’s tuition to college, so I don’t think she really had to worry about Mary having to leave.. her income was just additional help with expenses.
I think if she had only spoken up, maybe other arrangements could of been made perhaps with another family who would be happy to board the teacher.
it would be hard to imagine her never being able to get another school given the circumstances.
Mr Brewster probably discussed boarding the teacher with Mrs Brewster, it’s obvious she didn’t want to and I think she would of certainly spoken her mind about it, but her feelings were probably ignored on the matter and that would of made her angry with Laura even before she arrived!
If only pa had accepted Brewsters invitation to come in that first day he brought her, would of Mrs Brewster acted just as cold towards Pa as she did with Laura? somehow given her personality I think she would of.. getting late or not, I know I would certainly want to stop in a few minutes and see the home my daughter would be boarding at and meet the rest of the family.
I also found it strange that Pa didn’t go in for a least a few minutes to meet Mrs. Brewster & check out the house that Laura was going to be living in. I guess he didn’t want the horses to stand in the cold? I read recently that Laura was actually 16 when she accepted the job at the Brewster school, two months away from being 17, on Dec 10, 1883. The law for minimum age of 18 to teach school was passed in March of 1883. So, Laura’s teaching certificate was issued illegally. She was underaged. That is in reality.
Now… In the book she writes that she accepted the Brewster school position in Dec of 1882 & she was 15. At that time there was no minimum age requirement to teach school, as the law for age requirement was not passed until March of 1883. Just another one of those things that I guess Laura & Rose didn’t think people would look into.They never thought that people would become obsessed with Laura & look into all of the actual details:-) I was glad that Laura finally told her parents that she was having trouble with the students at her school. I’m sure it was a relief to confide in someone.