This is Chapter One of The Lessons. Readers who find this chapter enjoyable are obviously encouraged to read the subsequent chapters.
In any case, please do provide feedback. There are obvious sequels to this initial series. I have made outlines for some of them. I will be very happy to write them, but there won't be much point if there is inadequate interest. I would also like to hear your suggestions for how to improve the series.
Finally, please do vote; especially if you like it! I must admit that getting good votes can be the best form of encouragement (I didn't realize how long it would take to do this, particularly when it came to the copyediting). But, even if you don't, I do hope you enjoy it!
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Mr. Peters was not particularly happy to transfer to another college. He had been teaching in the Abberville Community College for 14 years and was quite content with the commuting and benefits. Plus, the students at Abberville had been highly motivated and were reasonably bright. Transferring to the parochial Templeton Community College represented a significant drop in quality and prestige. Nevertheless, the salary offer was difficult to refuse, particularly at this stage of his life. His wife had divorced him a few years ago and he was still having difficulty getting out from under the alimony.
He also understood that Templeton College had a significant disciplinary problem. Many of the students were from the wealthier families of the community and were used to getting their way. Most were not particularly motivated to learn or to study. It was perhaps Mr. Peter's duty to try to improve the standards and reputation of the school. Mr. Peters was known as a tough disciplinarian; for demanding and receiving the best from his students. His methods of discipline were not well received from his wife (at least when he tried to apply them to her) but he had been very well regarded at Abberville. The college board spoke well of his uniquely successful form of discipline. Some faculty were at first concerned about and even opposed to his techniques, but after seeing the immediate and sustained successes he achieved, as well as the praise and gratitude he received from many of the students upon their graduation, they relented. Mr. Peters in fact had won Outstanding Teacher three times over the course of his career at Abberville, although his wife did eventually lehim.
Miss Harding, a professor at Templeton, worked hard to recruit Mr. Peters. She taught Human Biology, and had herself grown increasingly frustrated with the generally spoiled and recalcitrant students that attended their small, private, parochial college. She visited Abberville on numerous occasions to learn of Mr. Peters techniques, but eventually admitted that she did not have the courage to attempt to implement them at Templeton. She therefore thought, 'Why try to mimic the master when you can perhaps have the master?' and she then proceeded to try to entice Mr. Peters to come to Templeton. Mr. Peters eventually acceded to the continued entreaties of Miss Harding. Not only did he receive a significant boost in salary at Templeton, he also had the reassurance that his methods would not be questioned or reviewed, as long as he stayed within the bounds of appropriate propriety and the ethical code of the college.
Upon his arrival he was struck with the student uniforms. Abberville had no dress code. Students simply wore what was popular or of personal interest. At Templeton, all of the students had to wear a traditional school uniform. The girls wore white blouses with black ties, plaid skirts that had to go beyond the knee, white socks, black shoes, and, of course, white panties and bras. The boys wore white shirts, black slacks, and black shoes. None of the girls were allowed to wear perfume, or excessive jewelry or substantial make-up. And certainly none of the young ladies could have tattoos! The latter was relatively more difficult to enforce. However, the students knew that the school nurse might at times be able to see under their clothes, and it was not beyond the matrons of the school to occasionally require a full inspection.
The strict dress code seemed rather ironic, given the lax standards in education. It was said, however, that Templeton made up for weak substance by excellent appearance. Templeton provided an appearance of discipline rather than a reality. And, they seemed to get away with it. The boys and girls rarely violated dress or appearance codes.
Mr. Peters was assigned geography and advanced mathematics for senior students. It soon became evident that he had his work cut out for him. These students had been attending Templeton for two to three years and it was evident that they knew what they could get away with. They did not seem at all interested in their studies, there was constant chatter and giggling in classes, they rarely gave the correct answers, and, even worse, they didn't seem to care. In fact, they often just laughed when a student clearly gave the wrong answer, as if it was all just merry fun. Mr. Peters recognized that he would have to act boldly if he was to have any positive effect on their behavior in the limited amount of time they had left.
He decided to take action in Advanced Mathematics. He had asked the students if anyone knew how to identify the unknown vector within a calculus equation. Sara Kirstin was the first to respond, which was perhaps quite fitting. Sara was one of the more difficult of the students. Sara was a very pretty girl, with long straight brown hair and quite attractive eyes. She reminded Mr. Peters quite a bit of Kristin Davis, with her wide eyes, sweet smile, and naturally good looks. Sara's breasts were not particularly large but they were perky and Sara was quite pleased with them. She really needed very little make-up. She was a bit shorter than Kristin Davis, being about 5'4". Mr. Peters imagined her as a sort-of younger version of Kristin Davis.
Sara conveyed a sense of innocent beauty, but, like the character Charlotte in Sex and the City that Kristin Davis portrayed, she was also the proper daughter of a wealthy family. She was probably a bright girl but didn't seem to have the motivation to apply her intelligence to studying. She did love to show off her good lucks, particularly when it frustrated the boys. She would often twirl her skirt to give them a fleeting peek at her white panties. She might even bend over full from the waist to pick up a "mistakenly" dropped pen or eraser. All of the girls knew that this could give a good show to any fortunate boy who happened to be standing behind her, and so the proper method at Templeton was to bend the knees and squat. But, giving a brief show was precisely the intention of Sara. She knew her displays drove the boys up the wall and she loved it. Each brief glimpse seemed to increase her popularity. Letting them have a quick peek was a small price to pay for their lasting attention and interest.
She never, of course, went beyond these innocent displays. This was a parochial school. Although the academic standards were weak, the behavioral standards were quite strict. No undue make-up, no perfume, and certainly no improper behavior among the students. The parents of the students were very grateful for this, and it was perhaps this special attention to the extracurricular life of the students that pleased them most. They knew what went on at the more liberal colleges. They sent their sons and daughters to Templeton so that they would remain good boys and girls.
Misbehavior was confined largely to the classroom, and Sara had one of the biggest reputations for not taking her classes seriously and for making a joke of assignments. She was not interested in pursuing any particular career. Her goal in life just seemed to be to find a man who would take care of her.
"I know Mr. Peters! Call on me!"
She feigned an enthusiasm, grinning broadly and waving her hand. Mr. Peters could not help but think that it was a youthful Kristin Davis trying to show off to the other students. Other girls soon raised their hands as well, but Mr. Peters felt that he would take the bait and call on Sara, as he knew that she was in fact taking the bait herself.
"Alright Sara. What is the unknown variable."
She smiled sweetly and demurely, pretending to be the good little girl.
"I don't know Mr. Peters but I bet one of the boys will help me" and then gave him an innocent, proud smile. All of the girls and boys laughed. It wasn't a particularly funny joke. In fact, it was kind of stupid, but they were laughing with her for her mockery of the question.
"Miss Kirstin, I know you think that is funny, but I have decided that I can no longer tolerate this sort of behavior. I was asked to join the faculty of this college to instill some discipline and decorum, and it is this behavior that you have displayed that is precisely what I have been asked to correct."
Sara just grinned in response: "What are you going to do Mr. Peters? Spank me?"
