Feb 12, 2004

ON MY BOOKSHELF

“The Lords of Discipline”
By Pat Conroy

Joe Reghitto, 24,
sixth grade teacher at Pomcroy Elementary School and musician

Former Simond’s Elementary School student Joe Reghitto is finally getting a taste of his own medicine.

“When I was younger I spent lots of time in the principal’s office for mouthing off,” said Reghitto. “I used to like to give teachers a hard time.”

However, now, armed with a bachelor’s degree, the better part of a master’s, Reghitto is learning what it’s like on the other side, as a sixth grade teacher at Pomcroy Elementary School in Milpitas.

“Kids are crazy,” said Reghitto. “Last fall I caught some kid eating a worm during class. I told the kid to knock it off and he asked, ‘Why?’”

Stunned, Reghitto was forced to re-evaluate his disciplinary measures while he watched the kid finishing off the worm.

It’s been a different story since then.

“You have to have a game plan,” said Reghitto. “The kids are out for war.”

Recently, while pondering the most effective disciplinary actions for ‘worm eaters’ and other classroom disturbances, Reghitto read Pat Conroy’s “The Lords of Discipline.”

Conroy’s “The Lords of Discipline” is set in the early ’60s at a southern military institute.

The main character, Will McLean, must attend the school where his father and grandfather are alumni, because McLean had promised his father that he would while the father was on his deathbed. However, upon arriving, McLean soon learns what a terrible place a military institute can be.

As freshman, McLean and his fellow underclassmen are tortured and hazed within inches of their lives. But through common adversity and needs, four boys develop strong friendships and lifelong loyalty.

Later, as an upperclassman, McLean is called upon to harass a younger, new cadet, Pearce. Pearce happens to be black and McLean finds himself caught in the middle of an enormous controversy when an underground student group moves to have Pearce bullied out of school.

“I liked everything about this book,” said Reghitto. “Conroy is the most vivid writer that I’ve ever read. I liked it because you never know how much stuff goes on behind the scenes. As for my students…I just tell them about it and let them know how lucky they are not to have to go to a military school.”

—By Justin Petersen