by Bobby Keith

Created on: June 13, 2007   Last Updated: June 19, 2007

I recently had the opportunity to watch a DVD of the old Andy Griffith Show. You remember that show, don't you? Sheriff Andy Taylor and his trusted deputy, Barney Fife keeping the town of Mayberry safe from all evil doers. In one particular episode, the evil doer was a young boy by the name of Arnold Winkler.

Arnold's big crime? Riding his new bicycle on the sidewalk, knocking down little old ladies as they exited the grocery store.

Andy and Barney catch this boy in the act, and in accordance with the law, they impound the boy's bike.

Arnold soon comes to the courthouse with his father to retrieve the bike. His father can't believe that Sheriff Taylor has taken his son's bike away for such a minute infraction of the law, and a heated debate ensues. Andy tells Mr. Winkler that while Arnold is too young to be locked up, he is not. Arnold responds by yelling, "Go ahead! Lock my father up! He won't care, he's tough!"

At that moment, Mr Winkler realizes that Arnold is a spoiled brat, and asks Andy if he can have the bike back, so he can sell it. Arnold's response? More yelling. "You can't sell my bike! It's my bike!"

Then, Andy makes an offer to Mr. Winkler that would shock many people today. He offers to allow Mr. Winkler and Arnold to continue their discussion behind the courthouse, where there is a nice woodshed.

"A good old-fashioned woodshed?", asks Mr. Winkler.

"A real nice one.", responds Andy.

Mr. Winkler proceeds to take Arnold to the woodshed, Arnold screaming the enitre time.

Can you imagine how this would play on television today? The same way that it is played in our society today.

When this episode of The Andy Griffith Show was filmed, spanking was they way a parent dealt with a child who misbehaved. You remember hearing of those days, don't you?

Those were the days when children respected their elders. They went to school, respected their teachers, studied reading, writing, and 'rithmatic, and you never heard of a child taking a gun to school to kill classmates. If you were caught just chewing gum in class, during that time, you would be punished.

Oh yeah, they even spanked children in school back then.

When children were in a public place, they behaved. They didn't yell and scream, or if they did, they didn't do it for long. They knew what was waiting for them when they got home if they acted that way.

Those were the days when I was a child. I can remember getting spanked when I misbehaved. My parents used their hands, belts, paddles, and a good ol' hickory

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