For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for September 11, 2020

good question, principal

OK, now to address a comment from yesterday, I was only 10 when I started the sixth grade, and NO I did NOT skip a grade.

“Grade 5 girl” may not have been as little as you believe. Life makes kids grow up so fast these days.

What happened to the little Grade 5 girls? It appears that they learned totally wicked Valspeak (Valley Girl slang) over the summer. As for the girl who has the bouffant hairstyle that Elizabeth compliments in Panel 1, I would be worried about her.

sniff I smell hormones that are beginning to stir! ’D

I do not remember girls acting that way when I was in elementary school. The boys, on the other hand, did act like idiots at that age (trying to see up our skirts, etc.)

They got older just like you. And I bet you were a dork when you were that age.

It’s called “puberty,” and yes, it can start as early as 10 in some girls!

Nothing like a little objectification and sexual harassment. I know what the comments would be if it was a group of boys standing around making similar comments about a girl.

In 8th grade, the shyest girl in class wound up pregnant. She was the last one we expected that to happen to. No surprise that it happened though.

The puberty is strong with this crowd.

Just a fun school story: My daughters (a senior & a sophomore) are doing “remote learning”. They’re both in Orchestra together & their teacher, Mr. P, is a hoot. At one point, my older daughter said something funny/sarcastic, and the younger one “hit” her upside the head. Seeing this on his screen, Mr. P. said, “Wait a minute…you’re sitting NEXT to each other???”

They grew up some.

Lynn knows how it is in high school. Especially in this strip!

I was 12 when I started sixth grade. We did not talk like this until 8th grade

The girl’s grew up, now into boys.

Wow…you can really tell how dated this particular strip is with the expressions they are using! haha! :D Wicked outfit? That was when I was a girl… so funny.

At some point the babies become babes. Not a bad thing, a good thing or a sad thing. Just a thing.

When I started school the cut off was December, my birthday is September so I, and all the Sept, Oct and Nov kids were 10 in the 6th grade until our birthdays. We were also some of the last to get out Driver’s Licenses.

The girls got hormones on Canada Day. The boys have to wait until Christmas.

9/11 – We will never forget

When I taught middle school 6th grade my principal said, “Sixth graders get hormones for Christmas.” That was in the 80’s. I think they get them much younger now.

“Is this the little girl i carried? Is this the little boy at play? I don’t remember growing older, When did they?

When did she get to be a beauty? When did he grow to be so tall? Wasn’t it yesterday when they were small?"

If their moms could hear them, the moms would faint! Then they’d be boiling mad!!

No, we will never forget.

Oh to be young again.

I remember leaving the 6th grade for the Summer. When we all went back three months later for 7th grade, most of the girls showed up with “bigger chests”, if you know what I mean..

Who in the heck ever said “Fresh Flesh”? Is that a Canadian saying?

Hah! They are just noticing boys? I noticed them in Kindergarten. I kissed a really cute one in the cloakroom, and got in trouble. That was 1952. If I did it today, they would probably put me in prison.

It’s called GROWING UP, if you don’t see it happening, you’re not paying attention!

Back 40 years ago or so, and visiting my son’s 6th grade classroom, you knew it was the right place because it stunk! Nothing worse than body odors and hormones to smell up the classroom at that time. I think kids today have better hygiene. The hormones you can’t do anything about.

7 YEARS LATER…

Dear Mom,

Just wanted to let you know I am doing fine. I met a guy who said he is going to put me in his next movie. Isn’t that exciting? He said it is a “stag film”, so I guess that must be the name of the company, probably based out of Red Deer. I will call Tuesday.

Love, Elizabeth

I was going on 20 when I graduated HS- I had to take a grade over because I spent 6 months in a hospital.

Public education: Your tax dollars at work.