Mr Ricci

Mr Ricci was the woodshop teacher I had in 7th grade. Mr Ricci had quite the reputation. He had been at the school forever, my dad even had him. His nickname was the “CHeese” I believe the nickname came about because he sort of looked like a mouse in the face with his pudgy disposition along with a bushy moustache. The reason he was famous was because he had a bad temper and used to yell and even sometimes assault students. If someone was out of line it wasn’t unusual for Mr Ricci to “chop” the offender. What he would do is put his fingers together so his hand looked sort of like a spatula and then he would deliver a short blow to the sternum with the end of his fingers. It left no mark but was painful enough to make you remember it. Of course this sort of behavior would be outlawed nowadays in our politically correct world. However. although I feared getting the chop, when I compare that to the general disregard students have for their teachers today I think exisiting under the threat of mild physical punishment was a better option. Kids behaved in Mr Ricci’s class and by the end of the year, most actually came to like him.