The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

Urban Legend

THE INFORMANT TOLD ME THAT STUDENTS ACTUALLY BELIEVE THAT THERE
WAS A PROFESSOR WHO USED TO THROW THE EXAMINATION PAPERS UP THE
STAIRS AS HIS METOD OF GRADING THEM. THOSE THAT LANDED ON THE
HIGHER LEVEL GOT "AS", THE NEXT STEP GOT "BS" AND SO ON DOWN
UNTIL THE BOTTOM STEP WERE THE STUDENTS WHOSE PAPERS LANDED THERE
RECEIVED "FS".

Submitter comment:

HE (THE INFORMANT) TOLD ME THAT THIS PRACTICE WAS ATTRIBUTED TO DR.
H. THEODORE HOFFMAN OF THE ECONOMICS DEPARTMENT AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated / 02-24-2011 / TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ACADEMIC ; Grade ; Legend ; MYTH ; Stairs ; Student ; TEACHER ; URBAN

View just this record

Proverb

Flunk now and avoid the June rush.

Submitter comment:

Grade school pun.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Keyword(s): ACADEMIC ; Aphorism ; Apothegm ; Fail ; Flunk ; Grade ; June ; Maxim ; PROVERB ; PUN ; SCHOOL ; Summer ; VERSE

View just this record

Jump Rope Rhyme

Jump-Rope Rhyme:

Teacher, teacher with a stick
What's my grade in arithmetic?

A..B..C..D..E..F..A..B..C..

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs Added by TRD

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

Keyword(s): Arithmetic ; Entertainment ; GAME ; Grade ; Jump Rope ; RHYME

View just this record

TO WARD OFF THE "COOTIES" SO COMMON TO ALL GRADE
SCHOOL CHILDREN, A GESTURE OF 2 FISTS TOGETHER WITH THE
THUMBS EXTENDED IS MADE.

Data entry tech comment:

DIAGRAM IS ON 5 X 8 CARD.

Updated By TRD for BN. Card Info Update is Forthcoming.

Where learned: DORM ROOM

Keyword(s): BEHAVIOR ; BELIEF ; CHILDHOOD ; CHILDREN ; Classroom ; COOTIES ; CUSTOM ; Fists ; GAME ; GESTURE ; Grade School ; SLANG ; Thumb

Date learned: 10-10-1969

View just this record