From: Kifflie Scott <kscott>
Date: Wed, 09 Aug 2000 09:40:18 -0500

I just have to say a few words about my favorite Cleary "bad boy," Otis Spofford. I will never forget how he used to plague Ellen Tebbits and her friends. When I was his age, I was a "goody two-shoes," like Ellen, and I went to school with plenty of boys like him.

I read "Otis Spofford" when I was in fourth or fifth grade. I will never forget the scene where Otis's teacher, Mrs. Gitler, comes up with a unique way to "cure" him of his spitball-throwing habits.

Somehow, Beverly Cleary manages to make Otis likeable in spite of all the rotten things he does. He dishes out a lot of grief, but he takes his consequences with good humor.

I do wonder how an Otis Spofford would be handled in today's modern classroom. Would he be given an ADD diagnosis and doped up with Ritalin?

-Kifflie

Kifflie H. Scott Assistant Youth/Reference Librarian Maude Shunk Public Library Menomonee Falls, WI
Received on Wed 09 Aug 2000 09:40:18 AM CDT