I ave a friend whose son would constantly act up. Kid was extremely smart and for the most part bored. His father would always tell him whatever he had done would be on his “permanent record” and keep him from getting a good job. His son asked him if anyone ever asked to see his and that was the last time he mentioned it.
I actually saw mine once when I was in Junior High. It was a reference document for teachers and administrators so they would know what to expect from a student. I don’t know if they still exist or if they are still used, but back before 1965 it certainly was real.
At my 50th HS class reunion we were on a tour of the present-day high school and passing thru the (nicely remodeled) admin offices when I asked if I could see my permanent record. After everybody stopped laffing, the principal (who was guiding our tour) said in all seriousness that I’d normally be able to, but that particular 5-year batch of files was out for digitizing. So apparently they really ARE permanent.
It was the 1970s, okay? I was a teen-ager and I had a perm. It seemed like a good idea at the time. After a childhood of brush cuts that I did not like one bit*, I wanted long hair. But I didn’t like it getting in my eyes while I was attempting sports, and it was wavy and unruly and, when you got right down to it, didn’t look all that great long or short, and a family friend who was a hairdresser really thought I should give a perm a try, so there you go.
It occurred to me then that doing anything to something that grew as much as hair didn’t really have any business being called a “permanent.” But it was a good way to start learning what I’ve kept learning: That very, very little is at all permanent. Sic transit gloria everything.So it works out.
My curly-haired tenure in particular would not be terribly permanent. I had it done more than once, but I disliked the procedure enough, and the couple weeks of burning every time I’d sweat into my eyes, that I’d go far too long between perms. It was not a good look. On the other hand, I certainly got that long hair I wanted. Another wish granted that would turn out to be far short of permanent.
________________________
*Interestingly, I’ve now been voluntarily shaving my head for much longer than I had to endure the brush cuts.
22 years seems specific. 22 years ago would be Feb 3, 1998, the same day that this kid made a questionable class presentation:https://www.gocomics.com/calvinandhobbes/1988/02/03
eromlig almost 5 years ago
You were both fighting, so you were both guilty!
Kind&Kinder almost 5 years ago
I think my permanent record turned to dust years ago.
sandpiper almost 5 years ago
She gave it a second thought and decided to pass.
Masterskrain almost 5 years ago
Seriously, do teachers STILL use the old “Permanent Record” lie???
SusanSunshine Premium Member almost 5 years ago
I dunno… it still bothers me when Frazz outright undermines a teacher….
I know he always advocates for the kids, which is good, when they’re being treated unfairly.
Mrs. Olsen’s teaching may be old fashioned and her discipline can be overblown… she’s set up to be the butt of jokes.
But does that make it OK for the school janitor to actively teach a student to disrespect and challenge her at every step…
and to ignore, or mock all her attempts at keeping order, without reference to any other authority?She may be silly, but I don’t think she’s cruel…
and today’s classrooms can be totally out of control if there’s no mutual respect.
Oakwood13 almost 5 years ago
I ave a friend whose son would constantly act up. Kid was extremely smart and for the most part bored. His father would always tell him whatever he had done would be on his “permanent record” and keep him from getting a good job. His son asked him if anyone ever asked to see his and that was the last time he mentioned it.
well-i-never almost 5 years ago
Bingo nothing. They keep those in a locked file cabinet. I’ve seen ’em! Need-to-know only, like HIPAA records. Never let your guard down!
garcoa almost 5 years ago
The “permanent record” is etched in Mrs. Olsen’s brain. I betcha she can tell wonderful stories about Frazz.
micromos almost 5 years ago
Frazzled is 28 at least?
Teto85 Premium Member almost 5 years ago
School districts are obliged to destroy them when the student graduates from high school in some states.
sundogusa almost 5 years ago
The only permanent record is the memory of a teacher/principal from long ago years. Eventually those records disappear.
Jan C almost 5 years ago
I actually saw mine once when I was in Junior High. It was a reference document for teachers and administrators so they would know what to expect from a student. I don’t know if they still exist or if they are still used, but back before 1965 it certainly was real.
Richard S Russell Premium Member almost 5 years ago
At my 50th HS class reunion we were on a tour of the present-day high school and passing thru the (nicely remodeled) admin offices when I asked if I could see my permanent record. After everybody stopped laffing, the principal (who was guiding our tour) said in all seriousness that I’d normally be able to, but that particular 5-year batch of files was out for digitizing. So apparently they really ARE permanent.
David Rickard Premium Member almost 5 years ago
Teachers lie about the permanent record? I’m so relieved!… and oddly disappointed.
Tycho_MX almost 5 years ago
Can’t hear this without the Violent Femmes song popping out in my head :)
Concretionist almost 5 years ago
Frazz’s point, maybe, is that the permanent record is there but it’s never looked at, and so might as well be erasable.
PS: Reminds me of the old IT joke that your hard drive has self-converted to write-only memory.
cissycox almost 5 years ago
Are today’s permanent records your social media history? I understand college admissions and hp people do look at that these days.
Night-Gaunt49[Bozo is Boffo] almost 5 years ago
Blog Posts Fraz 17 hrs ·
It was the 1970s, okay? I was a teen-ager and I had a perm. It seemed like a good idea at the time. After a childhood of brush cuts that I did not like one bit*, I wanted long hair. But I didn’t like it getting in my eyes while I was attempting sports, and it was wavy and unruly and, when you got right down to it, didn’t look all that great long or short, and a family friend who was a hairdresser really thought I should give a perm a try, so there you go.
It occurred to me then that doing anything to something that grew as much as hair didn’t really have any business being called a “permanent.” But it was a good way to start learning what I’ve kept learning: That very, very little is at all permanent. Sic transit gloria everything.So it works out.
My curly-haired tenure in particular would not be terribly permanent. I had it done more than once, but I disliked the procedure enough, and the couple weeks of burning every time I’d sweat into my eyes, that I’d go far too long between perms. It was not a good look. On the other hand, I certainly got that long hair I wanted. Another wish granted that would turn out to be far short of permanent.
________________________
*Interestingly, I’ve now been voluntarily shaving my head for much longer than I had to endure the brush cuts.
DanielSmith1 almost 5 years ago
22 years seems specific. 22 years ago would be Feb 3, 1998, the same day that this kid made a questionable class presentation:https://www.gocomics.com/calvinandhobbes/1988/02/03