Bantam Books, NY; ISBN 0-553-21314-8

Our beloved Anne of Green Gables…now grown up and teaching school

...Anne screamed and sprang back, as if it had been a snake, and Anthony Pye laughed out loud.

"Who put that mouse in my desk?" said Anne. Her voice was quite low, but it made a shiver go up and down Paul Irving's spine….She looked at Anthony Pye, and Anthony Pye looked back, unabashed and unashamed.

"Anthony, was it you?"

"Yes, it was," said Anthony insolently.

Anne took her pointer from her desk. It was a long, heavy, wooden pointer.

"Come here, Anthony."

It was far from being the most severe punishment Anthony Pye had ever undergone. Anne, even the stormy-souled Anne she was at the moment, could not have punished any child cruelly. But the pointer nipped keenly and finally Anthony's bravado failed him; he winced and tears came to his eyes.

Anne, conscience stricken, dropped the pointer and told Anthony to go to his seat. She sat down at her desk feeling ashamed, repentant, and bitterly mortified. Her quick anger was gone and she would have given much to be able to seek relief in tears. So all her boasts had come to this…she had actually whipped one of her pupils. How Jane would triumph! And how Mr. Harrison would chuckle! But worse than this, bitterest thought of all, she had lost her last chance of winning Anthony Pye. Never would he like her now.

(…skip forward one and a half pages. Anne walks to school the next morning…)

Owing to the snow she had to go around by the road to school and she thought it was certainly an impish coincidence that Anthony Pye should come ploughing along just as she left Green Gables lane. She felt as guilty as if their position were reversed; but to her unspeakable astonishment Anthony not only lifted his cap…which he had never done before…but said easily,

"Kind of bad walking, ain't it? Can I take those books for you, teacher?"

Anne surrendered her books and wondered if she could possibly be awake. Anthony walked on in silence to the school, but when Anne took her books she smiled down at him…. Anthony smiled…no, if the truth must be told, Anthony grinned back. A grin is not generally supposed to be a respectful thing; yet Anne suddenly felt that if she had not yet won Anthony's liking she had, somehow or other, won his respect.

(…Anne has no further trouble with Anthony Pye…)

In Oregon today, and possibly in your state, Anne would be a felon (ORS 163.205). She would be hauled to jail and mauled by a child protection system that is out of control. She would never have the redemptive schoolbook-carry scene. She would never have a teaching career. She probably wouldn't marry Gilbert Blythe. Her life would be shattered.

Understand the anti-spanking brigades don't care about damage they cause. They are true ideologues. They have a social agenda to pursue. They have the power; they use it without remorse.