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Problem Child - The View From The Principal's Office: Improbable Tales From A Hyperactive Childhood
This is not a memoir, it's a sorta-was, a collection of 25 humorous short stories that date back to the days of the "unsupervised sixties."
Problem Child takes you inside the hyperactive and somewhat Machiavellian mind of Robb Lightfoot, the kid who had his own special reserved seat in the principal's office. He wasn't looking for trouble, it just found him. He was president and sole member of Highland Elementary's short-lived rock-throwing club, a chewing gum connoisseur, and woodshop survivee.
Robb's recollections are part truth and part tall tales. Learn why school is unlike Jeopardy! and why too much knowledge may be hazardous to your health.
Some of these tales happed almost exactly as written, others are a combination of pranks, misunderstandings, and mishaps that have been combined. Still others are epic stories that have grown with each telling, and form a part of the Lightfoot's family lore.
A key point in these stories is that usually, Robb is trying to do the right thing and getting it all wrong. His allies are a patient principal, a tolerant mother, and neighbors who have their own quirks.
The stories cover Robb's grade school years, and include a cast of his friends. Just like in the TV Show Dragnet, the names have been changed to protect the innocent.
Problem Child is dedicated to the late Principal Tom Lewis, who eventually set up an extra desk in his outer office for Robb to take his time outs, reflect, and read.
Author Robb Lightfoot went on to complete his studies and enter education as a profession. He now lives, teaches, and writes in Northern California, and owes a great deal to the very patient faculty and staff at Highland Elementary in Oildale.
Problem Child takes you inside the hyperactive and somewhat Machiavellian mind of Robb Lightfoot, the kid who had his own special reserved seat in the principal's office. He wasn't looking for trouble, it just found him. He was president and sole member of Highland Elementary's short-lived rock-throwing club, a chewing gum connoisseur, and woodshop survivee.
Robb's recollections are part truth and part tall tales. Learn why school is unlike Jeopardy! and why too much knowledge may be hazardous to your health.
Some of these tales happed almost exactly as written, others are a combination of pranks, misunderstandings, and mishaps that have been combined. Still others are epic stories that have grown with each telling, and form a part of the Lightfoot's family lore.
A key point in these stories is that usually, Robb is trying to do the right thing and getting it all wrong. His allies are a patient principal, a tolerant mother, and neighbors who have their own quirks.
The stories cover Robb's grade school years, and include a cast of his friends. Just like in the TV Show Dragnet, the names have been changed to protect the innocent.
Problem Child is dedicated to the late Principal Tom Lewis, who eventually set up an extra desk in his outer office for Robb to take his time outs, reflect, and read.
Author Robb Lightfoot went on to complete his studies and enter education as a profession. He now lives, teaches, and writes in Northern California, and owes a great deal to the very patient faculty and staff at Highland Elementary in Oildale.
174 pages, Paperback
Published December 30, 2015
420 people want to read
About the author
Robb Lightfoot
16 books28 followersMy storytelling career began in kindergarten. Mother made a deal with Mrs. Berry, my teacher. "Don't believe what he says happens at home and I won't believe what he says happens at school."
In first grade, I spent much of my time in the principal's office. Poor Mr. Lewis tried to convey the finer points of classroom etiquette... wait until you're called upon was his main message. But there's always so much to talk about! Today, in addition to writing, I get paid to talk--I teach speech, debate and literature-in-performance.
My first paid writing gig was as a reporter at The Bakersfield Californian, and I learned to write under deadline pressure. I was lucky enough to get coaching from editors of the New Journalism school that favored colorful, crisp writing. After a few years, though, I decided a job with more regular hours was better suited to the demands of raising a family. I made it into the classroom by way of Public Relations and master's in speech communication. My thesis was stories to see how credible they were. Odd, isn't it. The main theme of our adult lives can often be seen in our earliest days.
Today, I finally have time to devote to writing again after many years of raising four kids. My wife of 30 years in working an a PhD in Public Health, and she teaches public health nursing at CSU Chico. I'm still teaching at Shasta College, in Redding, but whenever possible I write. I'm presently working on my third book, Memoirs of a Problem Child--a humorous collection of tall tales. Think of it as a "sortawas."
You can reach me at www.robblightfoot.com or robb@robblightfoot.com
In first grade, I spent much of my time in the principal's office. Poor Mr. Lewis tried to convey the finer points of classroom etiquette... wait until you're called upon was his main message. But there's always so much to talk about! Today, in addition to writing, I get paid to talk--I teach speech, debate and literature-in-performance.
My first paid writing gig was as a reporter at The Bakersfield Californian, and I learned to write under deadline pressure. I was lucky enough to get coaching from editors of the New Journalism school that favored colorful, crisp writing. After a few years, though, I decided a job with more regular hours was better suited to the demands of raising a family. I made it into the classroom by way of Public Relations and master's in speech communication. My thesis was stories to see how credible they were. Odd, isn't it. The main theme of our adult lives can often be seen in our earliest days.
Today, I finally have time to devote to writing again after many years of raising four kids. My wife of 30 years in working an a PhD in Public Health, and she teaches public health nursing at CSU Chico. I'm still teaching at Shasta College, in Redding, but whenever possible I write. I'm presently working on my third book, Memoirs of a Problem Child--a humorous collection of tall tales. Think of it as a "sortawas."
You can reach me at www.robblightfoot.com or robb@robblightfoot.com
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 7, 2016
Robb Lightfoot shares stories from his own childhood as a hyperactive boy trying to make sense out of a world which has little patience for him. Young Robb inability to decipher pretty much any of the social cues children are expected to understand combined with his boundless energy lead to some very funny experiences. His description of a boy trying to capture bees in a jar is dead on. The adults surrounding young Robb are of little help. His father is impatient, his mother’s accepting, and his teachers are clueless.
Occasionally the tales feel exaggerated for the sake of humor, which is too bad because reality is more touching. In addition, the author only shares humorous stories. A few poignant or sad memories would give a more rounded view of Robb’s childhood troubles.
This book should be required reading for elementary school teachers. It gives a clear look in to young boy’s thought processes.
I want to thank the author for giving me the opportunity to read this book. Disclaimer: The author gave me an advanced copy in exchange for this review.
Occasionally the tales feel exaggerated for the sake of humor, which is too bad because reality is more touching. In addition, the author only shares humorous stories. A few poignant or sad memories would give a more rounded view of Robb’s childhood troubles.
This book should be required reading for elementary school teachers. It gives a clear look in to young boy’s thought processes.
I want to thank the author for giving me the opportunity to read this book. Disclaimer: The author gave me an advanced copy in exchange for this review.
July 21, 2016
I received this book as part of a Goodreads Giveaway. A well written, funny collection of stories that are somewhat based on facts, but some might be embellished with fiction, according to the author. This was a quick and enjoyable read, it made me recall all the similar troubles my brothers got into while growing up in the 60s and 70s. The author was misunderstood by his teachers in elementary school since he was so much more advanced than most of the other students. He knew all the answers to the questions but his teachers didn't like the way he acted in class hence he was often in trouble and in the principal's office. His antics at school and at home tested the patience of all the adults in his life.
June 23, 2016
It's a book compiled of 25 short stories. The title was a bit misleading to me, I was expecting to dive into the life of a troubled child, but instead it was about about a pleasant family living an ordinary life doing ordinary things. It's a fun, short read, a lot of the stories tend to be a bit repetitive at times. Overall, I enjoyed this book. It's an extremely 'Feel Good' book that brought back some of my found moments of early adolescence. This is an easy reader and for what it is, I rate it four stars out of five.
October 22, 2016
I received a free, signed copy of this book from a Goodreads giveaway. A light, fun read, Robb's telling of his mischievous childhood is laugh out loud funny. His writing flows very well and although the situations mentioned in his short stories seem a little repetitive at times, Robb has an evident gift of writing. I am so thankful that he signed my book and am very glad that I entered to win this book in a giveaway, I would recommend it to anyone looking for a good laugh!
August 11, 2016
Wonderfully written and very informative. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and I believe you will to. Won courtesy of Goodreads Giveaways
May 11, 2016
This book was very well written. Very easy to read and funny. My children loved the stories I read to them. You will enjoy this whether you visited the principal's office or not.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews