 On The Line -- Issue 650 -- August 31, 2007  Online News and Views of Life in San Benito County with Herman Wrede Published by HollisterOnline.com -- Copyright 1995-2008 HollisterOnline.com
|
|
On The Line -- Issue 650 -- August 31, 2007 Online News and Views of Life in San Benito County with Herman Wrede Published by HollisterOnline.com -- Copyright 1995-2008 HollisterOnline.com
|
|
Resumption of school after summer vacation stirs memories in most American adults, and the older the person the more glowing the memories of the first days -- or years -- of his own experience.
September 1939 was a month fraught with history, especially with Germany invading Poland and precipitating World War II. But in my Toledo neighborhood it meant that several of its most promising scions were about to be launched into their formal education. I struck a more nonchalant air that the others because at nearly six I already was a veteran with a year of nursery school and another of kindergarten behind me. My older brother, Larry, had taught me the alphabet and how to read when I was four. Even so, I did not feel jaunty. This was the big time. We were entering into a system that would demand years upon years of our lives in exchange for advantages to us of whose benefits we were unsure. I affected a confidence I did not wholly feel on that first morning walk to Marshall School with Wayne Helms, Kenny Spaulding and Ralph Frye. Kenny also had gone through kindergarten but was worried about his ability to learn reading and writing and other mysteries that would be demanded of us before too long. Our mothers had glowed enthusiastic about our glowing future through education, even though they were poignant about their babies leaving the nest to develop their fledgling wings in the outside world. They took us shopping for suitable attire or remade a few items at the sewing machines, and they helped us select the items demanded of young scholars as suggested in a flyer sent to each new student's home. Wayne, Kenny, Ralph and I had decided in the color of pencil box each would get - red -- as a symbol of solidarity. They were constructed of a durable cardboard, and each contained two yellow pencils, a large eraser, two wooden pens, with attachable steel points, a compass and small bottle of ink. (My grandmother harrumphed, "When I went off to school, I had a slate, a stick of chalk and a sponge"). Ralph piqued our envy as the only one of us to wear long trousers that first morning. Wayne, in short pants, affected not to notice. Kenny and I were quite dapper in knickers with long stockings that met them. Mine were corduroy and whistled at every step, and I had a matching cap. We all wore ties befitting the solemnity of the occasion. Teachers of all grades were smilingly waiting for us in the schoolyard as the students arrived. A few circulated to direct the young scholars to the appropriate areas. Older boys and girls flocked to signs for fourth grade students, fifth grade and so on. Two teachers herded the first-graders to their areas. Then students from the same classes were assigned to their new teachers and Wayne and I were as shocked as Kenny and Ralph were when we discovered we were not to have the same teacher that they had. As Miss Hildebrand, Wayne's and my teacher, led us off to her class, the seasoned second-graders taunted us with "babies, babies" until they were made to shush. In our room, Miss Hildebrand introduced herself and said that we were starting on a wonderful adventure. She was a tall, thin lady of advanced age. Her white hair was done in a bun, she wore steel-rimmed glasses and had a beautiful smile that put us at ease immediately. For much of that first morning, she rhapsodized about the subjects we would soon master, and repeated several times the golden opportunity given to us that many people in many other lands -- "and even some in our own wonderful country" -- never had. She taught us a simple song and played the piano while we sang with her. She conducted guessing games between the boys and girls - "I am a white bird with a yellow bill and webbed feet that likes to play in the water. What am I?" "A duck!" everyone responded except Wayne who whispered from the seat next to mine, "A zebra." After a pleasant morning of getting acquainted with Miss Hildebrand and our new surroundings, she said. "Because it's the first day, you may go home now. But tomorrow and after you will spend a full day in the classroom." She also said that we should bring a lunch or 10 cents to eat in the cafeteria, I held forth at length on school and Miss Hildebrand when I got home and asked when I could get a pair of long trousers. The excitement continued until routine dulled it somewhat so we were properly enthusiastic about the weekends and school-free holidays. Personalities and types emerged from what had been a mostly unknown mass of strangers that first day. The class scholars, the clowns, the regular boys and girls, tattle-tales and the occasional bully became admired or disliked or simply tolerated. School provided us all with a basic education, and for some a desire to go on learning. For a relative few it was an onerous duty quickly put aside upon reaching 16. But everyone learn3ed to read, write, do sums and to get along with each other and obey rules. Doing one's own thing was decades off in education as was passing a student who had not grasped lessons so his feelings would not be hurt. It was an early lesson in life: do the work and get ahead. Today's technology was undreamed of then as tomorrow's will be to today's students. We seemed to have fewer social problems because our classrooms were not overcrowded, drugs were not an issue in Toledo of that time, and we had been taught to respect authority, which included teachers. This is not a diatribe against the students of today. Most are decent youngsters who will become decent adults. Many of today's teachers are inspired persons who will do their best to bring out the best in their students. I have a hunch that although nearly seven decades have passed, Miss Hildebrand would be extremely optimistic about the first-graders of today and would convey that same excitement in learning to them as she did to Wayne and me. |
 |
