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School Days - The 3 R’s
When I hear it is time for school to start again, it makes me remember my first day of school at Windsor Rural School in Stockport in 1939. By the third grade, in 1942, they called it Stockport Elementary School. Even though that was nearly 70 years ago, it is something I will never forget. I could not figure why it was such a big deal, but I learned quickly that I didn`t like it. I always did like "readin" but never really did catch on to the "riten" and "rithmetic" stuff.
My first grade teacher was "Miss Mary" Simpson. I don`t remember how many years she taught school before she finally retired, but it was a long, long time. And I also don`t know how long I endured school before deciding to go home, but one day I walked out and went home to see my little sister. My Mom was a bit surprised to see me home and did her best to convince me that school was mandatory, not optional. When she took me back to school "Miss Mary "was a bit upset as well -- I think because she didn`t know I escaped!
One day when we were at recess, a classmate came to me and said "We need another guy for our softball team. Come on!" I didn`t have any idea what he was talking about. The only thing I had ever done with a ball was play catch. They said all I had to do was hit the ball with the bat and then run to first base. I watched awhile and said “O.K.” I took the bat, swung three times and everyone yelled "yer out!" so I left. After school that day he asked me why I quit and I said “You said I was out.” So much for my ball playing career – and I never played much ball after that.
The second grade went a little better. I was in a mixed 1st and 2nd grade class with "Miss Mary," and my sister Marie was in the 1st grade on the other side of the room. The real trouble started the next year. For the third grade I had "Miss Lauribel" McCoy. She had dimples in both cheeks, was a little easier going, and I liked her right away.
One day my Mom made me wear short pants to school, which I never did like to do. At recess that day while I was sort of leaning against the building, two older girls came by and started laughing at me. They said "Look at the little girl with the skirt on." That had such an impact on me, that to this day I will not wear shorts! I do own one pair that I have worn to walk the beach a couple times. I told Mom never to send me to school with shorts again, and she never did. For a long time I thought if I ever found out who those girls were I would "give them one up along-side the head" just for kicks. But the more I think about it, after years of seeing all the hairy bow-legged men all over the place with baggy shorts, golf shirts, running shoes with white socks in public, I consider myself lucky that I will not even wear them in my own back yard. If I were to find those girls now I would probably shake their hands.
I think that was the same year we were to put on the play "The Three Little Pigs" and I was to be one of the pigs that got away. I was supposed to be picking apples when the big bad wolf came by and then jump into a barrel and escape by rolling down the hill. We used a step ladder with an apple on top for the tree and a waste basket for the barrel. I climbed the ladder, grabbed the apple, jumped into the waste basket and rolled right off the stage! The waste basket was bigger at the top than the bottom so it wouldn`t roll straight. I remember the teacher saying "oh my!" And I don`t remember what we did on opening nigh -- I think I just rolled across the floor.
Needless to say I never became an actor either. Funny the things one remembers from school days and how many of those things can control one’s life later on!
Bernie Porter
My first grade teacher was "Miss Mary" Simpson. I don`t remember how many years she taught school before she finally retired, but it was a long, long time. And I also don`t know how long I endured school before deciding to go home, but one day I walked out and went home to see my little sister. My Mom was a bit surprised to see me home and did her best to convince me that school was mandatory, not optional. When she took me back to school "Miss Mary "was a bit upset as well -- I think because she didn`t know I escaped!
One day when we were at recess, a classmate came to me and said "We need another guy for our softball team. Come on!" I didn`t have any idea what he was talking about. The only thing I had ever done with a ball was play catch. They said all I had to do was hit the ball with the bat and then run to first base. I watched awhile and said “O.K.” I took the bat, swung three times and everyone yelled "yer out!" so I left. After school that day he asked me why I quit and I said “You said I was out.” So much for my ball playing career – and I never played much ball after that.
The second grade went a little better. I was in a mixed 1st and 2nd grade class with "Miss Mary," and my sister Marie was in the 1st grade on the other side of the room. The real trouble started the next year. For the third grade I had "Miss Lauribel" McCoy. She had dimples in both cheeks, was a little easier going, and I liked her right away.
One day my Mom made me wear short pants to school, which I never did like to do. At recess that day while I was sort of leaning against the building, two older girls came by and started laughing at me. They said "Look at the little girl with the skirt on." That had such an impact on me, that to this day I will not wear shorts! I do own one pair that I have worn to walk the beach a couple times. I told Mom never to send me to school with shorts again, and she never did. For a long time I thought if I ever found out who those girls were I would "give them one up along-side the head" just for kicks. But the more I think about it, after years of seeing all the hairy bow-legged men all over the place with baggy shorts, golf shirts, running shoes with white socks in public, I consider myself lucky that I will not even wear them in my own back yard. If I were to find those girls now I would probably shake their hands.
I think that was the same year we were to put on the play "The Three Little Pigs" and I was to be one of the pigs that got away. I was supposed to be picking apples when the big bad wolf came by and then jump into a barrel and escape by rolling down the hill. We used a step ladder with an apple on top for the tree and a waste basket for the barrel. I climbed the ladder, grabbed the apple, jumped into the waste basket and rolled right off the stage! The waste basket was bigger at the top than the bottom so it wouldn`t roll straight. I remember the teacher saying "oh my!" And I don`t remember what we did on opening nigh -- I think I just rolled across the floor.
Needless to say I never became an actor either. Funny the things one remembers from school days and how many of those things can control one’s life later on!
Bernie Porter
LeilaN |
Latest page update: made by LeilaN
, Sep 17 2008, 11:01 AM EDT
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Keyword tags:
elementary
school
Stockport
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| Started By | Thread Subject | Replies | Last Post | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| anwag | Three Pigs | 0 | Oct 23 2008, 5:25 PM EDT by anwag | ||
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Thread started: Oct 23 2008, 5:25 PM EDT
Watch
I can just see you rolling off the stage
I was in only one play when we were in school Something Down the River on a sunday afternoonnd I can't sing either. |
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