I Remember First Grade 63 Years Ago

Give or take a few bumps, slights, and self imposed embarrassing moments, most of us survive the 1st grade in public school.

In early September, 1945, in upstate N.Y. we wore short pants mostly, and sweaters or long sleeved shirts. These were new clothes and for many of us it was an expensive shopping trip for mom and/or dad. Therefore, before we set out on that 1st day to 1st grade at P.S. #4 Mom or Dad told us don't play in the dirt/mud, be good, don't fight, don't lose your lunch money, etc.

Our teacher would echo much of this and, with the authority she possessed, back then, enforce breaches by invoking her right to smack us and, then tell mom or dad to boot, where one or both would likely smack us again. So, good comportment was extremely important as a defense to avoid physical pain, embarrassment, and for many of us the label "trouble maker."

But on that 1st day there were so many new and different experiences to absorb, we were not really aware of it all. Normally, a smile would say hello, but what if it's rejected. At that age and if you were a new kid you didn't say "hi" you just looked. So we dealt with what we knew and for some of us that was not much, especially, if you didn't know anyone. Under that scenario we would attempt to be unobtrusive, standing away from groups, or even other kids while waiting for the doors to open. The kids who knew each other would rush through the gate into the playground. Those of us who knew no one stayed close to the school doors or sat on the steps in front, waiting. Once on the play ground kids played tag, pushed each other on swings, bounced up and down on the seesaw. For the really active and brave, they played King on the Mountain, getting themselves really grass stained and or dirt stained pushing and shoving each other off, or down the small knoll that passed as the mountain, half of which was grass and half brown dirt. . Already, a "momism" admonishment completely ignored in the glee of expending pent up energy.