School Days Long Ago
I am a profound memory cherisher. It is not that I long for days when I was a schoolgirl, only that I hope I can pass some of their significance to my grandchildren’s generation.
My siblings and I began our education during the war-clouded years of the World War II. We and our classmates sang, “Over There,” “Anchors Away,” and “Coming In On A Wing and A Prayer.” We repeated the pledge of allegiance to the flag and heard a Bible Scripture read to us every morning. At first, we learned from the “look-see” method. We were also encouraged to learn “how” to think.
We walked nearly a mile to school, crossing a railroad track to get there. No one had to explain why there was no extra gas to transport us to school. A war was on.
The war affected us as it did all the nation—shortages of goods primarily. My dad served as one of the civil patrol wardens who paroled the city at night to make sure that all houses were darkened by shades—no lights shining anywhere. We got our news from the one radio in the house and listened intently to war news when we could. Three of my uncles in the military were serving overseas.
One Sunday night in December during those war years, our car was stollen from the church parking lot. Our parents had hidden our Christmas gifts—mostly just new clothes–in the trunk. It was a very slim Christmas that year. Months later when the car was found, there were no tires on it, no presents in the trunk, and no gas ration stamps in the glove compartment. From then on Dad borrowed a car from a friend when he needed one.
Finally, when the war ended, so did our nighttime practices for air raids, the buying of U.S. war bonds, and slicing our own bread. We now sang such tongue-wagging songs as “Mares Eat Oats,” and a western tune which pleaded, “Don’t Fence Me In.” In English classes the Holy Bible was often referred to and we began studying Shakespeare.
In high school we were introduced to a Southern activity called Sadie Hawkins Day. While classes were cancelled students came to school dressed in their cleverest costumes to resemble comic book characters from Li’l Abner. The gals ran races to catch the guys. Students enjoyed apple cider for sipping, box lunches for eating, three-legged races, and hayrides on wagons pulled by mules. That night there was a “Sox Hop”— far more fun than a sophisticated junior-senior prom. Besides it was a low-cost way to enjoy a school dance. 1
Then there was Armistice Day. Precisely at 11:00 a.m. on November 11th each year, a parade made its way down the short Main Street of town and around the circular lake. At least a dozen bands from neighboring towns played their patriotic tunes and groups of veterans and Boy and Girl Scout troops marched. Civic leaders waved from their cars while hundreds gathered on the sidewalks watching the parade. We lined the sidewalks with hand over hearts and a lump in our throats whenever Old Glory passed by. We felt the patriotism and we showed it. We didn’t just give lip service.
After the parade, hundreds made their way over to the County Fairgrounds where there was a carnival with amusing rides, booths of games and food, and lots of animals to admire. Finally, going home late at night we had tummy aches and kewpie dolls.
Just before graduation, another war over a country called Korea was about to change our lives once again. Guys in the senior class who turned 18 could sign up for the service of their choice or wait for Uncle Sam to draft them into the Army. Five very close buddies dropped out before graduation to enlist in the Navy, hoping they could do basic training together. So, a group of us young women stood at the train station one Saturday, waving tear-drenched hankies as we yelled our goodbyes.
Two years later a group of us college juniors –all gals–headed to Washington D.C. to do our patriotic duty and work as typists for various branches of the military. We rode on overpacked trains ourselves and some of the men in uniform graciously gave us their seats. We stayed at our jobs until the fighting ceased and then we returned to college.
Probably my school life sounds corny and unsophisticated to a modern generation. But I sometimes reach into these memories to explain to my grandchildren how much it meant to us to have the Bible read before we started class and what patriotism meant to us.
Prayer: Father, thank You for Your many blessings and for Your hand in guiding us through difficult seasons. Help us to show love and compassion to others going through trying times. Amen.
Footnote: Li’l Abner was a sweet natured male who lived in a fictional clan of hillbillies in Dogpatch, USA, featured in the satirical comic strip created by Al Capp. Of course, no one would have come to our school dressed as skimpily as Daisy Mae who finally got Little Abner for her husband. The comic strip was a popular culture phenomenon in its day with Sadie Hawkins dances taking place before the big race day when gals ran to catch their beaus. It was eventually celebrated in 40,000 different locations, mainly schools. It even ended up on Life Magazine cover in 1952. Today it would probably be hit with criticism, even disdain, and not seen so much as the comical fun day it turned out to be.
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