Monday, March 12, 2012

High School

I am working on a project, a slideshow on the computer called “Then and Now” for a Museum presentation.

Far Guy and Chance escorted me around town to take some photos. High School

This is the High School that Far Guy and I attended. Far Guy graduated in 1968 and I graduated in 1969. It is apartments now. I would like to go inside and see what it looks like..but we don’t know anyone that lives there. I have a hard time envisioning it being apartments.

I suppose I will always think of the rooms as belonging to the old teachers. Mr. Harold J. taught Chemistry..Tom U. crawled out of the window one day during Chemistry. He was great entertainment..he could dislocate his shoulder at will. Did you know that Bunsen burners will ignite “natural gas” if a student farts?  Yes, I learned great things in Chemistry!  Mr. Bill S. made me put my chewing gum on my nose..just because I forgot to spit it out before class one measly time. He taught Civics..really boring.  I learned nothing in English..I read library books.  I excelled in Advance Biology no doubt partially due to the fantastic teacher Mr. Don S.  I scraped by in Advanced Algebra and a Health Class that taught First Aid and three years of Latin and some assorted History classes that I enjoyed..World History, American History and Current Events..luckily I had Mr. Harold C. for most of the History classes he was a real teacher that taught..really taught. He was particular ..you never answered one of his questions with an “I don’t know” because he would say “That is incorrect, I have taught you the answer, obviously you do not recall.” I met his son and daughter last summer..marvelous individuals..I told them how much I learned from their father and how much I respected him as a teacher.

I wasn’t in band because the Band Leader hollered at girls and make them cry. I was tone deaf anyway.  I knew he and I would not get along. I had him for band lessons one summer, he hollered at me so hard his face turned all red and his eye balls were close to popping out of his head. I cannot sing a note so I was not in choir. I did not take any business classes like steno, typing or bookkeeping..some of the men that taught those classes were always hugging the girls and looking down their blouses..they made my skin crawl. Girls were not allowed to take shop or drafting back then..I most likely would have liked those classes. I barely passed Home Ec when I had to take it. I took Art one year, I always wanted to learn to draw..I must have been a slow learner or he was a lousy teacher because I cannot remember one art project that I took home.

Funny what memories taking a few photos will conjure up! :)

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20 comments:

Gail said...

What a wonderful project this shall be.

Country Gal said...

Sounds like a fun project ! Have a good day !

linda m said...

A trip down memory lane is always fun.

Intense Guy said...

Ah, you got about as much as I did from Chemistry - "it still ends in mystery."

I see my high school every day I drive to work - it was huge when it opened (my older brother was in the first class there - 800 to 900 folks in a graduating class) and they keep adding on to it - I guess they figure they have taxpayer money to burn.

DJan said...

You make me realize how much I missed, since I went to several different high schools as we moved around. My dad was in the Air Force and during my high school years we moved four times. I hardly even remember ONE teacher's name. You are so fortunate to be a part of a community for your entire life.

Far Side of Fifty said...

I think my class graduated 145 students. I knew most of them:)

Karen said...

I wonder what they made the gym into? One big apartment advertised with vaulted ceilings:)
I'm a bit younger than you, and I was lucky to get into the first woodworking class offered to girls when I was in grade ten. I can remember making a candy bowl, salad servers and a spice rack. Notice they are all food related things. I guess they thought the girls still belonged in the kitchen:(
I knicked the knuckle of my middle finger on the band saw. I finally had to give in and ask the teacher for a band aid, and then after that he kept a pretty close eye on my when I was using that machine. I had the scar for years. Still love woodworking.

Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise) said...

You are assigned the coolest projects. What a job! Heeehehehe!

I had a male teacher who would lay his head down on his desk to look put he girls skirts. I go in trouble once time for drapin' my sweater over my knees. He actually stood me behind a door. I never was in trouble. When the Principal walked in and asked what I was doin' behind the door I said, ya want to tell him or do you want me to. Mr. XXXX told me to take my seat. It never happened again.

God bless and have a marvelous day sweetie!!!

RURAL said...

This just shows us how much influence a good or bad teacher can have on a student. Scary isn't it? I think that we can all pick out those that inspired us to become who we are, and those who held us back.

Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams

Dreaming said...

Your memories sparked some of my own!

Rita said...

You are better at remembering names than I am. I can only remember a smattering of teachers names. I remember more of the kids' names. But I do remember a lot of things from high school, so you had me thinking back, too. I graduated in 1968, too. Our class was the first one that offered the girls and guys a chance to switch for one week with home ec and shop--volunteer basis. Very few went for it, but I did. Learned the basics of leather working!! Awesome! The teachers walked around with rulers (especially a couple of them) measuring boys hair (couldn't be longer than 2 inches anywhere on their heads) and girls skirts (we had to kneel on the floor and your skirt couldn't me more than 2 inches off the floor). It was the age of the Beatle's and mini-skirts, but we weren't allowed to participate--LOL! We weren't allowed to wear pants or jeans, so some girls wore granny skirts in protest...and got sent home, too. My sister was four years behind me and could wear jeans and t-shirts and the guys could have long hair. We were the cut off year for the strict rules, I guess. But we were also more respectful of teachers, too. Even the ones we didn't like. ;) You have such a cool job!! :)

LindaG said...

I remember how hard (if not nearly impossible) it was to try and break an egg by squeezing it on both ends.
Loved Science class.

Your project is fantastic. Look forward to getting updated on it. :-)

thecrazysheeplady said...

You know, I don't think kids are getting the same school experiences we did. We had art and music and shop (yes, I got to learn how to use a wood lathe, belt sander, jig saw - all sorts of things I've used more then stupid ole home ec ;-)... Do they even know what a gym uniform IS?!?

Nancy/BLissed-Out Grandma said...

I love the flood of memories that came to you, and the stories from your readers! Like you, I had a mix of teachers...some really challenged and inspired me, and others were worse than useless.

Linda said...

It sounds like you went to the same or at least the same sort of school I did........but....I can't remember that many of my teachers.

Red said...

Does one good to take a look back at high school. Choices were limited. There weren't too many options available. I finished high school in 1957. We had one teacher who taught everything offered. Fortunately he was an excellent teacher.

troutbirder said...

Fine group of teachers those history people. I'm not surprised. :) :) lol

LadyFi said...

Chewing gum on your nose? Oh the things teachers put us through...

Just Stuff From a Boomer said...

Far Guy and I graduated the same year. I would be curious too, on how they designed apartemnts in that old building. What a wonderful thing to do though. My daughters all went to the same high school that I did. It's still there, going strong... but it was new they year before I started 9th grade there. The old 2 story building, like yours, was torn down. Nothing was ever built there. If you get in, let us know.

Lynda said...

There must have been the same rules everywhere in high school because it upstate NY, you could not chew gum in class either. I got in trouble for chewing Aspergum when I had a sore throat. Do you remember it? It supposedly had aspirin in it for the pain. The girls weren't allowed to take "boys" classes at our school either. Your comment about the art class is funny because look how very talented you are with the wood carving and other projects you do. I know I have told you that we are the same age and graduated the same year in HS.