I have written a few times about attending a one room rural school back in the late 40's. In all ways it was different from what we have today.
Many times we would go to school an hour before it started. Not because we liked school , but so that we could play. There were 17 kids in the school so we were much like one big family. For play we had one ball and one bat. Did we play ball? Well not often. There were seventeen of us so that ends full sides. Some were in first grade so we lose some players there. Some of the girls wouldn't play.
So what did we do. In a school yard there are many things to play with. We went into the school even if the teacher wasn't there. We made toy farms. We built roads in the dirt. We played in the barn but the was a no no. One kid kept an eye out the window in case the teacher was coming out.
Very little supervision took place.
So one thing every little boy had to learn was how to climb a flag pole. This was strictly against the rules but rules only mattered if you got caught.
So on one of these early morning school times , I decided to climb the flag pole. The teacher was walking to school and was about half a mile away. I didn't think she could identify me from that far away. Kids think adults can't see! When I was at the top we all heard a yell. The teacher had seen us but we weren't worried as she wouldn't be able to identify us. Well, she didn't identify me but took the opportunity to lecture all of us about climbing the flag pole.
Climbing the flag pole was a rite of passage. I wonder if there are rites now?
ReplyDeleteI have just read your previous post and I hope you didnt think I was a follower you lost. I have been largely absent of late but only because I don't tend to open my lap top after a long day.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the quotes I read.
Now, I am 55 and I would probably still think I would be unrecognisable on a flag pole at a distance.
I love to imagine all of you at school, unsupervised, playing and learning
Up the flagpole, bold and spry,
ReplyDeleteCertain no one could tell who or why.
But teachers see more than children suppose,
Especially a climber where the school flag goes!
😊
Life was different. One-room schools certainly were part of a bygone era.
ReplyDeleteWhat a different life you had, Red! Glad to hear these tales! I don't think I would ever have been able to climb a flag pole!!
ReplyDeleteGood story from your teaching days. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI just love your stories. I just can't imagine kids getting up earlier to meet at school to play before class started. But then maybe you were up earlier to do morning chores. Did anybody become a firefighter after learning about pole climbing? Linda in Kansas
ReplyDeleteI remember having to climb a rope attached to the ceiling of our gym in high school PE class. It was probably at least 25 if not 30 feet to the ceiling and all they put down was one of those thin wrestling mats if someone fell. I can't imagine that would be allowed in today's lawsuit happy world. I'm guessing you didn't even have a mat underneath the flagpole!
ReplyDeleteKids will be kids!
ReplyDeleteOh my! Well, at least all of this rule breaking fun got you to school on time.
ReplyDeleteThat's a fun memory, thanks for sharing it.
ReplyDeleteFun memory! Glad you made it to the top
ReplyDeleteMay
Lol. I can imagine the lecture, a batch of boys trying their best to look innocent as the teacher talked.
ReplyDeleteOMG! That would have turned all my hair white if I'd seen a kid do what you did. You were obviously very athletic and nimble.
ReplyDelete