A Memory from a One Room School. . .

 

Growing up in rural Missouri in the 1950s often times meant you attended a one-room school!

I did.

It's amazing to look at this old photo of our little school and think about all of the incredible experiences that happened within its walls.   Of course a lot of really great learning occurred outside during recesses, too! :)

 

 

At the time the following picture was taken grades one through eight attended school here. . .all students were taught by one teacher.

 

I think I was in third grade that year.  I'm on the front row, third from right.

I look at those sweet little faces from so long ago and wonder about the lives they all had.   I lost contact with most of them as the years went by and we scattered.  One of the wonderful perks about living in this day and age is Facebook because I have reconnected with three of those people!!

Anyway, this post came about this morning as I was thinking about an April Fools Day so many years ago at my one room school.

We had a little room that was our "cafeteria" where we ate lunch.  I don't recall if lunch times were staggered by grades or if we all piled in at the same time, but I do vividly remember  that April day when we were in there.  We were given our little cartons of milk and paper straws to go along with our food.  As we settled down to the business of lunch,  it soon became apparent that we couldn't get the milk to come up through our straws.  What was going on?  That's when we saw how our "cook" was getting a kick out of our straw struggles !  Evidentaly she had poked paper down inside each one as an April Fools joke.

She got us that day. . .and in doing so,  she left a memory that has lasted a life time.

 

 

 

 

I was telling THE STONE RABBIT my story recently.   It made him think about how he'd like to play a little prank on a couple of his fellow concrete bunny pals, so he went to be library and found this awesome  book!

 

 

I hope you have a fun April Fools Day and a great Pink Saturday weekend!

Be sure you visit Beverly's blog, HOW SWEET THE SOUND, for a long list of bloggers who are ready with their weekly shares!

DANA

 

 

Comments

[Beverly]

Happy Pink Saturday, Dana and TSR, too. I told Theodore that yo might be visiting with an April Fools prank. He is ready for you.

Dana, I can't believe you went to school in a one room schoolhouse. That must have been a great environment for the children.

[Karen Riepenkroger]

This is a great post. I lived close to a one room school but went to a two room school - Grades 1-4 and 5-8 each had their own room. Rural living was definitely unique and different from those that went to school in the larger towns (didn't want to say cities as we did not use that terminology in the area where I grew up in northeast Kansas). Thanks again for the walk down "memory lane" on April Fools Day. Love the Stone Rabbit's book that he got from the library!

[LaVoice]

I definitely can realty to your school experience. I go way back. We had several grades in one room. I remember a lot of what went on, but times tends to erase some things. The girls looked forward to Valentine.

[Anne]

I have seen a few one room schoolhouses that are historical buildings these days. Such terrific memories you have shared and your photo is priceless. HPS and I am very happy I stopped by. Enjoy your weekend. xo

[Tobi]

Happy PS Dana! Wow- what a post and what lovely memories! Can you imagine if a lunch lady did that nowadays? Yikes! I had a giggle at your rabbit and his book- nice to visit again! xoxo Tobi and the Pixies

[Ann]

Fantastic post today, I love history and yours is so neat. I LOVE the picture and the memories.
Ann

[jeanne, backyard neighbor]

Hi Dana, I loved this story so much. I lived on a farm in MI and I attended a 4 room school that taught all 12 grades. Our mother graduated from that school as Valedictorian. A tough act to follow. Smile. My cousins in the next township 20 miles away went to a one room school though. It was up to the 8th grade as well.

We did not have a place to eat except in our class rooms. We always packed our lunch. I had a big chuckle over the stuffed straw incident. Remember straws then were not wrapped individually. Love the photo of the school and the class picture. A great post to share.

April fool was always fun when we were young. We always tried to fool people then. I needed ideas from your book. HA!

Have a great week.
Love, Jeanne

[Sarah]

Dana, what a fun memory. Thanks for sharing this bit of history from your youth. I didn't go to elementary school in a small community such as this, but I had a cousin who did. One year before I was in first grade, I visited my cousins and went to school with them for the day. It is a special memory to think of this classroom full of various ages and grades. I often thought of that classroom when as an elementary teacher it became popular to have open classrooms with a non-graded concept. Ha! That concept didnt last long. I think educators realized it was a huge leap from one room to open concept.