"Talk About" ~ Tuesday 6 Sept.

Never went to any kind of preschool, so my first experience was when I entered kindergarten. To this day I remember the layout of the school as well as the layout of my kindergarten classroom even though I have not been in that school since my family moved at the end of my 1st grade year.

Probably my most vivid memory of kindergarten was an art project where we were suppose to paint a tree. I was not, nor have I ever been very good at drawing or painting pictures and my tree was almost more a triangle glob of paint with a brown line for a trunk than anything even remotely resembling a real tree. When I was done I was mildly criticized since it really did look like I had not tried very hard but after I told the teacher that was my tree how I wanted to paint it I ended up with a gold star and the picture was included in next parent's night at the school.

Academically I really excelled and when I was in first grade the teachers suggested I be moved up to 2nd grade right away since shortly after entering 1st I was reading at a 4th grade level and doing 2nd grade math with ease but because I was already one of the youngest in my class my parents nixed that idea. By the time we moved at the end of 1st grade I was reading at 7th grade levels and doing 4th grade math.

The next school I went to didn't bother to do any kind of placement tests saying that I would be moved into the advanced groups if I demonstrated the ability. Looking back I think they didn't think a kid from the Chicago area schools could be all that advanced. As a result of being put in with the regular kids in 2nd grade I became very bored very fast and couldn't see any point in doing the same work I had already done and mastered. My grades from then on were average at best and i was bored out of my mind in every subject until hitting 5th grade but by then I had become mentally lazy and didn't really try anymore.

I started my academic "career" in 74 and graduated high school in 87. I was 2-2 1/2 months shy of being 5 when I entered kindergarten and 17 when I got my diploma.

My youngest son just entered kindergarten this year. So far he seems to have a really good teacher and he is doing extremely well. The only problem I have with him going to school is getting him to wait until it is time to leave. I had this same problem last year too when he was in preschool.

I just added it up. 38 years between when I was in K and my youngest is in K.

Now I really am feeling old.

 

      I very clearly remember "Kindergarten".....and Nap time with our own personal rugs we brought for it. The daily highlight though was the milk time refreshment....and I was very careful to fold back the carton flaps, so that I had a good pointed opening on the carton.

       The "Red' marking pencils amazed me, and I worked my rear off to wear down the marking end of it, so that I could pull the string to expose more of the writting point.

      In 1st grade, a school bully hit my hand and broke my thumb in two places, ...and back then they used plaster cast of which I wore proudly....and the Principle even signed it for me. It was so cool, and I got lots of attention for it....however I wasn't offering anymore bones to be broken just to impress the kids.

       Good topic Chutz! Thanks!

   SE

I don't know about my first memory of school, but one of my most vivid memories of school was kidnapping (bearnapping?) a teacher's teddy bear mascot on a school camping trip. A friend and I decided that the group needed a bit of light entertainment so we removed Snowy from Greg's tent and spent the entire trip sending clever ransom notes. He never did work out it was us *giggle*

The other - we had a very strange substitute maths teacher for a term in Year 11 (second last year of school). My school was very laid back - left-wing, no uniform, which is unusual here in Australia, teachers known mostly by first names or nicknames, quite informal. This sub-teacher was the complete opposite - wore a suit and tie, carried a briefcase, and was also a very vocal, right-wing Born Again Christian. Needless to say, he *didn't* fit in very well at all. One afternoon, we had a bit of a rebellion, decided we weren't interested in doing work, and he tried to bribe us with snake jellies. Now... using sweeties might work on 6 year olds, but not on 16 year olds... I refused, saying I didn't eat them because I'm vegetarian (true). He asked how I could live with myself knowing that I insulted God on a daily basis by refusing to eat the animals put on this earth for me to eat. I don't believe in God, so told him so, and that it didn't bother me in the slightest. He laughed - very nasty laugh - gave a nasty little smirk, and told me that I was an idiot for not believing, but it didn't matter because I'd go to hell in the end anyway. What the... *blink*

I grew up in Colorado and just before my 4th grade year, we moved to a really nice suburban neighborhood. 4th grade was pretty uneventful...loved my Teacher! It was her first year teaching and she was so nice and fun! about two weeks before school started you got to go up to the school and see who your teacher was and check your class list. My mom took me up to the school to check this for my 5th grade year......and I was devastated! There were 2 teachers for the 5th grade. One was a tiny older lady and the other was Mr. Reveille!!! He was six foot four, very thin, slightly balding, thick glasses and SCARY!!! It was also the first male teacher I had ever had!! To top it off, most of the new friends I had made in 4th grade were in the other class! I spent the next 2 weeks dreading school starting, and I had always loved school before that! The night before school started I cried and said I was not going and I begged my mom to make them put me in the other glass! I am pretty sure it was just to calm me down.....but she told me that she would have me moved to the other class if there were problems with my teacher, but I had to go for at least a week! I was actually shaking when I walked into my classroom that first day and because my maiden name is Baxter....my assigned desk was in the first row and right in front of the teachers desk! I took my seat and fought back the tears!!

Well, I survived my first day....and by the end of the week, I decided that I wouldn't change classes right away...but still wanted the option! By the end of the first month....I adored Mr. Reveille!! He is my All-Time favorite teacher! I got straight A's in his class, was the teachers pet and became his student assistant the next year. during my study hall! When I left elementary school for the 7th grade I cried when I told him goodbye!! I stopped by and visited him several times during the rest of my years in school!!

This is a great topic, because I have not thought of him in Years!!! I am smiling from ear to ear!