The Old Schoolhouse On The Hill

The beginning of another school year brings back special memories of just how school used to be. Even today, I can close my eyes and smell the aroma of those freshly waxed wood floors in the old schoolhouse. Picture if you will for a moment the brightly colored bulletin boards just outside of each room, created by every teacher just for their newly arriving students. One could never forget the genuine smile on the teacher’s faces as he or she invited their class to take a seat. As long as I live, I will believe those teachers were there because they really wanted to be.

The old school on the hill had no air conditioning, and in the south, it is still hot in early September. However, no one even seemed to realize it, probably because few of our homes were air conditioned either. My bones will forever remember just how cold the school could be early in the mornings too. Each room had at least one or two big old radiators in them, and there was a huge furnace in the basement. On winter mornings, the janitor would arrive before everyone else and build a fire in that furnace so heated water could start moving through those old pipes. If you were there you probably still remember the sounds those pipes would make.

Receiving your books was also a special time, especially if you were fortunate enough to get a new book. The smell of fresh clean never opened pages was always exciting. Remember just how carefully you wrote your name in those new books. Even today, books still excite me and there is nothing like the feel and smell of a new book.

Teachers in our day expected and received respect. The last thing you wanted was to hear your parents on the phone with your teacher. You knew that evening would not end well, trust me I know. I will never forget my father’s words, “if you get spanked at school you’ll get a whipping when you get home”.

The cafeteria workers were true miracle workers. In the ‘60s, much of the food served in schools was government surplus; I am talking about large bags of dried goods that today we would ship to third world countries. Even so, they worked their magic and always fed us well. However, looking back I think we had peanut butter balls every other day. Face it you had to do something with all of that rice. Therefore, they took a little peanut butter, some rice, powdered sugar and there you go. Even though I have never been much of a milk drinker there was something about those little cold cartons that made it okay, especially if a little ice had formed in it.

Getting to go out on the playground was always the best part of the day. The old swings, tall slides, and monkey bars we played on, in hindsight were dangerous, but we never hesitated for a moment. Today they would probably be condemned. One of the greatest (and probably stupid) stunts was swinging as high as we could and jumping out as you went forward, flying through the air and landing hard.

Many of us participated in chores around the school as well, probably because they allowed you to get out of class. Some of those included working in the cafeteria or the library. Sometimes you might get the opportunity to sweep the gym floor or the one everybody loved, cleaning the chalk erasers. I would be lying if I said I never beat them on the side of the building, but after the spanking I got, it only happened once.

Those days will linger forever in our minds. The fall festivals were fun, and movies in the gym were about as good as it could get. One time we even had a magician come and perform for us. The thing I remember the most is that every day began with prayer and The Pledge of Allegiance. For all the lack of modern day conveniences, what I will treasure the most was the values, respect and love for our neighbors as well as the three R’s (if you don’t know what that one is ask,) we learned in that wonderful old schoolhouse that sat on the hill.