Do you remember your first day of school?

I remember a time when I actually wanted it to snow.. and got so excited with the first few flakes falling.. Of course.. I wasn't driving then..........:(
 
I didn't want to go so I pretended I couldn't be awakened. My older sister walked with me and, when she left, I burst into tears. First Grade teacher was "Miss Sue" a very kindly lady who loved children. After the first day, I was fine and enjoyed Grade School all the way.
 

My first day of school was in 1st grade, I don't think they had kindergarten back then in my school. It was a Catholic school, so I had a nun as a teacher. All I can remember is my mother walking me to school, and into the building, then leaving me and telling me she'd be back to pick me up. I don't think I was actually crying, but I was very afraid about being there. I never liked school, even back then. We did do the duck drills under our desks, which was kind of scary to me...of course the nuns were good about scaring all of us anyway, lol. :eek:

I remember them always putting green sawdust over vomit on the floor, there was always some kid upchucking. I never actually got sick, but when I'd see or smell that, I had the gag reflex going down. :sick:
 
Working backwards, it must have been 1937. I remember it very clearly. Because of my December birthday, I was always the youngest kid in class. They started me in first grade. My mother took me the first day and introduced me to Miss Sylvia. I only remember that she was nice, had dark hair and glasses. I bought her a small Narcissus plant. I remember my mother teaching me how to pronounce it.
 
SeaBreeze, I never knew anyone who went to kindergarten then either.

I didn't quite tell all of the story. The first day of 1st grade my aunt (my mom's sister) came by and picked us up because her son (my cousin) was starting his first day, too. We were born 3 months apart. Here is our picture that day. He was a sweet kid.

As soon as we got in the car my cousin started to cry and was still crying and screaming up to the point we got put into separate rooms at school. It scared me but my parents prepared me well for school. His father was a bully and teased us kids about everything---about all the awful things that would happen in school. My cousin went on to have a terrible life and died 2 years ago at age 66. It was a long sad story. I still blame my uncle for a lot of that. He was a real jerk to put it kindly.

Sorry for getting off on a downer story.
 
SeaBreeze said:
My first day of school was in 1st grade, I don't think they had kindergarten back then in my school. It was a Catholic school, so I had a nun as a teacher. All I can remember is my mother walking me to school, and into the building, then leaving me and telling me she'd be back to pick me up. I don't think I was actually crying, but I was very afraid about being there. I never liked school, even back then. We did do the duck drills under our desks, which was kind of scary to me...of course the nuns were good about scaring all of us anyway, lol. :eek:



I remember them always putting green sawdust over vomit on the floor, there was always some kid upchucking. I never actually got sick, but when I'd see or smell that, I had the gag reflex going down. :sick:
Click to expand...

I remember standing in line for our polio boosters in the gym... and Michael Sullivan who was behind me in line puked in my hair... I had to be sent home.... THANK YOU MICHAEL!!!!
 
Nancy, Sea, kindergarten in the US wasn't that popular for 5-y/o till mid 1960s and later so that might account for why many not having attended; most all the kids I didn't know anyone who hadn't gone to kindergarten on up when I was growing up. Might have also been more regional as well.
 
Catholic schools here in Chicago don't have Kindergartens.. so when I went, the kids that were going to attend first grade at a Catholic school went to public school Kindergarten and then transferred.. that's why I thought it was mandatory.
 
And here we think our parents love us, forcing us to go to school even before we have to, the nerve of them. LOL! How could they not want to spend every waking moment in our company.
 
What was it with the poor kids, puking and peeing -- were they maybe freaked out of their skulls and too scared to ask to go the the loo? I never did either, but I saw it happening to others. Sudden institutionalization must do strange things to a kid's digestion. LOL.
 
Yes, some little children were very scared and afraid to speak up, some teachers were cruel and made it hard on little kids who had weak bladders as well, it wasn't always easy for a young child in those days to be thrust into such situations. Accidents did and still happen for children in such age groups. I don't recall having an accident, but, won't say it never did happen to me, I do recall a mean teacher or to demanding some of us hold it in though.
 
NancyNGA said:
SeaBreeze, I never knew anyone who went to kindergarten then either.

I didn't quite tell all of the story. The first day of 1st grade my aunt (my mom's sister) came by and picked us up because her son (my cousin) was starting his first day, too. We were born 3 months apart. Here is our picture that day. He was a sweet kid.

As soon as we got in the car my cousin started to cry and was still crying and screaming up to the point we got put into separate rooms at school. It scared me but my parents prepared me well for school. His father was a bully and teased us kids about everything---about all the awful things that would happen in school. My cousin went on to have a terrible life and died 2 years ago at age 66. It was a long sad story. I still blame my uncle for a lot of that. He was a real jerk to put it kindly.
Click to expand...

Nancy, my condolences about your cousin, so sad. I loved that photo of the both of you, very sweet!
 
You know what made my generation tough was the difference in how we got our starts. In my young days I knew only one person "won", one person came in "first". Everyone who didn't win was a loser to one degree or another. It made us try hard to be that winner. Now, if 100 kids are in a race, they award 100 winners. No wonder so many can't cope later in life when they must deal with not being that winner.
 
NancyNGA said:
SeaBreeze, I never knew anyone who went to kindergarten then either.

I didn't quite tell all of the story. The first day of 1st grade my aunt (my mom's sister) came by and picked us up because her son (my cousin) was starting his first day, too. We were born 3 months apart. Here is our picture that day. He was a sweet kid.

As soon as we got in the car my cousin started to cry and was still crying and screaming up to the point we got put into separate rooms at school. It scared me but my parents prepared me well for school. His father was a bully and teased us kids about everything---about all the awful things that would happen in school. My cousin went on to have a terrible life and died 2 years ago at age 66. It was a long sad story. I still blame my uncle for a lot of that. He was a real jerk to put it kindly.

Sorry for getting off on a downer story.
Click to expand...

SeaBreeze said:
Nancy, my condolences about your cousin, so sad. I loved that photo of the both of you, very sweet!
Click to expand...

Thanks Sea, I was running my mouth so much, I missed that story from Nancy.

Nancy, I'd like to ad my condolences as well, very sad story indeed, so sorry to read of such cruelty to children and of your loss of a family member. Adorable picture of the two of you, such sweet smiles.
 
AZ Jim said:
You know what made my generation tough was the difference in how we got our starts. In my young days I knew only one person "won", one person came in "first". Everyone who didn't win was a loser to one degree or another. It made us try hard to be that winner. Now, if 100 kids are in a race, they award 100 winners. No wonder so many can't cope later in life when they must deal with not being that winner.
Click to expand...

What are you talking about? You think telling five year olds to hold in their pee is building character?
 
I think that our generation was taught to respect authority... so much so that we were in fear of authority.. that could be why so many of us were so afraid. Kids today are not afraid.. If that is good or bad... I'm not going to judge.. Good in some ways.. bad in others.
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top