Noel
I began my elementary education at the Easton California Elementary School, a long, one-story building. It was about a block or two from our home. We walked every day. Every room opened out to the outside with an extended outside corridor that was covered. Each grade had its own classroom, which meant we also had the same teacher for the year. Had a large playground.
I tried to play in the elementary Orchestra… played the violin, which my sister Pat played. My recollection of playing the violin was short-lived. Don’t think I picked it up very well. My sister did much better than I did, so she continued on through her elementary school years.
I don’t remember much about school. Don’t remember any of my teachers. One time in third grade, the teacher wanted me to stay after school. Staying after school, in my mind at that time meant that I did something wrong and was probably going to be punished for it, so towards the end of the school day, I left and hid in our neighbor’s shed. Found out it wasn’t anything I did. She just wanted me to stay for a few minutes to help her in the classroom. I learned that “to stay after school” did not always mean you would be punished.
In December of my Fifth Grade, we moved to Ruskin, Nebraska. I attended a rural school called Prairie Home School, about one-half mile from the parsonage where we lived by the church. We mostly walked that half-mile, yes, even in the winder. We cut across the neighbors’ field, and so within a few weeks, we had a path through the field. Once in a while, my brother and I would ride one of Mom’s Grandpa’s horses and usually rode them bareback with no harness, just a rope around the horse’s neck. The school had a horse barn where we could keep the horses.
One teacher for all the grades. The teacher always drove and brought a large canteen of water for us to drink each day. Didn’t have a restroom, only an outhouse, which is terrific in the wintertime. Since we came in December, it was only a week or two before the school Christmas program. So our family was given small parts in the program. Even Mary had a role, even though she wasn’t attending school. Her part was: “Please be patient, please do smile. We’ll be through in a little while.”
Two years later, they closed down the country school and we all went into Ruskin, three miles north of where we lived. All grades, up through High School met in the same building. High School was on the top floor (3rd). Our gym was downtown, about three blocks from the school. That’s where basketball, volleyball, and school plays were held.
Since the population of Ruskin was about 200, the school was small. When I entered High School there were just eight in my class. Six boys and two girls. Fortunately, we had some great teachers. One that stands out the most is my Coach, Sam Somerhalder. Great guy. The only trouble I got into in High School, is where I turned and blocked the aisle between seats so a girl could not get through. The principal happened to walk in at the time, so he gave me a good talking to.
Played in the band for a couple of years. But sports was more to my liking. I played football (which was six-man football), basketball, baseball, and track. Baseball was all spring, but the school was required to take part in the Conference Track Meet. We decided at the track meet who was, going to do what. Football was interesting because if you did not get the tackle, chances are no one would. After all, you had only 5 others to help you. I played Quarterback, which meant I could not run with the ball. I had to pass it off to one of the running backs, which made me eligible to receive a pass. Played defense as well. In my senior year, five of us boys from my class played together plus one junior. All three sports were usually rated high in the state for our size of the school.
Since we had no buses, our parents had to drive us to the out-of-town games. That was for all three sports. My dad became the “official” water boy for the football games.
We had class plays (Junior and Senior years). In my Senior year, we had a play called “Atta Boy Walt.” I only mention this because I was Walt. In the 3rd act, I was on the floor (Not sure why), and a rubber mat was placed close to my head, and one of the girls was to pretend she was going to hit my head with a bat, but instead hit the rubber mat. During the night of the play, she missed the mat and got my head which made a cut with blood running down the side of my head. The play didn’t stop. Took care of it after the play was over. (That’s making it real)
Even though it was a small school, I felt I was ready for college. And since I had never been to a large school, I didn’t know any difference.
Ruby
I (Ruby) went to a small country school through 6th grade. The school needed more students for first grade, so I started at 5 years old. I was quiet, shy, and scared to death… We met in an old church building that was converted into a school. At the beginning of first grade, I was afraid to ask the teacher if I could go to the bathroom, so I just sat at my desk and peed and watched it run down to the front since the floor had a gradual slant. I don’t remember what happened after that!! We always had to walk to and from school, which was about a mile and a half. Other friends joined us along the way too. When I was in the third grade, we had a very strict teacher. She told us to work and NOT look around. Well, I looked up once, and she was standing beside me and hit my head with a ruler. A memory, but it probably didn’t hurt much.
Mom made a nice lunch for us in our lunch box filled with homemade goodies. I remember the fresh tomato sandwiches were kind of squishy by the time we ate them. I also remember pork and bean sandwiches. In the 1950’s we were a very Patriotic nation. Each morning we would pledge allegiance to the American flag, using “one nation under God.” At the end of the day, two students got to go outside and respectfully fold the flag. Not allowing it to touch the ground. We studied the history of our nation and recognized the beliefs of our Founding Fathers. On the birthdays of our early presidents, we always had a program commemorating their lives, and sang patriotic songs and recited poems about our nation.
When I got to seventh grade, I went to the Junior High School in Ferndale, our small town of about 1,000 people. It was about five miles from our farm. I played clarinet and saxophone in the band in high school, participated in sports, and was a “Song Leader” for the football and basketball teams. After graduating from High School, I attended Dana College in Blair, Nebraska. Norman Bansen, a family friend, was a professor there and encouraged some youth from our church to go there. Can’t believe I went that far away from my family. It was there I met my husband, Noel. Dated for a year and married a year later. I quit college in the middle of my sophomore year since we were married, and Noel wanted me to share the seminary experience with him. It was a good decision. That ended my school career.