Page 27 - 1965
P. 27
Seventeen timid students were pushed through the The second grade, under Mrs. Kenyon, brought us
front gate in September of 1952 to enter Miss Otla our first desks and homework assignments. On the
Woodbury's pre-primary room. Only nine of these second day we learned how to spell "boy” and "girl,”
boys have withstood the tribulations of the Quaker although we didn’t fully appreciate the difference
establishment until the twelfth grade. In that first between the two until a later date. Madame Warge,
year the center of activity was the sandbox, where our French teacher, instructed us in the social pro
Brian Berry played the destructive dictator. He once prieties by kissing us whenever we got an answer
even refused to wear a smock—such outright bold correct; she was a great teacher, and, boy, could she
ness! Miss Woodbury tried to teach us to control our French! Her greatest achievement was teaching us
passions; she gave us demerits when we became over the Lord’s Prayer. Several precocious lads had short
excited and started to scream. But even Miss Wood lived love affairs with Miss Moore, our penmanship
bury let out a yell when she caught "Apeman” teacher. The second grade also produced our first
Fulton swinging from the top of a jungle gym. brown noser, a boy who has since lost his touch; yes,
Miraculously, everybody passed the final exam— we shall never forget the day Dave Fortunato gave
making a cabin out of blocks. the teacher a handful of ... of pussy willow.
When the next September rolled around we all
We had been forewarned that in the third grade we
were anxious to return to the playground under Miss would have Miss Harriet Wilson, the stern taskmaster
Eastman and Miss Burough, who left at mid-year to who was reputed to have a bullwhip handy to use on
become Mrs. Kenyon—we could never understand disobedient students. But we were pleased to find
why. We were horrified to find ourselves faced with that she was not that savage. Actually, we all enjoyed
work I Every day our nerves were set on edge when the third grade, even when we were put off the honor
we were forced to read from that over-sized thriller roll and had to accompany Miss Wilson to lunch
called Look Jane, Look. Gordon Feiner, who later instead of walking by ourselves. At recess Miss Wil
became famous for his "uniform,” was often sent son showed off her athletic prowess by competing in
back to pre-primary as a punishment. This was also our games; she usually was better than the "sirs.”
the first year with the outspoken "sirs” from Brown 1955 also brought our first theatrical production, a
University. thought-provoking piece called "The Continents.” The
theme was the pressing problem of world shrinkage
. . . oh, well.
We went upstairs to Mrs. Bachman for the fourth
grade and were introduced to our first political ma
chine, headed by a new student, Billy Bixby; many
still believe that his father, who coincidentally was
a teacher, got Bucky the office of class president. And
who among us could forget those Friday math tests,
during which Mrs. Bachman would leave the room
because she trusted us so much? Instead of playing
football that year we put ribbons in our belts and
would be tackled when an opponent could pull them
out. The big thing was to see how tightly we could
tie ribbons to our pants; this understandably brought
about some revealing events.
For the fifth grade we moved into the big building
and into the classes of Mrs. Lewis and Miss Jensen.
The latter unfortunately was hurt in a car accident
and was forced to wear a neck brace; we soon learned
to take advantage of it. Brian Fairbend caused quite
an uproar when he broke into the elite group; and
Steve Ensign got so dizzy when doing a math prob
lem at the board that he had to be carried out of the
room. That was also the year that Geoff Davis threw
a paper airplane which hit Madame Dognin in a most
embarrassing spot! Our terrifying snowball fights
with the sixth grade bullies rounded out the year.
Recess: the best part of school.
