Monday, January 25, 1926
Warmer
Albert’s first day at school. Dale took him. To my surprise he gets to go all day from the first. He ought to advance faster than the other boys as he is getting a better start. He seems to like it fine. Mrs. McDowell registered him so Dale could go to his room then came and reported to me and visited awhile. Then Mama came over. I did a little washing and sewing. Feel like possibly I can get something done now if the boys all leave at once and stay all day. I have so much to do.
(According to Marjorie, "Mrs. McDowell must have been a neighbor and knew Albert, since she was able to register him."
Albert was being registered for the 1st grade. I think that his "better start" was the time he spent in kindergarten. Perhaps Dale and Dick didn't attend kindergarten?
We are not really sure who Mrs. McDowell was.)
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It was so simple to register a child for school back then. Now you have to have birth certificates, immunization records, 5 million contact phone numbers and on and on and on. I don't even think they would let someone other than a parent register a child, unless they had guardianship!
ReplyDeleteThese diaries are so interesting because they really make it clear how much society has changed--for better and for worse.
I remember bits & pieces of my 1st & 2nd grades. I remember slumping down in my seat so the teacher would'nt call on me to read aloud. Not that I could'nt read, but I had a mouth full of gum, which was a no-no. And when my 2nd grade teacher told us she was getting married I remember thinking she was too old. After all, she was probably in her early 20's. Back then I think teachers were more reveered back then. Mother would still be busy as she had Ned & Marjorie at home.
ReplyDeleteFriend of sister with the homstead said...
ReplyDeleteI have been reading this blog since September and have enjoyed it much. My mother was only a few weeks older that Eleanor; yet, life was different in the country for my parents.
I was amazed at all the Christmas gifts the Smiths exchanged. My parents each remembered Christmases when there were no gifts, or maybe only an orange or large baking potato. One year around WWII time, my grandparents managed to get nylons for their 2 teenaged daughters. The Christmas tree went up in flames destroying their house, the nylon stockings, and a home-made sled for my father. It was a very sad Christmas, I am sure. They lived mostly off of the farm--there was very little cash.
I enjoyed today's comments re: the neighbor registering Albert for school. When my mother started 1st grade (no kindergarten in the country!!), her older sister, probably a 4th grader, said they were going to another school. She took my mother and they caught a bus to another school. It was during the depression, and they could get some free lunches at the other school. They told their parents when they returned home that eve and no fuss was made. Children were very independent then.
Thank you for wonderful glimpses.
On another post mentioning Mrs McDowell, Eleanor noted that it was a more formal society... and with only a "Mrs" instead of a name, I've not been able to find Mrs McDowell. Sorry, Carol!
ReplyDeleteAnnie at the Transplantable Rose