Fairmont State University - Mound Yearbook (Fairmont, WV)

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Fairmont State Normal School We had a little program with some who forgot their parts, some who were too shy to lift their eves, and some too frightened to speak above a whisper. When all was over we said good bye to First Grade forever. First Grade Babies no longer; and with us we carried our promotion cards which read, having completed the work of the first grade is hereby promoted to Second Grade of the Butcher Training School of Fair- mont. ( Second Year ) After a fine and glorious vacation T finally started in Sept. to Second Grade. Clutching madly at my promotion card, I walked proudly into the room, anxious to have a first look at my new teacher. Miss Frwin. I put my hat in the cloak-room and soon was comfortably seated, as the teacher was very busy. As soon as she could find time, she came up and greeted us, and gave us the names of the books and other school articles which we would need. At the beginning of the Xew Year 1 decided to study more and get my name in the workers ' class. Later as the Spring days were getting longer we began to study the Birds and Flowers. We also organized our first Bird Club. The trips we took to study the birds were very pleasant and delightful. Quickly the weeks went by, and soon we were talking of coming vaca- tion, and it made me work hard to get my lessons. The closing program was very pleasant and I was glad to have my promotion certificate. We said good bye to the second grade and were all sorry to leave Miss Frwin. (Third) Another vacation has passed for me and 1 am in the Third Grade and eight years old. Just to think of it. T found Miss Peppers, my teacher, at her desk. She smiled as she spoke to me. so I knew that I was going to like her. After she looked at my promotion card, I was assigned to a seat. The day passed all right for me. and among the things our teachers told us. which I remember, was that we would use water colors and pen and ink for all the time. We were also given a list of supplies needed. 1 was soon applying my- self diligently. In about two weeks 1 was promoted from the Butterflies to the Helpers Class. 1 was real proud that day and strutted around like a turkey. When T went home and told my parents, my mother kissed me. and said. You ' re a good little fellow and my father gave me a nickel with the advice Work Harder. and so as the months rolled around 1 got better grades, and was m the Flelpers class, and could add. subtract, multiply, and divide as well as any one in my room. By Christmas I had read two and a half oi my readers and the teacher often encouraged me in my attempts to do good work for her. Then the Christmas I [olidays came and passed. It was now the morn- ing of the fifth of |une. Many things had already happened to me. among them was this : 1 was changed back to the Butterflies and then again up to the Helpers. I had caught three tadpoles aildbrought them to school to watch them grow to frogs. ;md then I had to tell the school mates where 1 found them, and also many other things which they wanted to know about tadpoles. On the last day of school we had a program. I fidgited around in my seal while the others said their pieces and when m turn came. I marched up to the front of the room, ami said mv piece like a regular speaker. t least

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25 Eight Years in the Training School Eight Years in the Training School (First) Dear me, how big I felt on that bright September morning ' when I start- ed to school. Time seemed so long I kept calling to mother to hurry for fear 1 should be late. After we reached the school building and 1 had met the teacher, I was told to sit clown in one of the little, red chairs. Our names and ag ' es were taken, and oh, how wise and grown up to be able to say Six years old. ' On the second morning I could hardly wait for the bell to ring. I well remember the day when I proudly hung my books up over my shoulder and put into it my new tablet, pencil, crayons and reader. The First week passed very quickly with stories and play in the morning and no school in the after- noon. Early in the next week our teacher taught us our first song : Now before we work today. We must not forget to pray. To God who kept us through the night. And brought us to the morning light. We sang this every morning ' and one day while we were singing ' Har- old came in whistling, and had ti » De sin wn a: fain where to hang his hat. N sooner had he taken his seat than Forrest came in late saving, 1 didn ' t get up early enough. The teacher soon divided our grades into three classes which she called the Helpers, or best pupils, the Stars or medium, and the Sun- beams or beginners. For a while we had two reading lessons a day, during which our teacher would read us a story and pick out the hard words and write them on the board for us to pronounce. After we were familiar with the story we would play it. The week before Christmas the verv walls of the school- room echoed with our questions about Santa Clans and his pack. Then came our Christmas play and hurrah ! for the holidays! After Christmas we took one of our reading periods for a story-telling club when we would tell the story the teacher had told us the day before. Early in the year we had our first writing lesson. The teacher wrote each name at the top of a piece of paper and told us to copy it. Somehow that fine, new pencil of mine was so big and clumsy that it would not make nice letters like hers. A little later we took up our class called number work, and I found it very hard to understand why two and two always made four and never by any reason five or six, and why two halves of an apple always make a whole one. And would you believe it, 1 learned to count to almost a hundred before the end of school. It was a very natural thing for us to play tag , pussy wants a corner, and turn summersaults, whenever we were tired of sitting or our les- sons dragged. At Easter we had an Easter Party given by Jane Lewis at the school house and Bunnies and Bunny Eggs were very numerous. With light work, much play, some fun, and one deep sorrow caused by the death of a much-loved school mate, the year drew to a close. By that time we had read ten books, (at least most of us had) such as Aldine First Reader, Ald ine Primer, Story Hour, and Natural Method Reader.

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O 27 Q Eight Years in the Training School I thought so. After that, all my school mates and myself got our promotion cards and went home with our mothers for another happy vacation. ( Fourth ) And what is your name young man, Miss Clayton asked as I entered the Fourth Grade the following September. was my reply. I didn ' t know whether 1 was going to like this new teacher or not, for she was new in our school. She soon convinced me that she could tell some very fine stories, and this appealed to me very much. After the first few days I decided 1 would like her greatly, and the longer the school was in session. the more T was sure that I was right. The first thing we had was opening Exer- cise, and Miss Clayton read a story to us. We had arithmetic and the third study was language. It seemed only a few minutes until the recess bell rang. We went out and played games for ten minutes. The rest of the morning passed quickly. When I arrived home I was hungry, and very glad to have my din- ner. There were but a few folks in the entire school of about three hundred boys and girls who brought their lunch. There were none in our room, and only about seven in all. Just before I went home one afternoon in Spring, we talked aboutr birds, and one boy said I saw a great big bird yesterday. It was a possum. These Spring days got very warm and I became lazy at times, but I remem- bered that I must word hard if I should be sent to Fifth Grade, so I was in- spired to work hard. Now here comes the last day of school and I have finished my fourth grade work. I had studied hard, and had been obedient during the whole, long year, and as a reward, I am sent to Fifth Grade. All during my vacation, I was wondering how Fifth Grade would seem. Early one bright September morning I skipped along happily to school, for another vacation had passed. Tt made me feel glad, and proud that I was now to be in one of the upper grades. Here thev had departmental work and I was to have three other teach- ers besides Miss Creel, who was my regular teacher. One day in Georgraphv Class, just before Christmas, Miss White asked what is the chief occupation of the people in Europe? scratched his head as tho the answer were hard, and said War . Miss Creel, who has a rich, contralto voice, had charge of the music department. She taught us our Christmas Carols and trained us for our Christmas entertainment. After the Christmas vacation, we all came back- to school well rested, and anxious to renew our studies. Everybody told how- good Santa had been to them. Through the following months we all worked very hard. Sled riding on Fifth street hill was a favorite amusement for us after school. Early in April our class gave a Japanese Entertainment, directed by Miss White. April showers and May flowers soon called our attention to the fact that we must awaken from our Springfever drowsiness and prepare for the closing days of school. The exercises were to be given at the High school, since our own school does not have an auditorium. The Fifth Grade play was an acting out of the story about the Birds of Killingsworth. Everyone in Fifth grade made their promotion to sixth grade that year, except one hoy who moved away. Thus ended my memorable year in fifth Grade of Butcher School, and I begin to feel that it will not be long until ■ z r t