South Dakota Mary

Days in the old school house

At school, we sat at little desks. To get into the desks, we had to flip the tops over. Then we had to flip them back to write on top of them.

There was an average of eight or ten students in school—maybe fifteen at times—and one teacher. The classes were sometimes combined. For example, the seventh and eighth grade arithmetic might be together. You did all the subjects in one week.

At the old school house, we all had duties. We cleaned the chalkboards and erasers and got the desks in order. I helped out by getting drinking water. I took a pail and walked over to the neighbor's house to get water. Then we all drank out of a dipper.

The most fun at school, though, was playing baseball during recess at the noon hour.

Photo: Stormy Peters
View of the old schoolhouse today

Playing ball with Reece

 

I remember the most fun part of our days at the old school was playing baseball during recess at the noon hour. I used to join in the kids' games once in a while, just for a few moments when we lived on the farm.

This is me in town in 1999 with Reece, my great grandson. He's Laurie's boy. He's a really good player.