Growing up in Louisa – Back to School!!
Weekly feature . . . by Mike Coburn
This is the time of year that retailers issue countless ads announcing some ‘wonderful’ sales. These are designed to attract the parents of students of all ages. It’s not Christmas, but it’s still an important time to sell, sell, sell. Whether you’re talking about kids who are entering or going back to grade school, high school, or even college, none are prepared for the truckloads of clothing and school supplies, including backpacks, gym shorts, and whatever else that must be bought for the coming school year. The idea that prices are forever escalating is not lost on cash-strapped parents. The costs of back-to-school purchases seem to virtually skyrocket as more technical equipment is needed. It can be tough for some parents, especially when the economy isn’t exactly popping. Thank goodness for those school systems who fund personal computers for the students. Still, back-to-school spending will be significate if not burdensome.
These days everyone needs a computer tablet, or laptop, when not too long ago back-to-school meant it was time to lay in reams of lined paper, a composition book, a dozen number two pencils, a rubber eraser, a compass, a protractor, and a lap dictionary. These are now replaced with hand-held devices, which at first was outlawed. Today they are part of the lesson, so are even required in many school districts. Once barred to keep the student’s attention focused on lessons, they now contain the syllabus and assignments. Indeed, it would be difficult to carry out the required research without having access to the web to search out facts. Kids now formulate electronic ‘papers’ and send it through the network to the teacher/professor. Kids without this advantage will have a tough time in the years to come.
Remembering back, some of the kids got new clothing from one or more of the several department stores in town, or perhaps one of the larger stores in Huntington or Ashland. Some had a closer resource, because of enterprising parents. I remember in grade school that a few of the ‘county’ kids would have homemade shirts, dresses, etc., made by mom at her trusty sewing machine. The same fabric was sometimes used for siblings, so they often matched as they clambered aboard the bus for the first time. Some kids felt embarrassed to wear homemade instead of store bought because of perceived lower value, but kids are sometimes quick to see themselves as ‘outsiders.’ I always felt that was more a fear than a fact. The love that mom put into the apparel was far greater than the sweat-shops of New York could provide.
Another resource was the Sear’s, Penney’s, Spiegel’s, or Montgomery Ward’s catalogue. I know my family ordered things on occasion. I remember the stress of waiting for delivery of that mysterious package (even if we knew what to expect) was almost too much for a kid to bear. When new catalogues came out, especially the Christmas catalogue, everyone would fight for their turn to leaf through the pages. If only we could afford it, I thought. There was page after page of sharp color pictures. Looking at those could tie me up for hours especially when in the toy or sporting goods sections. As for me, I would flip past the clothing and housewares, straight to the things of dreams.
I just had a ‘throw-back’ experience a couple of weeks ago, when one of my sons presented me with a just found, hand-written college paper I had written in the mid-sixties. It was apparently an assignment I wrote relating to some classic reading. The paper had been graded and had a positive comment from the professor. Written in long-hand, it was an analysis of the comparative writing styles of several classic authors. After glancing at the paper, I wondered if it was worthy of a good grade shown on the front page. The subject-matter was now totally over my head. In fact, I’ve read it several times and wondered who wrote it, despite it being in my handwriting. My, I used such big words!
Two points came to me from that experience: 1. The changes in what is acceptable in a class assignment then was clearly different compared to today. Technology has replaced the cursive writing that was expected in my day. I’ve heard some school don’t teach cursive writing, when in our day good hand-writing was a practiced art form. Considering that every kid now days uses a keyboard and lots of acronyms when they text each other, and use laptops for school assignments, writing in one’s own hand is becoming a lost art. Frankly, I’m glad I’m not going back to school.
I remember when I was but a little tyke, I looked in dread to the end of summer, but, then again, I also looked forward to seeing all my buddies again. Getting back to school meant that fall activities would not be far away. It was the time for football practice for the jocks, and marching band formations for the musicians. In fact, these started early even prior to school starting up. The warm days of summer, sandlot baseball, swimming, and running wild, or biking through the hills and vales, would soon be mere memories. These would soon be supplanted with a new regiment of study, practices and or other school activities.
Back-to-school is a time of the changing of leaves and experiencing the first chill in the northwestern breeze. It is a time to have sweaters and jackets at the ready. Our new fall outfits were kept back for that first really, cool weather. It always bothered me that I had something new that I couldn’t yet wear. I remember that some would carry new notebooks with a true love’s initials emblazoned within a drawn heart. Now the trend is for everyone to wear backpacks. I had one of those when I was growing up, but it was for scout camping and was much heavier than those being used today. I never considered using one to carry school books. I suppose laptops now bear stickers of the student’s favorite performers, movie stars, or even a selfie taken with a steady or a celebrity.
Back-to-school was also a time of bowing to new trends. Fads popped up very quickly once the gang was back together. In my day, it was poodle skirts, bobby socks, oxfords and penny loafers. These were the ‘in’ things. Girl’s and guy’s hairdos changed with the wind (except for those stiffened with layers of hair spray). Remember the time that slacks and shorts had a little buckle on the back? They served no purpose except to say we were ‘cool.’ Elvis had a pink Cadillac and wore pink shirts and black pants in those days. For a time, those were the colors to wear. These days, men tend to shun that look. It was a time for boys to wear D.A. haircuts, and black leather jackets. Different dances became the craze, like the jitterbug, the stroll, and Cubby Checker’s, ‘Twist.’ Juke boxes rang out at the favorite spots, but few in town allowed dancing. That required a special license. I remember a place near the high school in Fort Gay, that allowed dancing, and dance they did. I wasn’t there often, but I had to stop in to watch a couple of times. Too clumsy to dance, I hung back like a ‘wall-flower.’ Oh well, the kids that did dance had a good time. I enjoyed watching and at the same time spared myself the embarrassment of joining in.
Once we began our fall classes the whole school thing began to envelope our lives. The requirements to study and do research would gobble up the hours. That left little time for socializing, or the practice required for sports, or music. We moved from having little to do, to not being able to get it all done. The friends and teachers that we came to love made it a truly joyful time. The commonality of sharing these experiences helped us bond into a community.
Still, our parents struggled as they tried to fulfill our needs and still make ends meet. Many children were oblivious to those efforts, but in the end the kids knew that mom and dad were doing their best. Once that first day was over, I’m sure that mom and dad collapsed with relief. The kids were finally back at school. Whew!
Even high schoolers have some trauma on that first day of school, but it is more about peer acceptance than anything else. There was a mystery of who their teachers might be or how they will be able to meet the new learning requirements, but making friends was on top of the list.
It was really those poor grade school kids who are taken to class by an equally stressed parent, that I think suffered most. Some of the little muffins handle the event with shy, or withdrawn attitudes, hiding behind mom’s skirt. Others throw a fit to express their displeasure. That is a natural reaction given their fear of the unknown. They hope that acting out will remove, or delay the threat. In truth, it ends up having little effect. Still, you must admit that throwing a hissy is way more fun. After all, there’s little to lose. Their peer group watches, but doesn’t care. In fact, that’s part of the problem. Up until now this upset kid had been the center of everyone’s attention and thought they were ‘in charge.’ Now, it looks as if he’s not and no one cares. He would soon make new friends and settle into the school adventure. By-the-way, it is interesting to watch the worried parent(s) when they leave their baby behind. Heavy with worry they feel as if they are turning their backs on the apple of their eye. They are guilty of abandonment and treason. Not to worry, by that time the kids have already settled in and are finding their place in the social order.
Back-to-school is an issue for everyone whether they are a student, a parent, or whatever. Teachers have prepared lessons and decorated rooms, some even memorizing their roll books so names can be remembered and pronounced correctly. Merchants are keen to sell all the goods they can while buying is the mood of the day. Bus drivers have to learn new routes and the new faces that get on and off at each stop. Those adults who commute to work need to figure out ways of to avoid the buses and make it in on time. The restaurants lay in more groceries and put on part-time help to cover the mid-day rush that will hopefully follow. Janitors, bookstore clerks, and coaches are well ahead in making their schools shine. Wise ones prepare for the surprises that will surely happen. Back in the day, even the railroad line had to plan on more stops. They would pick up and redeliver kids to their homes in communities along the tracks.
Soon enough the student-body will come to have a new experience when the school’s ‘fight song’ loudly erupts in an assembly. Faculty and students will join in to sing the notes they all will remember forever. These songs will induce tears throughout life and hearts will continue to swell with school pride years later. A feeling of belonging settles in and is tattooed on their hearts. The cheering, the music, school jackets, class rings, annuals, express an-ever growing feeling of family. These things that are all important. These things happen for the new elementary student and become cumulative through the high school years. Memories of those times, emotions, and feeling of belonging will be carried a life-time. Students will discover that it is good to be back in school. After all, their friends are there. There’s also a few ‘cute’ new arrivals. Hmmm. Maybe that new kid will be at Dee’s when school is out. All things in good order, my friends. We will just have to wait and see. mcoburncppo@aol.com
