More about elementary School Years

I got my first bike, with training wheels, for Christmas in ‘52. It was pretty small, red and terrifying. Took me a while to get going on it. I recall riding it, losing control and going into a ditch.

My second grade teacher was Mrs. Black. We actually went to school for a full day by this time. My elementary school, Edwards, was three blocks from our home and I walked to school. The challenge was to cross busy Lucas street without being run down. The school building was relatively old and not air conditioned. Open windows and big fans made September and May habitable.

We had a huge, to me, playground with a couple of ‘jungle gyms’ and some really good swings. You would never see these at a school these days. We had a morning recess to play, we played outside after lunch and then we had afternoon PE – again outside, unless it was raining. On rainy days our teacher read stories to us.

I

walked or rode my bike to school every day. Interesting that just about everyone either walked or biked to school. There was no fear of child molesters or kidnappers. Also, I knew someone in about a third of the houses between our house and the school and could easily go to the door for a bandaid or to report a problem - never did.

Second Grade Photo of Ms. Black’s Class: Who’s who: Back: Dale Reese, Chester Slay, Don Golden, Donald Wells, Della Willard, ?, Suzie Gaudet(maybe), ?,?, Karen Clark and Mrs Black Middle: ?, Sammy Wilson, Charlotte Denman, ?, Dale Coco, Remmert Ricks, ?, ?, Linda Segrest, ? Front: ?,Carol Jo Powell, Donna, ?, Jimmy Johnson, Jeanette Hayward, ?, ?, Dianne, Norma Vance, Donnie Abbott I

t is interesting that a couple of the boys in the front row are barefoot. On the other hand, the girls look pretty well turned out. Probably a note was sent home about the photos and the girls’ parents were more likely to have received the note.

First and third grade school photos.

It was in the third grade that I became ‘Don’. Before that around home I was Donny, Terry’s sons still call me Uncle Donny.

There were three Donalds in my third grade class. I proposed that we call Donald Wells Donald, Donald Abbot Donny and me Don. It stuck.