School Memories

 Recently, I wrote about my first day in the Navy. Just a short synopsis of what I remember. Interesting experience reliving it in my mind after a half century. 

So I'm going to switch gears on the memory trip.

Allow me to think back to a different period in my life.  I want to comment on my elementary school education Or, anyone's education for that matter. Social Media although it is responsible for so many bad things today does have a plus side. I am able to stay in touch with people I haven't seen since 8th grade. Where they ended up, the details of their lives. It's truly amazing thinking about those people, during those years, and what the school experience meant.

Ok so I am a product of the second half of the 20th century. Society was so different back then. And I cannot help but wonder about the true value of those school years. Do I sound crazy? Irresponsible? I don't mean to be but looking at who we all were in school as kids and who we became. There is very little correlation between someone who was  a "troublemaker" or a poor student (read stupid) and what these people became as adults.. A half century later, who you were in elementary school had very little to do with who you ended up as an adult. Not even close in many cases. So then what was it all about, what was the purpose? We spent years going through that  schooling "process", there had to be a goal there. To mold the individual into a "proper" member of society?  People I know today turned out on the whole to be much better than how I remember them back then. A's B' C' and even F's. failed to predict how a given young person would turn out as an adult. I would even go so far as to say it was mostly a waste of time. Seriously!  The entire school process was badly flawed. I interact with people today  who were "troublemakers" in school and they are Doctors, Lawyers, Accountants. I even went to HS with a guy who was a total loser. And today, He is a federal judge. He didn't pick that up in grammar or high school. 

In summary I'm not just describing a few kids here. Most of my peers and most of what we learned about life back then was wrong. And useless as far as actually navigating adult life. That sounds so negative I realize. But, I'm just calling it as I see it. As I said, Social media is a wonderful tool to stay in touch with others throughout life. And I'm going through a period of looking back and taking stock. The good,  the bad. and all the "stuff" in between.

 What say you then? 

Comments are welcome. 

Be safe.

Dear Diary

 Bizaro world. Grandpa style.

The Doctor Will See You Now!!!

So he thinks he is a doctor?

This photo was taken at Henry Flagler's hotel in St Augustine Florida circa 1900ish? A very bored young woman of means, bored to tears. Ho hum!!! The only thing that interests me in her photo, what was that on her head? Was that supposed to be a hat? How stylish they were. Turn of the 20th century upper class bored tourists in Florida. With Janky hats. And serious attitudes. 

Labor Day 2025

  Labor Day 2025 will occur on Monday, September 1. Labor Day pays tribute to the contributions and achievements of American workers and is traditionally observed on the first Monday in September. It was created by the labor movement in the late 19th century and became a federal holiday in 1894. Labor Day weekend also symbolizes the end of summer for many Americans and is celebrated with parties, street parades and athletic events.

First Labor Day Parade 1882

 Wikipedia link with all the info on the day:

Wikipedia Labor Day

Whatever your knowledge or interest is in Labor Day, it is a long weekend. The last of the summer 2025. Enjoy!!!

Isn't It Pretty To Think So?

 Before we had the always popular and vivacious world wide web, we would amuse ourselves by balancing spoons on our noses. No Fussing, no mussing, no drama, no stupid security updates, no twitters turning into X's, no Book of Face. nothing but just goofing around with spoons. 

We had no idea what was coming. And when it started, we thought WOW THIS IS COOL!!! But it wasn't cool. And it is getting worse. AI telling young people what to think. How to act. Giving it's version of God. They are all soaking it up. As we circle the bowl, The words to an old 60's Steppenwolf song come to mind:

"There's A Monster On The Loose, It's Got Our Heads Into The Noose, And It Just Sits There Watching"

Pre 21st century internet days

Can't we just go back to balancing spoons?

 "Isn't it pretty to think so?" a famous line from Ernest Hemingway’s novel “The Sun Also Rises” It certainly covers a lot of ground. Thanks Ernest!
Stay Cool!!!!

School Daze

Every day I ride around my neighborhood on my bicycle. The school kids all shuffle towards the bus stops. They all look like they are headed toward execution. They don't want to go. I'd guess the majority hate school. And I wonder. What was school like say 100 years ago? So I broke my own rule. I asked AI Here's what it said:

My question: 

"What was it like to be a school aged child in the US at the beginning of the 20th century"

Responses follow. AI is good at this stuff:

Life as a school-aged child in the US at the beginning of the 20th century was quite different from today's experience, heavily shaped by geographic location and socioeconomic factors. Here's a glimpse into the key aspects of that time:

1. Schooling was not universal

Attendance was lower: In 1900, only about half of children between the ages of 5 and 19 were attending school.

Child Labor: Many children, particularly in rural areas and working-class families, had to work on family farms or in industries to contribute to the family income, limiting their schooling opportunities.

Rural Schools: The majority of schools were in rural areas and were often one-room schoolhouses with one teacher instructing students across a wide age range (5 to 20 years old).

Shorter School Year: Rural school years were often shorter than in urban areas, acknowledging the need for children to help with farm work, according to The Library of Congress.

Urban Schools: Urban schools were typically larger, with students grouped by age into separate classrooms, notes Encyclopedia.com. 

2. Classroom environment

One-room Schoolhouses: In rural areas, one teacher taught students of all ages in a single room. The teacher might spend most of the time with older students who would then help the younger ones.

Simple Resources: Classrooms were sparse, with few books and limited supplies like slates and chalk instead of notebooks and pencils.

Rote Learning: Learning methods primarily focused on memorization and repetition.

Strict Discipline: Discipline was strict, sometimes involving physical punishment like spanking or paddling. Disrespect towards teachers was severely punished.

No School Lunches: Children brought their lunches from home, often in metal pails or woven baskets. 

3. Curriculum

Focus on Basic Skills: Elementary schools focused on basic skills like reading, writing, and arithmetic.

High School Emphasis: High schools, for the small percentage of students who attended, emphasized subjects important for industry and the economy, like woodworking, drafting, and sciences, notes Quizlet.

Segregation: Educational opportunities were limited and segregated, particularly for African American students, notes Reader's Digest. 

4. Life outside of school

Chores: Many children had chores to do before and after school, such as helping on the family farm, performing domestic duties, or assisting with family businesses.

Simple Entertainment: Playtime was often spent outdoors, playing games like checkers, board games, or baseball. Girls were often expected to learn domestic skills like sewing.

New Organizations: Organizations like the YMCA and Boy Scouts emerged, aiming to provide physical activity and character building experiences for youth, according to The Library of Congress.

Child Labor Epidemic: Child labor was rampant, with many young children working long hours in mines, factories, or selling goods on the streets. 

5. Educational reform

Growing Concerns: Despite the traditional approach, there was a growing awareness among citizens that schools needed to better prepare students for the changing demands of the rapidly industrializing society.

Reform Movements: The early 20th century saw the beginnings of education reform movements that aimed to introduce concepts like equality, child-centered learning, and broader educational opportunities for all. 

It's important to remember that these are general observations. The specific experiences of individual children would have varied greatly depending on their family's circumstances, location (rural vs. urban), and ethnic background. 

Basically , it wasn't much fun. If you could get it at all.

The kids of today need to read this before they continue hating what they have. Not going to hapen I'm sure. But they should.