Farragut Elementary

I was excited the first day at school, so excited that my younger brother allegedly tied my shoes while on campus.  Mom had walked me to school with my two brothers in tow...one in a stroller.

Farragut brought many memories such as . . .

• My very first friend that I made...Donald Young.  He lived three blocks away and stayed a friend while I was Farragut.  Invited me to a birthday party and shared his lunch of ham and mustard.

• Lunch period where we got to sit with other classmates and eat a lunch packed by mom which usually consisted of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, seasonal fruit and milk.  I had a lunch pail with a Roy Rogers/Dale Evans theme in the shape of a covered wagon.
  
  

  

• Lunch period on Wednesdays was Bunny Hop Day.  A phonograph was set up in the middle of the school yard on a chair and the school's copy of the 1958 instrumental "The Bunny Hop" was played.  Anyone could form a line and dance to the music.  The dance went something like this.

• Also during lunch time once in a while as a "White Elephant" held in the auditorium.  Some would save their pennies for special buys.  Most of the stuff there was a bit over my "budget".

• My first interest in the opposite sex was in Kindergarten.  Sandra was her name, but I called her my Sandy.  Had my first and only play date with her at her parent's house halfway between our house and school.  Never saw her again after Kindergarten, but she left a lifelong impression.

• I was part of the Journalism "staff" in second grade for "The Farragut News".  It was a two or three page, newsletter formatted type periodical.  I was told I was reading ahead of my grade level, so I was placed with the upperclassmen (grades 4-6) Journalism group.  I became obsessed to be part of the high school Journalism team when I was ready.

• I remember an incident in second grade during rainy day recess when we had "activities" in the classroom.  I remember whispering something to one of the girls.  The other students teased me that I had a thing for the girl.  I was so embarrassed that I never spoke to another girl comfortably till high school.

• When my brother was around 1st grade, he and I would walk to school alone.  We developed a walking tune that included the Chinese word for poop as part of the lyrics.  "He stepped in the.....".  We also managed to get passing trucks to blast their horns simply by imitating the pulling gesture.

• There was a local market called Selmi's between home and the school.  When I came into money, which was rare back then, I'd stop by and purchase "stuff".  One purchase was a ring which squirted water.  Got in trouble (the "sent to the principal" kind) when I chased another student around the yard after the lunch bell rang.  We were supposed to freeze in our tracks till the second bell to walk back to class.  I did not get the paddle, but was warned not to get another infraction or I would know what the paddle was for.

I did not stay to finish and promote to Jr. High from Farragut.  My parents pulled me out between the L4 and H4 grades. School wasn't much of a challenge for me.  I might have appeared on their "honor roll" that was posted in the school if I had stayed.  The honor was granted to the upperclassmen who did well.