|
I attended McEbright grade school on Cole
Avenue from 1948-54. I started in the half-day kindergarten and
attended most of the way through fifth grade. We then moved to
the suburbs, and I was broken-hearted to leave McEbright and all
my friends.
Some of the experiences I would like to
share are some of my fondest memories. It seems the playground
was paved with asphalt around 1950, a big improvement from the
previous dirt playground; but it was rough on the hands and
knees. Since Akron was the "Rubber Capital," I guess one of the
rubber companies came up with a plan to cover our playground
with shredded rubber. The rubber pieces were a gray-black color
and in small pieces like shredded cheese. The rubber was spread
all over the playground and was especially thick under the
playground equipment. To a six- or seven-year-old, it seemed as
if we could jump off moving equipment and bounce when we hit the
ground.
My next great remembrance was the
"airways" that provided air to the basement area, which as I
recall housed the gym. These airways were about 8' deep x 5'
wide x 8' long. On the weekends and in the summer, we would drop
down into this pit, with hearts throbbing, thinking how will we
get out! By the end of the summer, we were able to get a running
start, bounce off the end wall, get a fingerhold on the top
edge, then proudly pull ourselves out. It didn't matter how many
times we did this, and it was hundreds; there was still the
excitement of "I wonder if I can do it this time," especially
when it was no longer cool to have the board in place just in
case.
I took my wife, Mary Ann, to McEbright
last summer in hopes of showing off while she watched as I
dropped into the airway and sprang back out like a cat!
Thankfully, the airways have been topped off with heavy
chainlink fence; and I didn't have to prove myself.
My final fond remembrance was the summer
games set up for the neighborhood kids. It seemed wonderful to
get up in the morning and walk to school to play but not have to
go into the school. My favorite game was the "KARAM TABLES,"
placed under the shade trees on the grassy areas. Maybe they
were named for Elias Karam, our retired marketing teacher.
McEbright was a great school to attend;
however, I never did find out for certain if Mrs. Clinger, our
principal, really did have an electric rubber paddle. In the
early '50s, we still had air-raid drills at school marked by the
piercing sound of a siren. It was right after World War II, and
Akron's rubber industry was a strategic target for the enemy. I
remember being worried when I heard the siren, and we all went
into the halls for the air-raid drill. I can't forget the smell
of the rubber as it poured into our classroom when the windows
were open, but we were told that it was a good smell because it
meant jobs for our dads.
– by James Bradford
I remember when all of the children went
to the school in their neighborhood. Catholic children went to
their parish school. I attended Goodrich, when it was an
elementary school, from kindergarten through third grade. I went
to McEbright for two years, then back to Goodrich when it was a
junior high. I graduated from Garfield High School.
When I went to school, all of the children
came home for lunch; it was a red-letter day when you got to
carry your lunch to school. Lunch to school was usually a peanut
butter sandwich on bread my mother made and an apple. You drank
water for a liquid or, if you were lucky, milk in a fruit jar.
Drinks were kept on the windowsill to keep them chilled. We ate
in the classroom because there was no cafeteria.
Now children have a red-letter day when
they go home for lunch. What was a red-letter day then is just
the opposite now (67 years later).
– by Elzona Humphrey
Bufford
I remember when I first saw a little
Ronald McDonald house in the housing part of my room. I will
never forget I played with my first Ronald McDonald house at
David Hill School.
– by Celisa Clift
For first grade at David Hill, I had Mrs.
Lewis. I thought she was WONDERFUL. I don't think there was a
mean hair on her head. I can remember sitting in my reading
group one day when it was my turn to read about Dick, Jane and
Spot. This was our first time in reading group. As I was
reading, I was also thinking, "Wow! I can really READ these
words. How did that happen? How did I know these words?" It was
a very exciting moment to realize that words can make a story.
I've been an avid reader ever since.
– by Shirley Elliott
I remember when teachers were your
friend. They were your mom or dad away from home. I remember
when it was okay for a teacher to hug you or pat you on the back
while saying "Good job!" I remember when it was okay for
teachers to invite you to their homes or for you to invite them
to yours.
I remember when it was okay for teachers
to give you a lift home because you weren't feeling well or
because you had a lot to carry. Or maybe just because she was
going that way.
I remember when it was okay to be scolded
by your teacher as she was simply trying to keep you on the
right path of life.
I look into my children's eyes, and I
shed a tear because they won't have the fond memories of Akron
Public Schools as I have.
(I attended Robinson and Glover
elementary schools, Goodrich Junior High School and Garfield
High School.)
– by Jennifer Gulley
I remember the day that I learned
to read! I was sitting in Miss Ramey's first-grade class at
Voris School. All of a sudden, I knew the words that she was
placing in that old wooden pocket chart stand. I feel very
fortunate to remember that moment because now I'm teaching
children to read in my new kindergarten class.
Just as vivid a memory was the day I was
sent to the corner for talking. I remember saying, "Who? Me?"
First grade teaches us a lot.
– by Carol Hendrickson
I am a member of the three "Gs" (Glover,
Goodrich and Garfield). I have many wonderful memories of my
time with those Akron public schools. My memories include my
mom's involvement with PTA and volunteering at those schools. I
was always proud when my mom was doing something at my school!
It is a tradition I began myself over 12 years ago.
When I was at Glover, I remember our
auditorium, complete with stage (now the LRC), where we
performed for students and parents, and the multi-purpose room
on the ground level (now classrooms) which served as our
cafeteria and kitchen. "Real" meals were prepared there daily. I
was a cafeteria helper in the sixth grade and assisted with
serving the orthopedic students as well as rolling silverware
every day!
At Goodrich Junior High (seventh through
ninth grade), I remember being there a year before the addition
was built. Our cafeteria and kitchen were on the ground-floor,
Coventry side of the building. They are classrooms now. I
thought it was so neat to change classes! Our auditorium is a
computer lab now. When I went to school, there were more windows
in all my schools.
Garfield was awesome – it was so huge! We
were grades 10 through 12. I remember fantastic pep assemblies,
driver's ed training, and the time my biology partner and I
thought our equipment was going to explode! We were proud to be
Golden Rams.
In 1998 I will celebrate my 25th class
reunion, our oldest son will graduate from Garfield, and our
youngest son will become a freshman. By the way, they are
members of the 3 "Gs," too!
I was blessed to have been positively
influenced by wonderful educators, not only teachers but support
staff, and PTA parents. I am proud to be an APS graduate,
employee and volunteer!
– by Nancy Randall
I attended Hill, Goodrich and Garfield. I
remember when girls had to wear skirts every day. Pants could
only be worn underneath your skirt to and from school (during
the winter). Also, your skirt had to come to your knees (this
was checked by getting down on your knees and your skirt
touching the floor). I also remember that the cost of school
lunches was 35 cents a day in the 1959-60 school year (the
Johnny Marzetti and macaroni 'n' cheese were very tasty!).
– by Cheryl Uplinger
Rankin
I remember attending Goodrich School in
the early '40s. In the first and second grade, I cried through
the whole school year. Goodrich was the only school that had a
multihandicapped class at that time. I had never seen or been
around handicapped children. When I would see them, and I did
occasionally, they made a great impression in my little mind –
not a very good one, since I would cry and cry.
Today, I am working with multihandicapped
children here at Goodrich Middle School and guess what? I love
the job! I love the children and would not want it any other
way!
P.S. I also remember once a month
Goodrich had an ice cream bar sale. If you got an ice cream bar
with a "pink" center, you were entitled to a free ice cream bar.
That was fun. ...
– by Gloria Terry
I started going to Glover Elementary
School in 1935, then I went to Garfield High School. At that
time, school furnished all supplies; and classes were large
enough so two children sat together at one desk. The teachers
were stern but very caring and loving. As at home, we were
taught respect and discipline. It didn't enter our minds to sass
or be unruly. We never questioned why we were there or what we
were expected to do. Most of the time, we walked back and forth
to school with no thought of the word "molester." We were naive
and trusting of everyone, and this continued through most of the
coming years. Yes, those were the "good old days."
– by Juanita Watson |
