Growing Up Wallace-The Old Grade School

Hot creaky radiators , crowded  hallways, and a cacophony of blended sounds of  voices ranging from almost infantile to an almost adult textured sound, and the pounding on the stairways of hundreds of children , some because they were forced to be there, and some because they liked being there, and there you have it. What do we have? We have the Wallace Elementary and Junior High School dressed in brick and standing an impressive three stories tall.

One's first introduction to these halls of learning was the entrance on 3rd Street, for it was this portal that opened up to the glories of learning and Mrs. Goldstein's kindergarten room.  I still have vivid pictures of that room dancing through the old reels of movies in my mind. For it was in that room that we learned to socialize, fight , nap, snack, and listen to stories, I still remember my nap rug. It was a brown bear rug. No, it was not a real bear, but I loved  that old rug, It was so comfortable for nap time.

I especially remember Halloween in that old kindergarten room. Now, why, Halloween over Christmas, I don't know, but I can tell you to this day what the weather was like that day, and exactly what kind of  candy that we were given that day, and the  Halloween song that Mrs. Goldstein played on the old phonograph.

 It was also in kindergarten that I first felt male jealousy over a girl. Terry T was my neighbor and my first crush, except for Anette Funicello of course, and Randy F was talking to her over in the corner of the room. Terry even took her nap next to Randy that day. I was experiencing a feeling like I had never had before. Pure rage. But, in that way that children have, those feelings only last a day or less, and buy the next day, all three of us were plying together. If only we adult could work out our problems that easily.!





Now, it was on to kindergarten graduation, and we donned our caps and gowns, marched up the stairs in that kindergarten room to the stage, and received our first diplomas. I still have mine.My mother saved everything.

Now, the next academic step was a big one. Mrs. Barrett's first grade class. Stay tuned.