A grown-up returns to kindergarten in pursuit of learning and happiness
Remember This? #13
2Oct2008 Filed under: Remember This? Author: MeliaIf you do, leave a comment!
These desks are old school for real. I think that fifth-grade teacher Mr. Neubacher has been at my elementary school since before I started in 1985. He’s the only teacher who’s saved his original desks over the years, soldering and repairing them so they’re still in decent shape.
Similar Posts:
3 Responses to “Remember This? #13”
Leave a comment
About Reschool Yourself
Reschool Yourself is a year-long exploration of how school shaped the person I became, and how I decide to educate myself from now on. This fall I'm returning to my old classrooms week by week, to understand how school influenced my identity and to regain the happiness and creativity of childhood. In the spring I'll pursue learning opportunities in the U.S. and abroad to become as autonomous as possible. I'll share my experiences of "reschooling" and personal development through this website and provide a forum for readers of all ages to exchange their own. This site is a place to tell our stories about education: our experiences past and present, and our vision for future generations.
— Melia Dicker
Flickr PhotoStream
Alicia C.
October 2nd, 2008 at 11:59 am
Congrats to Mr. Neubacher for keeping the desks in shape. As far as wear and tear goes they look pretty much the same as the desks at SV Elem. 20 years ago. I’m reminded that we had a coat closet in every classroom so the desks were in perfect rows, seat almost touching the desk behind it. I don’t remember always putting our lunches under the seats, but I know it happened at least once… I think we were having some sort of party in the fifth grade and my friend Jill had a bottle of flavored Calistoga water under her seat. All of the sudden the top just popped off and the water flew up into the air and got all over her chair and the floor. I wondered if one of the boys had shaken it when no one was looking. (Jill was an odd duck and often got picked on.)
I also have many memories of sitting next to boys and watching them stealthily open their desks to get out pieces of paper, erasers, pencil toppers, anything they could play with while we sat through an hour of religion or reading. The things we did to amuse ourselves before scientific calculators and cell phones!
Gilliebean
October 2nd, 2008 at 3:00 pm
Oh, I remember those well! I had a rockin’ Trapper Keeper I used to keep in a desk like that. Even then, my desk would get outta control messy! Remember when we’d have “clean your desk” days?
Melia
October 3rd, 2008 at 12:07 am
Yes! I loved Trapper Keepers and actually still have a Trapper folder that I’ll have to photograph for the blog. We’d do Friday desk cleanups once a month, probably, with spray cleaner and those tan school-bathroom paper towels.
Remember when you’d come in one morning and the teacher had switched the desks around? I always felt disoriented for a week or so, but I was happy when I got seated next to my friends.