Ran across this little reminder we got every few weeks that showed how we were progressing in school. This card format stayed the same for many years. This is an example of what we received to take and show our parents and get signed and return the next day.
It was a testimony to how we did after of the feared 6-week test cycles at BHS. This one is from a beginner with good grades, although we blurred out the names (not because of any reflection on shame or anything). Notice that the teacher was Mrs. Hallie, a matron of the Vandiver family of teaching and coaching careers at BHS.
The day the cards were given out was dreaded by some, and relished by others. I made a few "D"s myself and even a failing grade a couple of times. I was really ashamed to take it home for my parents to see with those marks.
I heard many excuses from some boys why it wasn't returned (got wet and fell apart, dog chewed it up, baby sister drooled on it, etc.) and that became very comical to everyone including the teachers. Of course those guys got a replacement to retake home for signature, or a phone call from the teacher to their parents.
Some of you who started in the mid 1940s may recall the beginner and first grades used the North end of the surplus hut near the football field. Also in the same building was the lunchroom with good food smells coming through the walls every morning. We usually got to eat first and afterward the high schoolers came flying by and getting in line for their lunch.
How many of you signed one of these things themselves?
ReplyDeleteNAW, no one would do anything like that!
I did, and I had another adult that did. It was hard to get the teacher to buy it, though. She usually knew your writing even disguised.
ReplyDeleteI was a "B" student and graduated in 1961 at Booneville. Done well. I have sold 1426 automobiles and hundreds of washers and dryers. Not bad, huh.
ReplyDeleteWhat courses did Bernard Coggins teach? I know he was a football coach or assistant. He later was mayor for a long time, I think
ReplyDeleteI BELIEVE BERNARD COGGINS SUBED QUITE A BIT AND REALLY ENJOYED THE HISTORY CLASSES. I REMEMBER HIM KEEPING THE LIBRARY OR STUDY HALL. HE SPENT THE ENTIRE TIME TELLING HIS WAR EXPERIENCES WHICH WERE UNBLEVIAVLE. IN REGARDS TO THE REPORT CARDS, I REMEMBER JOHNNY MILLER SIGNING HIS FATHERS NAME AS WE DROVE ACCROSS THE RAILROAD TRACKS SO THE SIGNATURE WOULD MATCH. SURE ARE A LOT OF ANONYMOUS.
ReplyDeleteRobert, I have been told he taught history and possibly civics. He was on the staff long after I left. Wish I could have sat on on some of his classes.
ReplyDeleteI agree that are many anonymous posters, but that is OK so long as they DO comment. I don't really want to know their identity because they seem to know much, much more than I do!
Mr. Coggins was my 8th grade civics teacher. And yep, you could always get him off the subject by asking him to tell about his war experiences.
ReplyDeleteRe the report cards: I have all of mine. Looking at them is like a walk through memory lane. Talk about the "dreaded" card: That would be the final card of the year. Did I pass to the next grade?
Speaking of signing things; at one time when I was a teenager somebody came up with a rule in Prentiss County that no one could go into the pool hall unless they were they were 18 years old. The only exception was if one of your parents signed a card for permission.
ReplyDeleteThat didn't seem like much of a problem to me; I just got two of those permission cards and I signed Gordon McCarley's card then he signed mine. We really enjoyed shooting pool for about 2 months and then one day it happened. We were shooting pool and I looked up and a big man was standing in the doorway. It was the sheriff Roy Elder "Big Iron" himself.
Gordon was about scared to death. Roy asked us who signed our cards, Gordon couldn't say anything so I said, "I signed his and and he signed mine." Roy said then, "you boys get in the car and I'll give you a free ride home."
I never heard nothing about it even from my mother. Gearld McMillan had told my mother and she in turn had called Roy Elder. My mother's cousin married Roy Elder she had another cousin that married is brother Harold Elder.
So that ended my pool shooting days...till i got to be 18.
I could never have signed my mother's signature. My penmanship was so bad and her's was so neat and precise. However, my sister Gloria's was a perfect match. She never signed mine, but I'm pretty sure she signed her own more than once!
ReplyDeleteThe pool hall age rule was in effect for many years. I guess Slim Weldon didn't have any knowledge of it OR he let it slide. In the early 1950's if you could reach the top of the table and had a dime for a game, you were welcomed.
ReplyDeleteI don't remember if that age rule was in effect in 57 and 58 or not, but I always went in the pool room with Bruce Putt and no one ever asked our ages.
ReplyDeleteI still have several of my report cards and all the signatures match Mom's, but I won't mention some of the grades!
How many pool parlors did we have in Baldwyn in the 40's and 50's. I remember Palmer's, Scott's and Lomenick's. Was that all?
ReplyDeleteThere were some pool tables downstairs at the Lee-Ann Truck Stop on south 45, but there were never underage kids allowed. Wonder why??
ReplyDeleteYeah I remember my first day of school pretty well. We were in the end of the gymnasium.not in the old buildings. I remember them however
ReplyDeleteWe have recently talked about "Hambone" and the other shoe shine man at the barbershops. What about the school porter, John and his helper "Pip". Does anyone recall their names and anything about them?
ReplyDeleteI thought "Rob" was the school custodian.
ReplyDeleteWhat time frame are we talking about on the school custodians?
ReplyDeleteJohn and "Pip" was during Mr. Baker's tenure. I don't recall "Rob".
ReplyDeleteI remember John well, but not his last name. If we got to school early and couldn't get in from the cold, we would go to the boiler room to stay warm. John didn't want us in there so to get us to leave he would shovel coal and dust all over us. That was our cue to get outta there.
Does anyone remember when Mr. Whitaker was the janitor for the High School. This was in about 1955he and his younger daughter Betty Lou went fishing at Mauldin's lake and they both drown. Their funerals were held at the High School auditorium. I was in the 6th grade and Mrs. Bloodworth made us all attend.
ReplyDeleteRoy & Betty Lou Whitaker died on Oct 1, 1955. Betty was 14 at the time.
ReplyDeleteI vaguely remember Betty Lou. I was 2 years older than she. I will add her name to to memorial list.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Milton.
I had forgotten that awful incident. This website brings back a lot of memories, good and bad. Thanks
ReplyDeleteI remember that incident and also when Curtiss Wayne Bishop's brother drowned in Okellala, I believe. That was another terrible incident.
ReplyDeleteWillard Mears who was in Junior High at Baldwyn was accidently killed when his gun discharged after hunting one Saturday morning.
ReplyDeleteBoyd Parham who was also in Junior High at Baldwyn was killed in a car wreck just north of Frankstown on rainy Sunday afternoon.
Thomas "Dude" Parham and his nephew were shot to death in Prentiss County after a "dispute" about 10 years ago. Dude Parham was Boyd Parham younger brother.