Episode 368: Shout-outs, movies (Stennie: C.O.G.), Pet Story, Commercial, Thing That Doesn’t Fit, Generic Review, What’s On TV?, What’s Up With That?, Fuck-Offs and You-Rules, Back to School Traditions.
“The Hucklebuck,” performed by Sierra Rein, Lee Rocker and Frank Sinatra. “Movies” bumper by Duke.
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These comments are based on my memories of grammar school, when I was 11 in 1967. I walked to school — too close to take the bus, even if I had a lot to carry. On the first day of school, I had to take my “P.E. kit.” It consisted of an awkward, red cloth bag that you carried by a hanger. It had two sections — a bottom section for two pairs of shoes, hockey shoes (black lace-up high-tops) and plimsolls (to wear inside in the gym – also black); the top section had my hockey skirt (a grey kilt), a white aertex shirt (a short sleeve polo shirt), a red pullover long-sleeve sweater and probably socks.
Upon arrival at school, where there was a boys’ entrance and a girls’ entrance, which led to separate cloak rooms — long, narrow rooms with rows of hooks where we hung our P.E. kits, coats and scarves — we would sit on benches and talk about homework, etc. From the cloak room, we would go to Home Room where the teacher called the Register. There we would have our own desks where we could store our textbooks. Then, before the first period, the whole school went to Assembly together. There we would sing hymns, pray and have announcements — this was required in all public schools because the Queen is the head of the church. The headmaster, the deputy headmaster and deputy headmistress wore robes (not religious robes, school robes). Then we would have 7 periods.
The beginning of the school year was exciting for getting fresh new books (not textbooks) for each subject. We went to a supply closet at school and were handed “exercise books” (similar to the black bound ones I have seen here in the States) with different coloured covers with nice paper inside. We also got a cheaper rusty-orange coloured notebook with cheap, thin paper inside that was for writing down our assignments, etc; I think we called them our “rough books.” We had our own pens and ink so we were constantly filling our cartridge pens with ink. I am left handed so I would always make a mess writing.
As we went to each class, the teachers would hand out the textbook for that subject which we were expected to cover (to protect). My Auntie Flo used to give us wallpaper sample books. We would choose pages to cover our books — it was mainly vinyl wallpaper, not pre-pasted. I loved picking out the designs.
In elementary school, leather satchels were the thing. But this was the sixties, so it wasn’t cool to carry a satchel or a soft-sided briefcase. Instead we carried baskets or woven Indian bags with fringes.
I always wore a school uniform my entire school life. In 1967, mine was a gray skirt with a gray vest-like thing (pinafore?), long sleeve white shirt, tie (diagonal stripes, maroon & gray), maroon long-sleeve pullover v-neck sweater, gray knee socks and either a gray blazer or a gray gabardine raincoat and a gray, red & black scarf. This was during the era of the Doctor Who who wore a long scarf so it was trendy to get two scarves and sew them together. You could either have a scarf or a beret — only one girl had a beret. All this was purchased from a men’s shop in Harrow.
Loved the school traditions topic!
What you were wearing to school the first day was a big deal. However, before I entered high school and was in the marching band where of course we wore band uniforms, even bigger than what you were wearing to school on the first day was what you were wearing to the Beaver-Graham game!
I loved shopping for school supplies, too, but we never did it ahead of time. Mom would be so grouchy and stressed out the first day of school because she would have to take us to A-Mart after dinner and buy us all the specific types of notebooks, looseleaf paper, etc…..
I am glad you mentioned the bus stop! Living on the corner, I don’t think I ever had to walk to a bus stop; it was always in front of our house or catty-cornered in front of the Harmon’s house. I don’t think my mom ever knew how many of us girls packed in to our living room when it was cold. And I don’t remember any boys in the house. We must have made them stand outside.
I don’t think we have any back-to-school photos. Really a shame, too. I love the tradition now of moms putting the photos on “The Facebook.”
I still have my saddle oxfords from when I was a cheerleader in 6th grade. They still fit and I have worn them to the occasional throw-back parties. Part of the reason I have never been able to get rid of them is Mom threw such a fit when she had to buy them for me. We couldn’t find any cheap ones and had to go to H&M and buy the top of the line ones. They were so expensive for her budget and so I want to say to her, I still have them, Mom; I think I’ve gotten your money’s worth out of them.
I only vaguely remember having a lunch box but I can’t remember what I had. We weren’t allowed them every year because we wouldn’t often take lunch and so mom thought it was a waste of money if we were then going to buy a school lunch.
Loved rewatching the freaks and geeks Halloween. (Had to catch up this week) And got to listen to it on the way to work when was having quite a shitty start to the day and you guys made me smile and laugh. Thank you!
And the picture in my head of Bet’s face realizing about the inside out shirt. Funny!!!
From this week!
Wow, loved new School supplies. I’m pretty sure I remember your pencil case. I don’t remember the sharpener but remember the slider multiplication thing! Wow. Remember the dawn of the trapper keeper. How I coveted until I got one. I also distinctly remember my first box of crayons markets which I got during an usual trip to KMart with just me and dad and I convinced him I needed them. It was a really BIG DEAL to me. Thus the discussion of it now 😉
We still had spanking in the hall. And I got hand slapped with a Ruler in 3rd grade for saying a bad word. Ahhh. Memories of elmentary school. Lunch boxes were a definite part of social status. Definitely remember a scooby doo.
Crayons markets is crayola markers btw