Proud Of Leesburg
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
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Headline from Saturday's June 2 Times-Union: "Leesburg Elementary Is A National Award Finalist." Quote: "Leesburg Elementary School has greatly improved academically over the past three years that even state officials are nominating the school for awards."
I am so proud of my little hometown alma mater. I spent 12 wonderful scholastic years, 1926-1938, in Leesburg School. The original school building where I spent my hours of study is gone now, but it's still the Leesburg School and represents the town in which I grew up.
When I attended Leesburg School, it received no awards of national importance, but we pupils loved our alma mater just the same. Back in the '20s and '30s, our school consisted of both elementary classes and high school. I understand that the present Leesburg elementary school is made up of 569 students. When I attended Leesburg School, elementary and high school combined totaled not quite 400 pupils.
I shall always remember that first day I entered elementary. I was 6 years old and wondered what I was getting into. I was a bit scared as to who I would find sitting behind the teacher's desk. But, I needn't have been concerned. I discovered, sitting at the desk, a wonderful lady by the name of Anna Good, who certainly lived up to her name. She was an absolute angel, and we scholars all loved her dearly. I can still recall the little red chairs arranged in a semi-circle at the front of the room, where we first-graders were assembled while Mrs. Good taught us how to read all about Peter Rabbit, The Little Red Hen and Old Mother Hubbard.
Two days after I entered first grade, I was on the playground being "pumped up" in a swing by Don Grove, a second-grader, when, somehow or other, my hands let loose of the chains and I went flying backwards through the air. I landed on my left arm, and broke it; therefore, I was taken to the doctor who set my arm; then I was sent home for the rest of the day. That evening, dear Mrs. Good called on me and brought along with her best wishes, a delicious ice-cream cone, which made me feel considerably better. (Basically, I was a "south paw," so when I broke my left arm, I had to learn to manipulate a pencil with my right hand.)
In elementary, I not only found Mrs. Good to be a kind, thoughtful human being, but my classmates also displayed a big heart, and good intentions toward one another. While in school, I always went home for lunch. One day, my classmates decided that I shouldn't go home for lunch, but stay and eat with them; therefore, most of the kids in my class (a dozen or so), gave me something from their dinner bucket, until I ended up with quite a meal, and I cherished every bite of it.
Yes, no matter how hard, or jaded, or indifferent toward life a person may become, he is still not likely to forget for one instant those sweet, joyful moments that he once spent within the confines of an elementary classroom, especially if he spent them under the guidance of a teacher as kind and gracious and lovable as Mrs. Anna Good.
Don Kaiser
Warsaw[[In-content Ad]]
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Headline from Saturday's June 2 Times-Union: "Leesburg Elementary Is A National Award Finalist." Quote: "Leesburg Elementary School has greatly improved academically over the past three years that even state officials are nominating the school for awards."
I am so proud of my little hometown alma mater. I spent 12 wonderful scholastic years, 1926-1938, in Leesburg School. The original school building where I spent my hours of study is gone now, but it's still the Leesburg School and represents the town in which I grew up.
When I attended Leesburg School, it received no awards of national importance, but we pupils loved our alma mater just the same. Back in the '20s and '30s, our school consisted of both elementary classes and high school. I understand that the present Leesburg elementary school is made up of 569 students. When I attended Leesburg School, elementary and high school combined totaled not quite 400 pupils.
I shall always remember that first day I entered elementary. I was 6 years old and wondered what I was getting into. I was a bit scared as to who I would find sitting behind the teacher's desk. But, I needn't have been concerned. I discovered, sitting at the desk, a wonderful lady by the name of Anna Good, who certainly lived up to her name. She was an absolute angel, and we scholars all loved her dearly. I can still recall the little red chairs arranged in a semi-circle at the front of the room, where we first-graders were assembled while Mrs. Good taught us how to read all about Peter Rabbit, The Little Red Hen and Old Mother Hubbard.
Two days after I entered first grade, I was on the playground being "pumped up" in a swing by Don Grove, a second-grader, when, somehow or other, my hands let loose of the chains and I went flying backwards through the air. I landed on my left arm, and broke it; therefore, I was taken to the doctor who set my arm; then I was sent home for the rest of the day. That evening, dear Mrs. Good called on me and brought along with her best wishes, a delicious ice-cream cone, which made me feel considerably better. (Basically, I was a "south paw," so when I broke my left arm, I had to learn to manipulate a pencil with my right hand.)
In elementary, I not only found Mrs. Good to be a kind, thoughtful human being, but my classmates also displayed a big heart, and good intentions toward one another. While in school, I always went home for lunch. One day, my classmates decided that I shouldn't go home for lunch, but stay and eat with them; therefore, most of the kids in my class (a dozen or so), gave me something from their dinner bucket, until I ended up with quite a meal, and I cherished every bite of it.
Yes, no matter how hard, or jaded, or indifferent toward life a person may become, he is still not likely to forget for one instant those sweet, joyful moments that he once spent within the confines of an elementary classroom, especially if he spent them under the guidance of a teacher as kind and gracious and lovable as Mrs. Anna Good.
Don Kaiser
Warsaw[[In-content Ad]]
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