As I give thought to my years at Glenview, my mind slips so far back ~ back beyond a marriage of 56 years, adult children and grandchildren, the houses that became homes, global travels, decades of volunteer work ~ back, back in time ~ falling in love, WW II, happy college years, great high school times ~ and still reaching back even more ~ ah, there it is, so firmly fixed in memory ~ Glenview, and all the years of learning to love learning. That was the beginning.
Each day began with a salute to the Flag. Next, we sat quietly with palms on desk, fingers spread, for hygiene inspection ~ clean hair, ears, teeth, fingernails, fresh clothing. Really! At mid-morning there were graham crackers and milk. Recess freed us to the playground to swing, climb the monkey bars, or our favorite, "boys-chase-the-girls" (and we could hardly wait to be caught!).
Books were treated with loving and respected care. To this day, I cannot open a book and "break-the-back." I still can make a manila corner for a treasured binding. A life-long love for paper, pencils, and binders was instilled. Lead me to school supplies and make my day!
Discipline seemed a small problem because no one opted for the punishment. I can still feel the sharp sting of a slap on my leg for being caught talking in class! Boys were dispatched to "Mr. Starr's office" (the principal) for a swipe of a leather belt on their behind. No kidding!
Many walked home for a hot lunch, or a bag lunch was taken on the playground and traded or shared. Egg salad sandwiches still smell like school lunch!
Girls always wore dresses, socks, leather shoes, and boys wore cotton button-up shirts, long pants, and scuffed shoes. My mother sewed and made my colorful cotton dresses with matching bloomers; a pocket was sewn on the bloomers to hold a cloth handkerchief, which in turn, had a nickel tied into a corner. The nickel paid for mild or orange juice. In summer the dresses were sleeveless A-line little garments. One day as I was hanging upside down on the bars, my dress slipped over my head and into a mound on the ground. 50 years later at a high school reunion a former Glenview "boy" told my husband that he had seen me "topless"!
In the spring, we practiced folk dancing for weeks, preparing for May Day and the tradition of braiding the ribbons around the May pole. It was always the prettiest girl who was chosen for May Queen, and to this day I feel regret at missing that honor!

At one time, the school had a great treat for us ~ the showing of the silent movie of "Peter Pan." Classes were forgotten as we sat in our party clothes, entranced by the awesome event. Our class had preferred seating in the balcony (no longer there).
We memorized everything ~ poetry, spelling lists, multiplication tables, and diagramed perfect sentences down to the last verb! Spelling bees were great fun and competition was intense! We learned to play the piano on paper keyboards spread across our desks ~ with parent-attended recitals in the auditorium as we struggled with a real piano! Reading music and singing written notes solo was pure agony, especially for those who were musically and tone impaired!
Tuesdays were art days and supplies were counted out by row monitors. Colored paper, crayons, watercolors, and paste - all used for pictures or making soldier hats, Easter baskets or Christmas chains.
P.E. majors at local college were playground directors after school and Saturdays. We called them "Direct" as in "Hey, Direct, may I check out a baseball mitt?" Boys had football teams and played in the lower field, which was just plain dirt. Girls chanted endless rhymes as they jumped rope or played jacks, hopscotch, or paddleball.
Most teachers were held in affection and respect, and we tried our best to please. I never was bored because learning was so exciting from the beginning. It was assumed that following high school we would continue into college, i.e. "Higher Learning!" and I would guess that most of us did that.
We were privileged children because we were taught that knowledge was wealth, truth meant honor and respect, creativity and hard work meant progress. We are grateful to the dedicated teachers who instructed us with a loving firmness. It was those teachers whom we remember and thank for these joyful beginnings.

Wonderful teachers
Wonderful Glenview School

Special thanks to Bette Tunney,
student in Glenview's first 1st grade class, for sharing these memories.