| Chapter 7: | The Schools |
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Street, I was placed in a class set aside for children who were considered difficult to teach. My classrooms had desks and chairs riveted to the floors. The building was old and gray with a high fence in front of the entrance. Some of my teachers were patient with children like myself and some were not. When I didn’t understand Miss Rundge’s instructions on an astronomy assignment and brought in the wrong work, she held my paper up to the class and humiliated me in front of my fellow students. I remember one day we were placed in two rows, one for the girls and one for the boys. We were going to assembly. I held the hand of a cute girl named Frances who happened to live on my street. The hand holding on that fateful day convinced me that she was the Snow White of my dreams. I was too shy to tell her that. I remained her secret admirer for many years after the hand holding incident. I was Dante and she was my Beatrice. In my autographs graduating album she wrote: “To Sally, Best Wishes and Lots of Luck. Friend Frances.”
I was friendly and interested in learning and I adjusted very well to my elementary school. I was the only boy to hold a graduating class office, the treasurer’s position. In my yearbook I listed history books as my favorite readings. I wanted, however, to be an entertainer when I grew up. Miss Arnowich was my favorite teacher. She wrote in my yearbook: “To a typical American boy, my very good wishes for the happiness you so richly deserve. It has been a genuine pleasure to have known you this past year. May we continue our friendship.”
At James Otis Junior High School (P.S.172) and at Benjamin