What I Remember — From First Grade (1957–1958)

Drawing by Jeff Mosher

I’ve heard it said that a child remembers nothing from his or her first three years. I’ve also heard it said that old people like myself — I turned 73 recently — remember more about their youth than they do about last week. Thus, as I prepare to attend my 55th high-school reunion of the class of 1969 later this summer, I thought it might be interesting to see what I actually remember from those early years, kindergarten through twelfth grade in the Catholic schools I attended in upstate New York. Since I don’t honestly remember much from those early years of school, I thought I would post my vague memories, and perhaps they might stir up the memories of others who graduated during that same era.

My memories of first grade are somewhat similar to those of kindergarten, vague and probably inaccurate. I think our classroom was on the first floor of the building, in what they called “The Annex,” a two-story addition on the eastern end of the building. I believe the first and second grades were on the first floor, and the third and fourth grades were on the second floor.

Our teacher was a Sister of Saint Joseph, and it felt like we had about 50 kids in that class, which explains why the nuns were so strict. We were not allowed to make a move or speak a word unless called upon. I remember reading aloud as a group about the adventures of Dick…