Memories of a Schoolgirl


Bernice A Caswell Welch, who is now 83 years old, started school at the Little Red Schoolhouse in Coeymans Hollow when she was 4 years old. She has graciously offered to share her childhood memories of her days at the school. Be sure to check back often as Bernice contributes additional episodes to this page on a regular basis.

Episode I
Oh, what wonderful memories I have of attending an 8 grade-1 room school house! It was (and still is) a beautiful red brick building, trimmed with white brick arches above the windows and door. It has a wooded hillside at the back and a sparkling brook near the front.

I lived right next door to the school house-not more than 200 feet. I was about 4 years old in 1921 when I started school there. The man teacher (Mr. Stotts) was a friend of my parents and he convinced them to send me over , even though I was rather young.

My first memory of school was being asked, by Mr. Stotts to open my book-stand up and read. I was scared to death! I didn't know how to read- I had never been taught-so I just stood there, frozen to the spot. He told me to read again- I didn't. So he picked me up, put me across his knee and spanked me-I proceeded to wet my pants, his pants and the floor!!

When he stood me on my feet I started running- right out of the school house and to my mother next door. Needless to say, I wasn't to keen on returning to school the next day.

I don't believe my parents ever questioned the teacher about his actions. Can you believe that would be the case today??

Continued episodes will appear at a future date.


Episode 2
Little Red School House (Second Episode) by Bernice Caswell Welch who attended school from 1922-1927
 
In the old days ( about 1922 ) most of the boy students in the 7th and 8th grades were big and strong farm boys. They loved to tease the teacher-especially a pretty one -( sometimes not too much older than themselves.)
 
Our teacher at the time was Miss Anna White. She liked to take her shoes off and put them under her desk. Some how, one of the boys managed to sneak her shoes from under the desk and also removed her hat and coat from the cloak room.
 
Time passed, and all was calm-until Miss White decided to put on her  shoes-no shoes! She questioned the class as to their where abouts. All was quiet. Finally one student pointed his finger to the outside. There in all their spender-were shoes, hat and coat flying together with the flag atop the flag pole!!
 
Well, you can imagine the laughter. The teacher was a pretty good sport, but it took awhile before she could persuade one of the boys to shimmy up the flag pole and bring them down.
 
No one ever did confess to the caper.
 
Watch for other episodes.
 
Bernice Caswell Welch

Episode 3

This is another story of THE LITTLE RED SCHOOL HOUSE by Bernice Caswell Welch.
 
I The older boys who were in the six, 7th, or 8th grade seem to be pranksters- always up to some mischief.

One day Mr. Statts (our teacher) appeared to be sleeping- taking a little cat nap at his desk! Some of those boys started to creep- I don't recall what they were doing- but I do remember seeing Mr. Statt's head snap up and he quickly released under his chair and broke loose one of the chair rungs. He then walked to the back and used that rung to discipline the unlucky culprits. I was a young girl about seven or eight years old and so surprised to see him react so quickly and with that chair rung bet I could hardly believe my eyes.

I know these stories sound like fiction, but are true and was there to see it happen.

Another time my older brother walked to the back of the room to throw some papers in the only waste basket. The bell rope hung very near the basket and I guess he thought it would be fun to pull the rope! He did! He was taken out to the back entryway and punished. The teacher broke the rubber hose on him that day. Imagine!

Despite some of the discipline problems in those days, it was a happy time for me- and I remember all the great things we did also. There was a kerosene stove, near the water cooler in the back that could be curtain off. Once in awhile a couple of girls were assigned to make hot cocoa or soup ( probably canned). The ones who got that day were so proud and important feeling. Everyone received a couple so or " oh free- what and occasion"- it did not happen too often- when it did it was just great. I don't know where the food came from, probably the teacher, or it was sent in by some mothers. I think we also had a cookie or two that rounded out the occasion.

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