Remembering the Simpler Times of Fourth Grade

I think that the older you get, the more you remember old times. For some reason, maybe because I see my grandkids going off to school every day–I started thinking of good memories from when I was in fourth grade in a one-room school house.

The school was called “Busti #7,” and it was located on Garfield Road. We had a wonderful teacher, Mrs. Kronmiller, and she taught all four grades.

As a fourth-grader, I was actually in the “senior” class–since, the following year, I would be transferring into the big City of Jamestown school system for fifth grade and beyond.

Every morning and afternoon in that small school house, we would have a 15 or 20 minute recess and, on good weather days, Mrs. Kronmiller would let us play outside.

Boys being boys, we often played a game called “Cowboys and Indians.” This was back in the days of Roy Rogers and Gene Autry in the movies. On Saturdays, before television, we would go downtown to watch westerns at the matinee at Shea’s or the Palace theater.

What we would do in the game was divide a group of boys into two opposing camps, hide in the bushes, then on a signal attack each other. It wasn’t a physical attack. (Mrs. Kronmiller wouldn’t permit that.) But, we would point our fingers as guns, or draw our arms like we had a bow, and then run around making a lot of noise–finally pretending to be hit–we would fall to the ground.

When that happened, what came next was the best part of the game. We each had a favorite “nurse” who would come to our aid, wipe our brow, console us–and then the game would end.

I have never forgotten my favorite nurse. Her name was Elaine. She was in second grade and she was beautiful. The girls were a part of the game and were always there at the end. After the recess was over, we would go back inside for more instruction–but on those days, the highlight I remember most was being nursed back to health by Elaine in a make-believe game of “Cowboys and Indians.”

I would imagine that such games wouldn’t be allowed today. The name itself seems out-of-place and would probably be deemed to be politically incorrect.

"To all the girls I’ve Ioved before, who traveled in and out my door. I’m glad they came along..."   - Willie Nelson

 

But, it was my first awakening to the significance of girls. It felt good liking and being liked by them.

Which brings me to one of the all-time great songs by Willie Nelson. What started in fourth grade is still true today. Though I have been happily married for nearly 50 years, I still sometimes hum that melody: “To all the girls I’ve Ioved before, who traveled in and out my door. I’m glad they came along, I dedicate this song…to all the girls I’ve loved before.” Elaine was probably my first love.

Some things in life never change. That memory from the fourth grade is still with me.

Rolly Kidder