Story #8
Kindergarten - Phone - Bus
In October 1957, twenty-two children and one teacher gathered together in the basement of the red brick elementary school building in Peebles for the first kindergarten class in Adams County. The group would spend the greater part of five days in a row out of each week for around thirty-eight weeks, subtly exploring the wonders of the three R's through playing, singing, social interaction, art and music. Their fearless leader, an extremely patient Mrs. Wilma Perry, included activities such as a play circle, dramatic games and stories read aloud.
For some parents, it was difficult to accept the idea that five year-old youngsters playing together could be the beginning of the path through the educational process.
It was all based on the mid 1700's philosophy of a Swiss educator named Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and one of the most influential educational reformers of the 19th century, named Friedrich Froebel. Their main belief was in the inherent goodness of children.
It was also during this time period that young students learned about the two most important numbers in their lives. If their family was progressive enough to have a home telephone, it was imperative to know not only the number to dial, usually seven numerical digits, or a combination of letters and digits, it was also necessary to know how the telephone was to be used. The small finger had to roll the round dial all the way to the metal dial stop, then release. Release too soon, you might be calling cousins from as far away as Locust Grove.
The other number to learn was the downfall of some of the wee students. High on the side of the door, in black, on the big yellow bus, was the number given to you. A number assigned personally
by the school, to you, so you could take possession. That number was yours. It was the number of YOUR school bus. It told you with a glance exactly where you were and you knew immediately if you
were astray. How to get to the correct number and corresponding bus was sometimes a problem. But at that age, it was okay for such a matter to be traumatizing.
