A Day in the Life of a Third Grade Girl

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A THIRD GRADE GIRL

In 1916, when I was eight years old, I was in the third grade at the El Cajon Grammar School. The school was on Magnolia Avenue, about a quater of a mile north of Main Street. It was a T-shaped building with two classrooms and a bell tower across the front. The hall between these two rooms led to a covered porch, which in turn led to another classroom. A fourth classroom was in another building in the back of the large playground.

On school days my father wakened me about six o' clock in the morning when he came in to close my bedroom windows. In late fall and winter he also lighted the kerosene heater. The one-story wooden house was heated by a fireplace in the living room and kerosene heaters which were moved from room to room as needed. The cook-stove, too, used kerosene for fuel.

After I washed, I went into the kitchen in my pajamas and robe. There I helped finish setting the table or carry food to it. We had large breakfasts. There was always fruit of some kind, cereal, eggs and toast or rolls with honey or jam. I was expected to eat a good breakfast. My mother believed that a child that did not have a good breakfast could not do well in school.

After breakfast, I helped clear the table and dried the breakfast dishes. My mother helped me make my bed, brushed and braided my long hair, looped the braids across the back and tied a large ribbon bow on each side. Then I dressed for school.

At that time, girls wore many more clothes then they do today. For underclothes I wore a knitted shirt, much like a T-shirt, and full bloomers that came to just about my knees. Over these I had a white cotton slip trimmed with lace. My dress was usually made of gingham and came

to just below my knees. I wore long white stockings and button shoes that came just above my ankles.

Our house was set in the middle of a large lot that ran from the north side of Main Street to Rea Street. The building which had been my father's store was at the northeast corner of Main and Magnolia. Back of this building, our yard extended to Magnolia. A little before half past eight I would go out across our yard to the corner of Magnolia and Rea and wait for school friends to come by to walk to school. As I waited, I could smell the fragrance from the bakers which was in the old store building.

Many children walked to school, but quite a few rode bicycles. One girl, Ruth, who lived on south Mollison near Chase, rode a shetland pony. Sometimes she would let one of her friends ride the rest of the way to school. There was a small corral and a shed with stalls at one corner of the school yard, and the pony was kept there while Ruth was in school. The school principal, who lived east of El Cajon, often rode a horse to school and kept her horse there, too.

The first school bell rang at half past eight, and children were not allowed on the school ground before then. Everyone was eager to get on the school grounds which had a lot of playground equipment. There were a number of swings, seesaws, traveling rings, horizontal bars, a basketball court, and on a vacant lot next to the school, a field for softball.

A warning bell rang five minutes to nine. At the last bell, nine o' clock, all pupils were expected to be in line outside their classroom. The bell was rung by two eighth graders who were bell monitors for two weeks at as time. Everyone looked forward to the time of becoming bell monitors and the fun of pulling the bell rope.

The school day began with the Pledge of Allegiance and a patriotic song. As remember, in the third grade we started the day with arithmetic and then had reading. At 10:30, we had a fifteen minute recess. After recess we had geography, then history. Lunch time was from twelve to one o' clock. Although I could have gone home for lunch, I usually carried a lunch to school. I liked to be there to play after I ate my lunch.

After lunch, the teacher read to us for about ten minutes. Then we had writing, spelling, and English followed by physical education and a short recess. The last period of the day was art or music, except on Fridays, when we had a classroom program. Then individuals or groups played musical instruments, gave recitations, sang or gave short plays. We were dismissed at three o' clock.

After school I often took some girls home with me to play, or went to some friend's house. Our yard had a row of pepper trees across the back. They were just the right size for climbing and we had a number of games we played in them. We often played with dolls, and enjoyed board games like Parchese or card games like Authors.

Usually, our play stopped at about half past four. Then we had to be at home to do chores or to practice the piano or other instruments. I had to practice on the piano, see t hat my room was tidy, and set the table for dinner. Sometimes I helped prepare vegetables. In spring or summer I often picked vegetables from the garden.

At six o' clock we had dinner. I helped clear the table, and dried the dishes. Then I had a short time to play or to read before I took a bath and went to bed at half past eight.

Written by Lesley Stell Beatty

8301 Mission Gorge Rd.

Santee, California 92071