pre 1970 school life SA (San Antonio, Alamo: spring break, tenant, elementary school)

[samustang91]

How was school in San Antonio before 1970. I mean it was not the same if you lived in a different part of the city.

[catriona]

I was in elementary school (SAISD) at that time. We had merry-go-rounds that were jammed packed all the time, jungle gyms to crawl on, 4-square, jump ropes, jacks, tether ball, and baseball diamonds on our playground. The playgrounds had those big red ants that we used to torture by throwing rocks in their ant hills. Oh, and the play ground was HUGE. The school had no A/C, but did have the huge floor fans. We went to the symphony, the Alamo, and the missions on field trips. Wednesdays were Mexican food day, and every one bought their lunch. MMMMMMM! Kids got spanked, too.

[samustang91]

What I'm getting to at this topic I want to compare pre 1970s school life of it was in the North Side, West Side, South Side, East Side. I just want to how life was back in those days.

[SanAntoQT]

I went to elementary school in the Harlandale District on the southside. When I was there from '65 to '70, it was primarily Latino. We were NOT allowed to speak Spanish at school. The ultimate humiliation, if caught doing so in the lunch line, was to be taken up to the stage and made to eat lunch at a table set up there. We had a "cafetorium," that's why there was a stage. The ultimate humiliation among peers was to be caught taking tacos to school for lunch. I remember throwing my lunch away a few times to avoid being teased.

No such thing as a/c at Columbia Heights Elementary either! *lol* I don't recall ever sweltering, though.

On the last week of the school year, we had "field week." Nothing but fun and games, baseball tournaments, jump rope contests, tetherball and volleyball competitions, relay races...sooooo much fun! Of course, there was the annual trip to the zoo and Brackenridge Park in late April, early May.

[catriona]

I forgot to mention I grew up on the southeast side, not far from McCreless Mall. The schools from what I recall, were predominately white, with hispanics and very few if any African Americans. We also had a cafetoriuml, our desks were those old style wooden one piece desks with lids that opened up and a tray carved in to the top for your pencils. We celebrated Christmas at school, had the tree, presents, everything. Also did Halloween -- had a big carnival on the playground and could wear our costumes to school on Oct. 31st. We had Christmas break for about 1 1/2 weeks, only had off 1/2 Wednesday thru Friday for Thanksgiving, not the entire week like kids do now. No spring break, either. There were about 30 kids in each class, about 4 classes per grade, perhaps more. I wish I could find my elementary yearbook and see what else I've forgotten!

[PoliceCaptain]

I was in elementary school from '60 - '65 at Kate Schenck just off Goliad. Instead of today's "adult" street crossing guards, we had students in the "street patrol". Before and after school we would march two by two to intersections around the school carrying stop signs on long poles over our shoulders - rifle style. We stood at attention on the corners until a student arrived. When it was clear, the command was shouted "putem out". We would then extend the stop signs into the road with the end of the pole resting against our body just below the belly button. After the student cleared the intersection, the command was give to "bringem in". You had to be in the 5th grade to join the street patrol. There was a rank structure with badges going from plain silver as the lowest, green for sergeant, red for lieutenant and blue for the captain. I think there was only one captain. I recall making it to lieutenant as a 6th grader. The badges were worn on a wide, white fabric belt that went around your waist and crossed your chest and back at an angle. Boy, I wish I could find one of those badges.

[samustang91]

How was it in Northside, NEISD or Northeast Rural(before '55), AHISD, or SW , SOUTH SAN back in those days?

[SanAntoQT]

Originally Posted by PoliceCaptain

I was in elementary school from '60 - '65 at Kate Schenck just off Goliad. Instead of today's "adult" street crossing guards, we had students in the "street patrol". Before and after school we would march two by two to intersections around the school carrying stop signs on long poles over our shoulders - rifle style. We stood at attention on the corners until a student arrived. When it was clear, the command was shouted "putem out". We would then extend the stop signs into the road with the end of the pole resting against our body just below the belly button. After the student cleared the intersection, the command was give to "bringem in". You had to be in the 5th grade to join the street patrol. There was a rank structure with badges going from plain silver as the lowest, green for sergeant, red for lieutenant and blue for the captain. I think there was only one captain. I recall making it to lieutenant as a 6th grader. The badges were worn on a wide, white fabric belt that went around your waist and crossed your chest and back at an angle. Boy, I wish I could find one of those badges.

I remember that! I was a street patrol for about 2 seconds! *lol*

[SnappyBob]

I got to wear one of those things for a day as a hall monitor. I think I got fired. To this day I still yell at people at work " NO RUNNING IN THE HALLS" I guess once a hall monitor always a hall monitor.

[satx56]

[quote=SanAntoQT;4544159]I went to elementary school in the Harlandale District on the southside. When I was there from '65 to '70, it was primarily Latino. We were NOT allowed to speak Spanish at school. The ultimate humiliation, if caught doing so in the lunch line, was to be taken up to the stage and made to eat lunch at a table set up there. We had a "cafetorium," that's why there was a stage. The ultimate humiliation among peers was to be caught taking tacos to school for lunch. I remember throwing my lunch away a few times to avoid being teased.


Me too QT. I went to Harlandale Jr. & High but switched to McCollum last two years. Graduated in 1970. Jr. High was rough, lots of stuff going on. Me and a friend got motorcycles when we turned 14. We skipped school one day and went to the Witte Museum of all places. We were called into the principals office the next day. When asked where we went my friend (who was always quick with an excuse) made something up. I told him it was a field trip to the museum. When we got to the High school you could leave the school grounds for lunch. We had the "Wigwam" and the "Chief" nearby for hamburgers or whatever. Don't recall any of the speaking spanish trouble or the taco thing. But, If you'd have brought tacos I'd have helped eat them! I do remember going to something in the auditorium and someone saying out loud " snack bar will close in ten minutes". Everyone went wild! Harlandale allowed smoking on campus. Outside of course (I didn't smoke then). McCollum was considerably different. No smoking on campus & they were much more strict.