Coming from a limited enrollment parochial
elementary school to Central High School in 9th grade was somewhat
over-whelming initially, but I soon discovered new opportunities and benefits
were offered by my new surroundings.
One, in
particular stood out, Swimming at the YMCA, as part of our physical education
class. We would walk to and from the YMCA, which was located at the corner of
West Washington Avenue and Fairchild Street. When we were informed that our
swimming would be “au natural” I thought that they couldn’t be serious, but I
discovered it was true. No one ever gave us an explanation why we couldn’t wear
swimming suits and I never asked why. I can say we didn’t play water polo as
aggressively as the game should be played. In the winter we would walk back to
school and our hair would be frozen stiff by the time we got to out next class.
Our
circumstances were certainly different than today’s students as far as
transportation to and from school. A group of us students in our neighborhood
that attended Central, walked everyday to and from school for four years. No matter what the weather, extreme cold,
snow, blizzards, rain etc. we began our trek from Dayton and Brooks to Johnson
street and to school, a hike of approximately two miles each way. How strange,
as we get older we begin to sound like our parents.
Believe
it or not there was a purpose as to why we gathered together for approximately
180 days a year. One major goal was to receive an education and another was to
learn to interact with one another. I have to admit coming from a home of
immigrant parents I was clueless to either of the above goals. I was having a
great time with my friends and my social life was okay. Then one day in my junior
year, a classmate inquired if I knew where I ranked in my class. I didn’t have
a clue to what he was talking about. I later asked a teacher and was horrified
to discover that they were keeping score-all of the years and all of the grades
and where you ranked in the class. Needless to say I then realized the
importance of school; and amended my ways.
PS
looking back to my years at Central I wish we could all have ‘“do-overs”, but
unfortunately that is not possible. There are many things I would change such
as applying more time to studies and becoming better acquainted with more of my
fellow classmates. We certainly didn’t communicate as much as today’s
generation with their tell all, texting, my space, blogging, tweetering etc.
The one
thing I am sure of about my experience at Central High School is that we had
some of the most dedicated, professional, and caring teachers in the Madison
School District. I will always remember and be indebted to Elizabeth Ritzman,”
Gus Pollock” Richard Schurman, Alfred Colucci, Elizabeth Eisenman, Betty
Atkins, “Boomer Harris” Victor Lanning, and all the others which are too many
to mention.
I
discovered as time went by and I traveled and lived in other areas of the
country that we received an excellent education and were blessed as our in our
school song to attend “The best school in the land”
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