Eighth Grade

In eighth grade I recall sitting in two places — both in the row of desks nearest the windows, either about in the middle (front to back) or very close to the back. It was also the grade where I had Annabelle Strough sitting either in front of behind me the rest of the time in the Gowrie school (doubtless because we were being seated alphabetically).

My most vivid impression of Annabelle was that she always just missed being tardy — almost invariably she would arrive in a flurry and panting about 8:59 a.m. or one minute before 1 p.m. when the afternoon part of the school day was about to begin. She had an older brother, by name Carleton, but his nickname was “Turkey.”

Eighth grade is memorable to me as it was at the end of that year that I had my operation for appendicitis. As a result of this I missed all of the final tests (which I might have been excused from anyway) and probably the last couple of weeks of school but I was passed on to high school nonetheless. I also missed the eighth grade class play in which I had a minor part; Everett Johnson took over the role I had. It was the only time I was ever cast in a school play.

[I’m not sure that my dad is remembering this accurately. In his papers, I found a script for a play called “Spring Fever” by Glenn Hughes. The copyright date is 1937, the year my dad turned 17. On some of the front pages are inscriptions by some of the cast members. None are addressed to my dad by name, but they are clearly addressed to the individual who played Professor Virgil Bean. — Laurel]

My teachers in eighth grade were Mrs. Knapp, the new principal, and Miss Nagel, who was the replacement for Miss Wood. Mrs. Knapp was a widow; I think she had one child, and being without a husband met the qualification for a teacher in the Gowrie school. She was I suppose 35 years of age or so, and a very conscientious (perhaps too much that way) teacher. This kind of teacher would ultimately run into trouble in the Gowrie school — the community wasn’t all that interested in academic excellence. Just sort of get the real basics and let it go at that. I liked her even though I found her a bit “too concerned” at times. It seems to me that I had her for history in high school — I wonder if she moved on to being a high school teacher later on.

Miss Nagel was a tall, rangy Nordic-type individual and she was one of the two teachers I respected most during Gowrie days. I guess that she was what makes a good teacher — interested in her students and capable of presenting material, a no-nonsense person but nonetheless tolerant of human frailty, mostly objective in approaching teaching but subjective enough to show emotion and realize what problems a student had personality-wise. Demanding of performance, but cognizant and appreciative of effort and results. The sort of teacher that some large school would soon located and hire, and she was in Gowrie not more than a year or so.

I recall vividly one incident in eighth grade. Toward the end of the year in connection with arithmetic, Mrs. Knapp gave me some material related to algebra — whether it was just something to read or a special assignment I don’t recall. Whatever it was it didn’t related to the class as a whole. I remember I was entranced by this new aspect of mathematics, like a big new Erector set. I can still see myself in a seat near the back of the room by myself delving into this newfound delight.

Then, as nowadays, there were spelling bees. There was some sort of state competition sponsored I believe by the Des Moines Register and Tribune newspapers. First there were the contests at the individual schools, then at the county seats, next at the state level and finally I suppose come competition at the national level. Mrs. Knapp pushed this project and I think she expected me to merge as the contestant from Gowrie but I was eliminated when there were still several contestants remaining. I guess I was just as happy; this sort of competitive situation really didn’t, and doesn’t, appeal to me.

Before the contest we studied the pages of words that the paper published as having been used or likely to be used in future bees. I’m all for spelling more or less correctly, but spelling it arbitrary by nature and there is nothing intrinsically right or wrong with any given spelling. As long as the intended meaning is conveyed, so what? I guess that I have the same attitude toward the meaning of words — meaning aren’t determined by dictionaries but by how people use them. I recall having a discussion with Tom Baron (later president of Shell Development) on this, his viewpoint being that usage should follow the dictionary. I was a little nonplussed at his adopting this viewpoint.

One incident I remember from eighth grade was in the music instruction with the teacher who came around to the classes for this part of the educational program. The boys in the class had been separated out from the rest of the class and we were singing away up near the front of the assembly room. Perhaps my voice was changing or something; anyway I was singing not the same notes as the rest, but some sort of “part” which I was I guess making up. She detected this and to my embarrassment had me repeat (solo) what I had been doing.

The whole incident now seems strange to me. I’m not, by range of voice, able to detect proper pitch, or liking much inclined to vocal music and what motivated me to experiment as I did on this occasion is a mystery to me.

I’ve mentioned that I took piano lessons from aunt Ruth, and when I was living in San Pedro I stated to take piano lessons but dropped it after moving to the Bay Area. I like piano (and organ) music but I haven’t the physical control or dexterity to play with any degree of proficiency. Rather similar in a way to my vocal music talents.