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| Sleep in Heavenly Peace |
December marked frantic
use of scissors, glitter, and paper in schools every where. Teachers reluctantly set out
the peppermint paste, letting chaos take its course.
Influenza and Christmas frenzy drove
the pace.
Each classroom reflected
garish joy and vacant student desks as days counted down to one big event:
Annual Christmas Pageant. If ever there were a bigger event, the community did not know it.
The District Music teacher, Mrs. Harris, traveled to every school before settling on this one school to perform that year's pageant.
The District Music teacher, Mrs. Harris, traveled to every school before settling on this one school to perform that year's pageant.
Mrs. Harris was
relentless in her expectations and doling out various roles as fear hung in the air while performers marched to her music. Seventh and eighth graders became The Holy
Family with younger students filling out as angels, elves, and sugar canes.
Influenza began wiping out
the Holy Family and shepherds. But Mrs.
Harris did not break step or sweat; Mrs. Harris drafted the best of the
next grade down.
In sixth grade, all girls were hoping, Please oh please let me be Mary! Their hearts, minds and eyes pleaded.
Briefly, Mrs. Harris laid eagle eyes on a few, but moved on. Those girls would remain angels that year. The
pageant took place with Holy Family intact while Angels waited in the wings, scratching silver garland halos.
Day after Pageant Glory, angels' desks were vacant, each absentee sick with influenza. A few elves were out as well.
Please note that this memory comes from a then 10 year brain. I discovered that "Mrs. Harris" was kind and a very good teacher. She taught us all how to read music, and as a result I learned to play the piano, due to her strong teaching.
Oh I remember those Christmas concerts. In a one room school they were a big social event.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you had that experience! Were you as nervous as I was (angel)?
DeleteAll children should be as blessed.
ReplyDeleteGreat memory.
It is a good memory. And it was a huge event; it would not be allowed now.
DeleteTen year old brain memories are grand. I recall fainting and falling off the top riser of the the choir of angels.
ReplyDeleteNo! Was the pressure too much?!
DeleteFunny how everyone was out sick afterwards.
ReplyDeleteYou have a far better memory than I.
In our small school, 'flu traveled quickly,
DeleteGood to realise you appreciated Mrs. Harris, I have been responsible for many of those concerts over the years, hope some children have happy memories :0)
ReplyDeleteMrs. "Harris" taught us how to read music. I would not have learned to play piano if not for her. I know your students have fond memories of that time.
DeleteI still remember a few, can't believe I actually wanted to be in them then lol
ReplyDeleteI KNOW! My brothers were reluctant shepherd for their entire elementary school lives. Fortunately they were in the back. I never got to be Mary.
DeleteWe didn't have them - but I did (thankfully) come across more than one Mrs Harris. I wish I could do so now - to thank them.
ReplyDeleteIn my adulthood, I wrote her a letter to thank her for her teaching. My mother sent me her address, since it was in the phone book then.
DeleteHow awful that everyone became sick after the pageant! Mrs. Harris sounds like she was a wonderful music teacher. I'm sure she appreciated your thoughtful note.
ReplyDeleteJulie
The sickness was bound to happen. It was an explosion of sickness. Mrs. Harris was relieved that we all hung on long enough to present the pageant. AND that no one dropped out the night of the pageant.
DeleteA ranch doll's house, that sounds very exotic, and would have been impossible to imagine in the 1940's :0)
ReplyDeleteRanch houses were one story, small rooms, and fit on minimum land. The 1950s were their onset and really hit their stride in the 1970s. My doll house was made of tin or something, with all the details embossed/painted on the walls. I liked the decor.
DeleteThere were a lot of sick kids at Jordan's (my great nephew) school. But the teachers trudged on.
ReplyDeleteI think teachers are the angels.
R
Poor Mrs. Harris... I've been there.
ReplyDeleteStrong teaching gets an A+ in my book. My youngest had a NICE NICE NICE teacher last year. This year his teacher is not un-nice, but she's very firm. And he's learning like crazy!! Love that lady!!
ReplyDeleteA real shame to have influenza about at the same time the pageant was going on.
ReplyDeleteI have memories of several really good teachers, they really make a difference don't they?