When I went to elementary school in the 1960s, it was a golden era compared to today.
I was even earlier - elementary school in the 50’s!!!! (Yes, I am that old).
A GREAT era for schools back then.
We had great Thanksgiving plays but even back then they cut out Christmas plays - too religious. Those Christmas plays were for church.
But I didn’t learn about all the history of the country until after I got out of school and started reading great nonfiction works of history. My appreciation for this country GREW - did not diminish at all.
But I did get a “classical” education in schools back then:
Algebra, geometry, civics, world civ, Latin, etc. We were prepared for “the world” of college. Then I went to a small two year college (Peace College in Raleigh) where I had some fantastic professors. After that I transferred to UNC Chapel Hill and got a nonesensical degree in early childhood education so I could teach elementary school.
When I taught fourth grade, we had some fantastic studies in American history going back and doing “a day in the life” of a Colonial childhood,etc. We dressed in Colonial era costumes. My students told me these were some of the best times of their fourth grade teaching.
I also read aloud the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe by CS Lewis and did not get kicked out of my teaching job as I would today. I am sure that book is on the forbidden list.
Then came 1971 in Dallas, TX where they had the bright idea of busing the white students across town to attend black schools and black students to white schools. Kids weren’t allowed to attend their neighborhood school that was 4 houses down the street until they were Seniors in HS. Somehow, I was “lucky” to go to my neighborhood school in 8th grade but it was pure hell because of all the bused in violence. Libs are so smart, do’cha know. Can’t leave well enough alone. People should be able to live, work, shop and go to schools in the neighborhoods of their choice. Needless to say, we were part of the white flight outta there in 1972.
“When I went to elementary school in the 1960s, it was a golden era compared to today.”
Back when we could sing ‘100 bottles of beer on the wall’ on the school bus.