It was the first day of school in the year of 1936. Primaryclass was being introduced in the Kellerton school system. Thirteen dubious little faces watched for the appearance of the teacher this morning. What was this "primary", anyway? Some of us were frankly tearful - one little boy, Dale, couldn't understand why he couldn't go back home with his mama dear. These little innocents were: Dale BASSETT, Ed COY, Darrell Coy, Ruth FARMER, James FOSTER, Bobby FRENCH, Marilyn HEINISCH, Donella KNEEDLER, Raymond LUTZ, Roland MEADOWS, Jack SWAN, Arnold WION, and Edward LUTZ. We emerged from the primary class as experienced pupils. After all, didn't we finally realized "that it wasn't nice to chew our tablet paper and spit it out all over the floor"? Not everyone knew that.

First grade appeared, and with it came trials to the teacher. Arithmetic ws introduced: Let's see, if you have three locks of hair and cut two off with your little pair os scissors, what happens? You have one lone little shock of hair left on top of your head and no little pair of scissors. The teacher couldn't understand what fut it is to cut hair in school-time and refused to give the scissors back to their owners. What you don't have to put up with around here!

The sceond gradd revealed an unhappy fact to these unsuspecting children. If the teacher suggested that we face the front of the room, and we chose to over-rule the suggestion, a ruler was promptly lowered on chubby hands.

In the third and fourth grades, the escapades of Superman were followed closely from a comic book concealed inside the geography textbook covers. The teachers must have liked Superman, too, from the number of books they took from us. These intelligent third and fourth graders not only counted more than fingers or even their toes, but memorized the multiplication table as well.

School took on a livelier aspect in the fifth and sixth grades. Life was just one big song! If we became too tired of singing, at our teacher's suggestion, we went to the hall to relax our lungs, or else to the superintendent's office to let him join in on the chorus.

The seventh and eighth grand room was the scene for many eye-filling battles. Eye-filling was right! We held an ink blotter up for facial protection, prepared our ink-filled pen for action, and let ink fly in self-protection. "Survival of the fittest" could probably be applied to those who were enrolled in the eighth grade.

Ascending the steps to take our places in the freshman row were these: Dale BASSETT, Merrill COMER, Harold COOPER, Patricia ETHINGTON, Ruth FARMER, Raymond HAMPTON, Melba HIGDAY, Rex JACKSON, Donella KNEEDLER, and Roland MEADOWS. All bravado left each countenance upon being informed of our lowly position -- mere errand-boys of upper classmen. Oh well, our time was to come! Raymond HAMPTON left our class this year.

As sophomores, upper classmen informed us to live up to their ideals -- that is, as young men and women. After watching the various subtle movements of slipping a thumb-tack into some unsuspecting person's seat, we were aware of our own mistakes in such an act and vowed to follow in the footsteps of those who were more experienced in the art. It always pays to be observent. Marily HEINISCH, Betty PIERCE, Harold COOPER, and Donella KNEEDLER started in our sophomore class, but left before the year was completed. We were glad to welcome two more to our dwindling number: Rex and Leon JAMES came to Kellerton in the last semester.

After a little practice, some of our members became so proficient in sophisticated ways of the world that they were given special room in which to study during our junior year. No one wanted to force them to have to associate with such lowly, dull individuals in the assembly. Harold REED joined our class this year. The class numbered eight at the closing of the year -- six boys and two girls.

The senior year was approached with some mis-givings. This was the last year we would be members of K.H.S. With this though in mind, after putting our tear-stained handkerchiefs back into an inner pocket, we rose determined to make this year unforgetable. It has remained a thing to remember in our minds and to help others remember our illustrious Class of 1949, we cite the names of our graduating seniors: Harold REED, Bill McDERMOOT, Dale BASSETT, Rex JAMES, Ruth FARMER, Rex JACKSON, Leon JAMES, and Sara PITKIN.

Kellerton High School Organizations, 1949

Courtesy of GV Museum/Foland School, Kellerton IA, August of 2010