(My dad has a new blog post to share! Due to the progression of his ALS he is no longer typing, but this is a story he wrote several months ago, and we would like to share it with you now! You are welcome to leave comments for him below, and we will read each one of them to him. Enjoy! -amanda criss)
Elementary school was filled with wonder and surprises. Every day was fresh, new, exciting, and contributed to the development of life-long friendships.
Looking back, I believe I must have unknowingly been part of the very origins of today’s “Everyone-gets-a-trophy” era. The long-standing “A, B, C” grading system had been abandoned; our grading system consisted of “R” denoting Rapid progress, “N” for Normal progress, and “S” for Slow progress. Then there were “fast” and “slow” reading groups—which were later re-named “Red” and “Blue.”
As we progressed from grade-to-grade our classes remained pretty much intact, which encouraged stronger and stronger friendships. Occasionally families moving away from our small town caused a loss to our close knit fellowship. I remember warmly a number of my elementary school classmates that I quite literally have not seen or heard from since my elementary school days: Tren Alford, Shirley Campbell, Terry McConathy, Zeta Quella—the list could go on—are names that stand out in my memory. I often wonder where they are, and just how their adult lives turned out.
One of these “missing” individuals is the focus of today’s story.
It seems every elementary school class has one standout troublemaker. In Mrs. Clark’s third grade class that distinction belonged to one Terry McConathy. Terry’s dad was the local jeweler, and watch and clock repairman. Terry spent his school days peering out the classroom window, throwing spitballs at his class mates, pulling his female classmates’ hair, and generally disrupting class. Out of frustration Mrs. Clark moved Terry’s desk to the very front of the classroom, next to her teacher’s desk. Each school day Terry sat there all alone, completely separated from the remainder of his classmates.
The classroom calmed down—somewhat.
Things rocked along fairly smoothly for a few weeks.
Then the much-anticipated “Parent’s Day” approached. One of the historical highlights of “Parent’s Day” was that, as the parents filed into the classroom, each parent was directed to sit in their own child’s desk. As “Parent’s Day” approached, Terry tearfully pleaded with Mrs. Clark to move his desk back into alignment with the remainder of the desks in the classroom. “For just this one day!” he cried. “No deal” replied Mrs. Clark, “You made your bed, now you must lie in it.”
Parent’s Day arrived.
Each mom cheerfully filed into the classroom and searched for the little sign that denoted their child’s desk, then, each with a smile on her face, proudly sat in her child’s little desk.
Then Mrs. McConathy entered the room.
She looked for her son’s desk to no avail. “Where is Terry’s desk?” she asked Mrs. Clark. “Right here,” the teacher replied, pointing to the lonely little desk at the front of the classroom.
The smile disappeared from her face.
Throughout the brief “Parent’s Day” festivities she sat stoically in the little desk. Her eyes fixed on the chalkboard in the front of the classroom, looking neither left nor right.
The very next day we met a new Terry. Overnight his behavior noticeably improved. No more spitballs, no more hair-pulling, and very little disruption. His mom had “gotten the message,” and effectively communicated that message to her disruptive son.
Eventually Terry‘s desk was moved back into alignment with the remainder of his classmates. Thanks to Mrs. Clark (and Terry’s mom), “Troublesome Terry” became simply “Terry.”
Whew!
I love David’s stories of his childhood, family, etc! Prayers for you and the family!
Love this remembrance from your childhood days! Oh to have moms and teachers like that today! SC
David, Thank You so much for sharing, a very good story about your past school days. I love your stories and I will tell my siblings about this , Prayers for you and your family !!! Miss you my friend !
David, so good to hear from you!!! I really appreciate your sharing these stories. I have many of the same memories given that you and I shared the same class room (and the same red/blue group) for many years ultimately graduating together. I do remember Terry and the others you mentioned, but I do not know what they did once they left our community.
Always love your stories, David! If only we had more parental involvement in the classroom! We fondly think of you guys often, and we are praying for you and your family.
What a wonderful story! David, I wish I had the memory that you possess. I think of you often and pray for you as well. Thank you for the awesome stories! I really think you should write a book! Much love, Cindy Starnes Cannon
This definitely made me chuckle as a retired elementary teacher! However, I can also relate to Terrys mom, as I encountered a similar scenario during the 4th grade open house for our oldest son many years ago. He was born to talk and the Lord blessed him with an incredible gift! He’s now the voice of the Atlanta Braves. 😍 You never know what God is up to. ⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️
Thank you for the story. I enjoy reading it very much! It’s very warm. I am always thankful for your family. Praying that the Lord’s mercy & love continue to pour upon you & your family. – Dan (Amanda’s friend from Boston)
Great school memories reminding me of my own school days.
I was never a great student but I knew I better behave.
Your friend Terry reminds me of several in my elementary grades.
Several of them later in life became school teachers, imagine that?
I once was a chatterbox, in of all classes, band. Our band director would usually ignore the chatter from the woodwind section when he was working with the brass or percussion sections. This day though, he singled me out and made me sit in the very front of the entire band on a tall stool for the rest of the class. I was quite embarrassed and like Terry, the lesson was learned and I was quiet during band from that day on.
On my rough homeschooling days with my 2nd born, I often thought maybe I should send him to school. Then I realized, he’d probably get himself in trouble and be sent home anyway, so I kept pressing on. I guess I am now convinced I did the correct thing or I might have had to sit in the lonely front desk. Ha!
Thank you for the story Mr. David. You all are in our prayers. Stephanie Carroll
(That same 2nd born is in a plumbing class and apprenticeship with Jeff Freeman. They did work for a man that knows you. I do not remember his name, but Nathaniel mentioned them talking about you. )
David!!! Your ability to remember these long-ago details is quite impressive!! If you decide to write a blog about your memories of me when we were growing up, you better run it by me first for editing!! 😂. Love from your little sis. ❤️
Hi David. Thank you for this story which brought back some vivid memories of elementary school in Port Gibson. I was a part time student in the lower grades, bouncing back and forth between Navy moves, but I remember Mrs Clark! Also, I would be happy to hear any stories of young sisters since they were always wonderful at Sunday School (where I saw them most often)! You have my admiration and prayers always.
So enjoyed ready your fond memories of school! I remember my days at Sudduth School and have fond memories! Prayers for and your family! I’m a good friend of Amanda.
David – thank you so much for sharing. I love hearing your stories. School was different in my day too – I must not have been able to sit still because my 3rd grade teacher tied me in my chair!! I remember being so embarrassed. I’m sure I didn’t get up after that!! We sure miss you. Prayers for you and family.
I thoroughly enjoyed the story. Keeping your entire family in my thoughts and prayers. Love you all!
What a great story!! Wish I had your memory as I have no memory of grade school. We so love hearing your stories. We think of you a lot, prayers are continuing your way!❤❤❤❤❤
What a wonderful story! I was thinking of you just the other day and missing your posts. You continue to be in my thoughts and prayers. Warm regards from Willie and me.
Hello David and Marilyn. I love your stories. Of course, I remember so many characters that you talk about. I bet I could even elaborate on some. What do you think?. Maybe we should write a story together. I remember Terry and his parents. Remember the big clock above the door going into the jewelry store? I had never heard of having a click outside of a building. That bothered me as a child. Of course the clock on the First Presbyterian church steeple was outside. As a kid we didn’t always look up as we were too busy riding bikes, skating,or getting into trouble. Y’all take care and remember you are loved and prayed for by many folks who you have ministered to. God bless you my friend. Linda Sue Stuart
Thank you David for sharing this memory. I hope that Terry had an eventful life filled with success and joy. I was asked to teach a class this semester at the “other university” and it’s full of future teachers. I just emphasized to them the influence they have. You just proved that again. Your friend…Kathy Waldrop Howington
David, You make PG Elementary come back to life and love your details!! So glad that Mrs. Clark changed Terry and adore your storytelling! Keep it up-thinking of you!!!—Kay
What a story. Sounds like a wise teacher. Wonder how ol’ Terry’s doing ☺️
I can relate ! Every class has one – I won’t name names but I’m not sure there was ever a transformation in our class troublemaker!
I enjoy these stories so much! We have a story or two like this, even through homeschooling! I read this with your voice in my head, David, and seeing your hand motions. Love you all and praying for you!
It was so good to hear from you again. The story was excellent as always and brought back many memories from my school days. One memory is our teacher would make us stand in the hall outside our classroom for a certain length of time based on the crime committed. It was like playing Russian Roulette because the Principal would patrol the halls on and off during the day and if you were in the hall at the time of his surprise patrols, you would get a spanking from his “Board of Education “. Boy how times have changed.
David we miss you at the Foundation board meetings but you will be pleased to know that your training of your replacement has worked extremely well in that Janet is doing an outstanding job.
Jane and I think of you and your family quite often as well as keeping you guys in our prayers.
Rod and Jane Moore
Dear David, It’s so great to see your childhood memory via your blog, and thanks to your sharing.
This is Ping Chao leaving this reply to you, and it’s been around two decades since I latest returned to MSU and reunited with the Easley family. My dear David, for you can have your childhood memories vividly, I bet that you may easily recall us (the Chao family of Taiwan, Ping & Feny).
We are thinking of you all as well as our joyfully periods in MSU fequently, and always thankfully for your goodness and friendships. We love you all and keep praying for you!
Ping, Feny, Yu-Tim(the 1st burn son) & Yu-Dean(the 2nd son)
Loved this story, Mad Dog!!!!
I have a story like this; in 6th grade at Lincoln School in Succasunna, NJ, my mother got a report card that said in the comments section: 1st qtr: “Dorothy talks in class.” 2nd qtr: “Dorothy talks a LOT in class.”
3rd qtr: “Dorothy is STILL talking.” 4th qtr: “I give up.” But I got all A’s in high school.
Love,
Dorothy
P.S. Great story, as always.
Forgot to say that you are on 1st Presbyterian of Port Gibson’s prayer list (and on my own prayer list as well).
So lots of folks are praying for you David here in Port Gibson.
Thank you for sharing. I have been missing the ponderings. I expect we all had Terrys in our classes. Some years we may have even been the Terrys. Thank goodness we had Teachers who would and we’re allowed to discipline us, and Moms and Dads that reinforced that discipline at home. I’m afraid many kids these days don’t have the benefit that process.
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Enjoyed the story and I think each class had their own troublesome Terry.