Back to school? Kids today may never go back to school. It all depends on the generosity of the teachers’ union and the intestinal fortitude of our governor.
But Boomers remember Back To School. It happened every September, even when the polio epidemic was in progress.
Back to school was an event, almost a holiday. Going back to school meant a new wardrobe.
For boys, that was three pair of new jeans, a new collection of cotton shirts, an argyle sweater, a half dozen socks, a winter coat and new underwear. It was also time for new sneakers, thank heavens, as the old ones were now torn and tattered and had a certain “air” about them. Salesmen in the shoe store shuddered at the thought of fitting young Boomers with back to school shoes because of the stench certain to follow when the vile, canvas footwear came off. It was the Boomer version of chemical warfare.
Boomer girls delighted in their new skirts and blouses, crinolines, fine undergarments, knee high socks, hair bows, saddle shoes and sweaters.
For Boomers, the first day of school smelled like a denim factory. That’s because Boomers wore brand new denim jeans, not pre-washed. In fact, Boomer moms strictly forbade wearing any new clothes until the first day of school. Walking down the halls, the “swish, swish” sounds were those of the stiff new jeans rubbing together and raising welts on the upper thighs. It was one of those things Boomers learned to endure.
Back to school meant new textbooks, new notebooks, pencils with actual erasers and a new ink pen. Writing in ink was a requirement for most Boomers. Strangely, educators in the 50’s and 60’s felt it essential that a student have good penmanship, meaning you could decipher what they wrote. Students who were sloppy with their cursive strokes were admonished and smears of ink were a distinct no-no.
Back to school also meant touch football games on every vacant lot after school let out and cheerleading practice for girls who loved to clap and jump, but often lacked a team to cheer for.
The epitome of an angry Mom was to come home after a rousing football game and face a young Boomer with grass stains on the knees of a pair of brand new jeans. And woe to any Boomers who actually had skin showing through on the knees of his new britches.
A downside to back to school was an early bedtime, meaning you were to miss many of the new TV shows – I Love Lucy, Gunsmoke, Have Gun Will Travel, Peter Gunn, Dinah Shore and others.
But back to school meant making new friends, studying new subjects and participating in spirited spelling contests. Back to school time meant the smell of burning leaves at the curbside and high school football games on Friday night. Back to school meant sack lunches with the world’s greatest bologna and cheese sandwiches, a carton of pasteurized milk and a slice of homemade pie if you were lucky.
Back to school also meant a swift swat on the behind from Mrs. Marshall’s paddle if you were caught chewing gum or sucking on a hot Fireball during class. But ultimately, back to school represented a new beginning, a new lease on life for young Boomers and a whole new world there for the taking.
