Did You Attend Carleton Elementary?

**grumpyoldlady** · May-15-09, 12:59 PM

I remember the "hand" signs! Hadn't thought about them in probably 40 years, lol. In those Carleton photos...the gym sure looks bad...the floor was a nice, light colored wood, and the lines were that reddish brown color. Now it just looks dirty, worn and neglected. The rest of the school looks tacky, too..with signs stuck all over the place...especially the ones by the stage in the auditorium. The risers for the choir to stand on that you can see on the stage look like the same ones we stood on way back when. The seats are the same ones, I'm sure. There wasn't carpeting in the aisles.

Back to gym class....that rope that reached to the ceiling. Very few kids could climb it, even half way up. We had one girl in class who asked to be allowed to try...back then all the girls wore dresses...and she wore shorts to school the next day under her dress. She made it to the top and made the boys look silly.

At lunch time those tables folded down and we'd eat our lunches accompanied by GLASS bottles of milk. Lunch cost 35 cents. Wednesday was always chop suey day, which I hated. I rarely stayed for lunch since I could walk home in about 5 minutes.

**EMG** · May-15-09, 02:38 PM

I lived with my grandparents on Nottingham; every day my grandfather would drive me to school in the morning and also pick me up to take me home for lunch and then drive me back to school afterward. He worked at Ford on the afternoon shift so I walked home at the end of the school day, taking Roxbury to cross Morang at the light and then Morang to Nottingham. On the south side of Morang between Beaconsfield and Nottingham there was a playground/field which was part of St. Brendan's Church property, and it was known at least in later days as "Fr. Downing Field." There was a small church credit union building on the southeast corner of Beaconsfield and Morang.

That's all been torn down now and replaced by a mini strip mall featuring a video store. Guess the church needed the money and sold it.

Maranatha Baptist Church was [[and still is) on the south side of Morang between Roxbury and Beaconsfield. In the winter, when the snow was plowed from the parking lot, it was left in piles right beside the sidewalk. Sometimes these piles would reach HUGE heights [[at least relative to the height of elementary schoolkids) and it was always fun to climb up there and walk along the tops of the snowpiles, especially after they'd been packed down by dozens of other kids who had already done the same thing.

You really note a deterioration in the floor between my picture and the time you were there, but I wonder if you perhaps simply have built up the memory in your mind to over and above what it really was. I was personally there to take that picture and while I agree that the gym [[as well as the halls and auditorium as you mentioned) are cluttered with a lot of junk which certainly wasn't the case then, I didn't think that the floor itself looked that different from the way I remembered it. I would definitely agree though that the brown tables [[which pulled out of the wall like Murphy beds to provide the tables as the Gym was transformed into the Cafeteria at lunchtime) were definitely in better condition back when I attended in the '60s and '70s.

I remember the ropes but I didn't notice or remember that girls didn't equally participate in the activity. But come to think of it now I don't remember girls ever attempting rope climbing. I do remember that I was terrible at it and could never get more than perhaps one or two handpulls up and THAT was THAT. I used to feel really jealous of those who made it to the top.

Another thing I remember is regular calisthenics periods in most gym classes, and students would take turns each day leading and directing the exercises. We would do jumping jacks, situps, etc., and one activity was "arm circles" which involved standing with arms extended fully out to the sides and then moving them in small circles. We usually did about 10 or 25 of them but one day the boy leading the class that day decided to be a wise guy and assigned the class to do 100 of them. Mr. Ignasiak stepped in immediately and excused the class from that - but made that boy do 100 in front of the class on his own! And he did manage to do it! This same kid one time was showing off when Mr. Ignasiak was having us do chin-ups - he easily went through probably 50 or more - but then when marking down the count in his book, Mr. Ignasiak simply waited until the kid was done and said simply, "Zero." He hadn't followed the directions; we were supposed to be doing them gripping the bar with our palms facing away from us, and he had done them the opposite way!

As I was picked up for lunch as described above, I never had a meal in the cafeteria so can't comment on the menu. [[I might have liked the chop suey as my family often had take-out chop suey from Pagoda's on Morang and Riad which I enjoyed!) However, when diagnosed with hypoglycemia in fifth grade in '71, I was put on a diet that required having a protein snack in the middle of each morning and afternoon, so I would go to the school cafeteria behind the gym and buy an individual half-pint CARTON [[no bottles in my day) of milk. The price was three cents.

Another fun thing we did once or twice a year was go on field trips to hear classical concerts at the Ford Auditorium, or to see the Detroit Institute of Arts.

And a final random memory - the observances of Veteran's Day each November 11 - they would play taps at 11 a.m. I also specifically remember Mr. Ignasiak one year making the announcement that that would be the last year Veteran's Day would be celebrated on Nov. 11, as the change to a Monday observance would be going into effect.

**EMG** · May-15-09, 02:48 PM

Oh yes - two more memories.

Once in a while the principal Mrs. Swander would come in to observe the class. Obviously now I understand that she was primarily there to observe and evaluate the performance of the teacher, but back then we were really always careful to be at extra attention! Mrs. Swander also used to be a stickler about posture and sitting up straight. Of course, today I'm a sloucher and make no apologies for it, but even when I do it brings back memories of what Mrs. Swander would have had to say about it!

Other special days I always really looked forward to were the Open House days when parents could come and join the class. My mother worked, but always made sure she got those days off so she could come, and I was always so happy to have her see me in action. My parents also always made a point of being there for the Junior Chorus concerts and other activities. It's really a pity that so many parents these days don't seem to understand how important that is and how much it means to kids.

**grumpyoldlady** · May-15-09, 03:06 PM

I sent the Carleton photos to some of the class, and a couple emailed me back and commented on how dark the gym floor was, and how neglected it looked, so I am pretty sure it had changed quite a bit.

I remember the calesthenics being led by a student...jumping jacks, deep knee bends, arm circles, sit ups, squat thrusts, toe touches and more. And the yearly "physical fitness testing" that I hated because I was the fat girl and couldn't do any pullups that used those special pullup bar stands for the girls or a lot of situps. I could, however, do well in the softball throw. We had to do situps, pullups, standing broad jump, softball throw, 50-yard dash, and something where we had to run back and forth from one end of the gym to the other and pick up a bean bag and bring it back.

"Tomorrow, November 11th, is the newest holiday in the United States...It is called Veteran's Day...to honor the men and women who have served in our miliary. Please now bow your heads while Betty Puckett plays taps" I still remember the announcement I had to make over the PA system before that Veteran's Day playing of taps and noontime dismissal of school. I was elected because I had a distinctive voice that the teachers considered "radio material".

I was confused on my Carleton graduation year...it was '62, not '63. My '62-'63 year was at Arthur, and '63-'67 at Denby.

**EMG** · May-15-09, 03:31 PM

You may have been "the fat girl" but don't assume that had anything to do with it because I was "the skinny boy" but wasn't any better at those exercises either.

Now you sound like a historical figure! "I was there waaaay back at the very first Veteran's Day,.." - LOL. I had always assumed there had been a Veteran's day since about, oh, 1919 or so....

But you mention the noontime dismissal of the school. How could I ever have forgotten that we got a half day off on that day! I honestly had lost all memory of it. Probably because there was no such early dismissal - not even the playing of Taps - at the school I went to after leaving Carleton. But I think the Carleton dismissal was shortly after the 11:00 taps playing - not at noon. Wonder if the teachers had to stay back and work on report cards or something while the students had that afternoon off?

So you only went to Arthur for one year? Arthur was only 7th grade? I had always thought that Carleton went through 6th grade, Arthur from 7th through 9th, and then Denby from 10th through 12th. Of course having transferred after fifth grade I wouldn't know.

The "beanbag thing back and forth" - yes, I vaguely remember, and wonder if as I suspect it was connected with the "relay racing" that I DEFINITELY remember, where we would lie stomach-down on these little flat square go-carts that were barely big enough to support just the abdominal area, leaving the rest of the trunk and limbs hanging over the ends - and maneuver ourselves back and forth across the whole gym using just our arms. That was probably the only activity that I actually enjoyed enough to lose all track of how much work my poor arm muscles had to do to achieve it! And that is especially saying a lot because I was just about always the tallest boy in the whole class so I had that much more upper and lower body to have to center and balance on that tiny little square cart!

**grumpyoldlady** · May-15-09, 04:25 PM

I stand corrected on my statement about that being the first Veteran's Day. I know better. It was being referred to by my teachers as the "newest holiday", and I got confused. And when I said "noontime dismissal", I didn't mean at 12:00...i meant the regular dismissal before lunch, which I think was at 11:25. I do believe the teachers stayed there and did paperwork. One year I stayed and helped Mrs. Knapp in the Library with the book inventory. I was one of 2 "Future Teachers" assigned to the Library. We had our little felt arm badges with the "FT" on them.

We didn't have those little cart scooter things, but they sound like they would have been fun.

At the time I went to Carleton, it went throught the 8th grade, and Arthur was 9th grade. I know it changed shortly after that. Denby had been a 9th through 12th school until they decided to make Arthur a Jr. High.

**EMG** · May-17-09, 11:11 AM

I'm memory-drained at the moment but am still watching this thread in case you or anyone else posts any additional memory jumpstarters! Hope Norwalk posts back with any information he can get from his brother in law!

**Dave70** · May-21-09, 07:16 PM

I went to Carleton K - 4th grade. My kindergarten year was '76-'77, Mrs. Boyes room 102.

My teacher in first grade was Mrs. Harris [[?) and/or Mrs. Nocita I think [[I may have been shuffled around I think my first grade class was split with a second grade.). Second grade Mrs. Shea and third and forth grade was Mrs. Clark. I didn't like Clark that much, kinda mean she was!

Mr.Ignasiak was gym, I think he must've retired when I was there because I remember a Mr. Mazinga the last year or two.

Mrs, Zalopani was art, she was nice but I remember a strange grinding of teeth or something that she'd do a lot.

Mrs. Bennet was the Librarian.

Mr Bunsen was science, later Mrs. Pappas. I liked her a lot.

Hm, maybe Mrs. Harris was the music teacher, we sang songs in the auditorium...

A lot of the names previously mentioned I recall, but didn't have like Mrs. Conflitti... hehe my mom had her when she went to Carleton!

That's all for now...

**EMG** · May-21-09, 08:01 PM

Thanks so much for posting, Dave70 - it was great hearing about what went on AFTER I left there. My goodness, in '76-77 I was in tenth grade and my Carleton years seemed like ancient history to me though looking at it now from THIS far in the future, five years sure doesn't seem like as long an amount of time as it was then!

It was interesting hearing about Mr. Ignnasiak retiring about that time, and Mrs. Zalopani still being there as well. I don't remember her "grinding her teeth" but I do remember her as having something more of a "prim and proper" air about her than some of my other teachers - perhaps this stood out in my mind more because she was also relatively young and also young in appearance [[though maybe not as much so by the time you were there) - yet her personality was more what I'd have expected in a much older person. I don't recall any of the other teachers you mentioned being there when I was there. I did have a MISS Harris - young black woman - who was my teacher for part of fourth grade and whom I really liked, but she never taught music, so I don't think that was the same person.

**Dave70** · May-22-09, 06:49 AM

<yawn> I just got up, drinking my coffee now and remembering Dr. Parlato the principal.

I'll never forget her "What are you doing?" and "Please stop it." to curb bad behaviour, the C. E. S. B. announcements too... She was really into her job and I respected her, my freinds and I would sometimes mow the grass and clean up the grounds at the school in the summer and she'd give us treats and maybe a little money. At the time I just wanted to help out and it felt good to do it.

Hehe, I also recall seeing her ride a unicycle at the memorial day[[?) parade on East Warren. That suprised me! My grandfather knew her too, at one time she lived across the street from his house on Riad. [[waay before I was born.)

**EMG** · May-22-09, 01:25 PM

So perhaps Parlato was the one who succeeded Mildred Swander, the principal when I was there.

What was "C.E.S.B."? Carleton East Side Bulletins? I don't remember that acronym.

**Dave70** · May-22-09, 05:26 PM

Hehe, the Carleton Elementary School Broadcasting system! Dr. Parlato would make announcements with it, every room had a speaker connected to the office where the mic and controls were.

**EMG** · May-22-09, 06:50 PM

LOL! I remember those speakers perfectly well - they were there in my day too - but I just never heard them referred to like that.

Certainly, I remember that school-wide announcements were made. Also, the system could be used for communication between the office and an individual room as well. Especially ominous was being in the middle of class and suddenly the private announcement mode kicked in with, "Excuse me Mrs. _______, could you please send EMG down to the office!"

Down the hall I'd go, heart-in-throat wondering what I ever did wrong

....only to find out they just needed to verify that my address was correct in their records.

Here's a request to any school administrator who happens to be reading this - PLEASE have consideration and avoid scaring innocent young children unnecessarily! When they're being called down for innocent reasons, make that clear when making announcements like that!

**grumpyoldlady** · May-22-09, 09:00 PM

NORWALK....I believe you posted that you had a friend or relative that teaches at Carleton now. We have been trying to get a reply from the principal regarding a reunion tour of the building, but she hasn't responded. Is she one of the principals in trouble and heading to jail? If not, do you think your friend/relative could help us at least get a reply? If so, I can find out which of our committee would have sent the letter to her.

I can't believe the enrollment at Carleton has gotten so low, and also that of Denby. When I was at Denby, it only had grades 10-12, and still had over 2600 students. Now it has grades 9-12, and only around 1200 students. Unreal. The January '67 graduating class had around 300, and the June '67 class had over 600.

Thanks!

**EMG** · May-22-09, 09:10 PM

Originally Posted by grumpyoldlady

Is she one of the principals in trouble and heading to jail?!

Jail? NAWWWW...she's probably just been sentenced to sit on the Big Bad Brown Bench outside her own former office, waiting to be talked to by her own replacement!

**EMG** · June-21-09, 02:19 PM

HEY GRUMPY OLD LADY!!!!! We need to resuscitate this thread!

Has the Carleton Reunion you were planning taken place yet? Did you manage to go? Did you get any more news to report on Carleton?

**grumpyoldlady** · June-22-09, 07:39 PM

The reunion has been scheduled, but I'm not going to be able to attend. The committee member will be going to the school to take photos, and then at the dinner, a Power Point presentation will be made showing the photos to those that attend. I'm hoping to get a copy of it on DVD. If I do, I will let you know.

No other news to report at this time.

**EMG** · June-22-09, 09:42 PM

Maybe the committee member will also be able to use some of my photos!

Please consider uploading any new photos of the school that become available from the reunion. Maybe someone will even be able to get a picture of one of those round "bathtub" sinks! [[When I went as a visitor of course I was escorted around the building and I didn't have the nerve to ask permission to take a picture of the restroom!

)

Be sure to let us know whatever you find out from those who attended!

**gibran** · July-15-09, 02:03 PM

I went to K there...believe it was Miss Gale 1965/

played many baseball games on the field [[that's a far stretch)...while playing for St Brendan's Summer leagues...

yes I remember the duck and cover drills and trying to figure out the urinal thingy in th eboys room...

**reddog289** · July-16-09, 12:30 AM

Had to comment on Carleton. I enjoy threads like this. Yet when I went back into the other thead with the pix. Carleton reminds me of McKenney E.S. on the otherside of town.
I went to a one story, eight classroom Lutheran School for 1st -8th. I cannot belive how one can remember where stuff was at a certain school 25,35,45, yrs ago.
I am a custodian [not DPS] and I work at two schools and would love to think that the kids who attend these schools will leave there with as good memories as you seem to have.

**grumpyoldlady** · July-16-09, 01:22 AM

I remember my days at Carleton much more clearly than my year at Arthur Jr. High or the 3 years at Denby. Arthur is pretty much a blur. I can remember a few teachers, but that's about it. I remember a lot about Denby, and most of my teachers.

**gibran** · July-18-09, 07:31 PM

EMG that corner store brings back many many memories...all my comic books were purchased there...I alwyas thought the apartment/home behind woudl have been cool to love in..but then again as I walked home from many a baseball game at Carlton or Mass at ST Brendan, I would think the apartments on Morang were interesting too...specially the modern looking one...I also remember the old farmhouse on Rossiter...funny what you think of thanks to the kind folks on here.

**grumpyoldlady** · July-19-09, 12:07 AM

Old farmhouse on Rossiter? Don't remember that...where on Rossiter?

**Tsomyak** · July-19-09, 07:51 PM

Hey all, just found this group. I attended Carleton for Kindergarten and a half year of first grade. I would have been in Kindergarten in 1963. I remember sitting on my mat waiting for dismissal when the announcement was made that President Kennedy had been shot. I'm not 100% sure, but someone else had mentioned the Mrs. Greiling taught kindergarten. That name sure sounds familiar. Does anyone recall what she looked like? I seem to remember a piano in the room as well.

Another memory I have of Carleton is the arts and crafts camps during the summer. I seem to remember doing something in clay and then painting it an having it fired in a kiln. Did anyone else attend those?

**grumpyoldlady** · July-19-09, 08:49 PM

I had Mrs. Greiling for kindergarten back in the mid 50's. She was a woman probably in her 50's [[or so it seemed to me at the time), a bit heavy set, with brownish hair with some gray mixed in. She was very, very nice. She taught in the " big" kindergarten room. There was a piano in the room, along with a small log playhouse.

I also remember going to school during the summer and making something out of clay...i dont' remember what...that was fired in the art room kiln.