Continuing
the Jodie McClure Elementary memories of 1978-79:
Episode
13
Memorable
Field Trips
Another
memory I have of my time at Jodie McClure are the field trips we used to take
to different places. We went to places that they wouldn’t even dare think about
taking elementary school kids today. In fact, if I wanted to discuss it at
length, it’s a sad commentary of how low discipline and accountability has fell
within our schools today, and it also shows how my generation was raised to
respect our elders, parents, teachers, etc., and how today’s generation of kids
and their parents have not made that a priority. But that’s a soap box for
another time. Back when I was in elementary school, we got to go on plenty of
field trips to many different places. I can remember when I lived in Abilene,
we went to the base airport control tower and got to see not only an incredible
view of the base itself, but also what those who worked in the tower did and
what their jobs were. It was very interesting to say the very least- especially
having to climb what felt like ten stories of stairs and then climbing a real
long ladder to reach the top. We got to see a few of the jets take off, and
that was really cool. Of course, we also went to places such as the zoo and the
city museum, but going to the base tower was probably the best trip of all at
that time.
We also
had our share of interesting field trips when I was at Jodie McClure. We
attended a symphony at T.G. Fields Auditorium, and I also remember going to a
magic show which I believe was also held at T.G. Fields also. (However, it
might have been held at the school in the cafeteria. I don’t really remember.)
I look back on those times and I don’t think the entire school went at one
time; I think it was just the 4th and 5th grades on
certain days and K-3rd grades on other days and/or times. I’m pretty
sure it was done this way back then because Longview had around 8 or 9
elementary schools at the time (Let’s see: Jodie McClure, South Ward, Pinewood
Park, Ware, East Ward, GK Foster, Bramlette, Valley View, Mozelle), and I’m
sure that each school basically was K-5th grade back then, so each
school sent the assigned grade level students on the field trips. I can
remember seeing a lot of kids I didn’t know or recognize on these field trips
from other schools who were to become my future classmates at Judson and LHS. I
couldn’t tell which kids came from East Ward, but I’m sure all of my old
friends from the 1st and 2nd grades were there also. I
can also remember that for the most part things were organized very well and
that there weren’t many issues of kids acting stupid or doing stupid things.
The teachers from all the schools really kept things under control back then.
One day,
we went on a career-based field trip. This meant we went to places where we
might want to work at, or become someday. We went to the fire station (the one
which used to be on Mobberly), and to Good Shepherd Hospital. No, we didn’t go into any patients’ rooms
thankfully; we went to nurses’ stations and the cafeteria and laundry room-
which were safe for kids. We walked and mainly looked around, and we knew not
to touch anything, so there weren’t any problems. But there were two other
places we went to that day which not only brought back some interesting
memories, but also let me see the total irony in it today as I write these
words.
First,
we went to McDonald’s, of all places. Back then, the only McDonald’s in
Longview was on Highway 80/ Marshall Avenue, and it was, by far, the most
popular hamburger restaurant in the town, with the possible exception of Dairy
Queen. (There were Dairy Queens all over the place back then.) We didn’t go
there to buy anything; we went there to see how they make the hamburgers,
fries, etc. I don’t think any of us had any money on us anyway, but that didn’t
stop us from being really, really hungry. As we watched the cooks fry the
burgers, half of us had already decided this was where we wanted to work
someday. And they wouldn’t even have to pay us; just give us all the
cheeseburgers, Big Macs, and fries we wanted. I’m sure Ronald McDonald or
whoever ran McDonald’s back then would have said, “Cool!!” I look back on that
now and wonder just how much those cooks were being paid back then. The minimum
wage couldn’t been no more than $2 dollars and something. Come to think of it,
those cooks (who looked to be in their 30s and 40s by the way) did not look too
excited to be there, especially doing all that in front of twenty-something
hungry little kids. The restaurant manager of course was gung-ho about the
whole thing and making the job sound like it was the best job in the world. The
funny thing was we actually believed him. Then, when we became teenagers and
started high school and started working at McDonald’s or similar places, we
realized that it wasn’t the best job in the world. Not even close. One can only
eat so many burgers and french fries until it doesn’t matter and then you’re
sick of the stuff. So, if one decided that when he or she became an adult, they
weren’t going to work anywhere and just lay on their parents’ couches until
they got put out, or decided to make money without working a honest job, well,
that brings us to the OTHER place we visited.
Incredibly,
we visited the GREGG COUNTY JAIL.
I am
very serious. They actually took a bunch of us 5th graders into the
actual jail. The jail where today, no one goes to unless they are an arrestee
(prisoners) or arrester (sheriffs, deputies). I look back on that and think, There’s no way in you-know-where they’d do
that today. There are prisoners’ rights, and kids’ safety, and sheriff and
deputies’ safety, rules, rights, and so many other issues to worry about now,
things they didn’t even think about back then. I remember the cells were bars
and glass, and some were double barred and double glassed. Some you couldn’t
even see into the cells. I remember for the real dangerous ones, you had to
look through a small rectangular glass to be able to see them. Of course, we
were all taking this kinda seriously, and the girls were very afraid to say the
very least. Most of the prisoners didn’t
react when we came in there, they just sat there with blank looks, some were
asleep (or pretending to be asleep more than likely), while a few just waved
and that was it. There were blacks and whites in there, so there wasn’t no
majority of any particular race. But of course, you had to have a couple of
fools who acted like that’s where they truly belonged, because they decided to
start yelling at us and scream, “We’re going to get you kids when we get out!!!
GROWL!!! HAHAHA!!!” Then they started banging on the bars, or glass, just to
make sure they had our attention. The girls nearly peed on themselves when they
did that, and I’ll never forget Rhonda literally jumping into my arms like
Scooby Doo seeing the boogeyman or something. Myself, I wasn’t exactly the man
without fear right at that moment, and I was very thankful that there were bars
and glass separating us from them, or else it would’ve been chaotic with kids
running around all over the place from prisoners, who probably would not have
been running after us, but running to GET OUT.
But the
main thing about all this is this: they were trying to show us 10-year olds
that this is NOT the place you want to be when you grow up- not unless you want
to be a sheriff or something like that. And most of us realized that right
then. I remember thinking, I ain’t never
coming back to this place. I’m pretty sure we all thought that, and for a
few of us, sadly, we came back to stay awhile.
Field
trips were fun back then, and a great way to break the monotony of sitting in
school doing schoolwork and learn about places we probably would’ve never
visited on our own. Again, there is no way they’d do this now, and it’s a
credit to the teachers and us students how we acted on those trips back in the
day.
The Gregg County Courthouse and Jail at the left
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