May 31, 2011

Ten-Word Tuesday – The Remembering Edition

Did you ever have one of those cherished moments when you hang out with a dear friend you went to Junior High School and High School with but haven’t seen in a very long time and she’s with her daughter which is significant because her daughter is the age you were when you used to hang out every day in the lunch room laughing until you cracked wide open?

Well that’s a coincidence! Because something like that happened to Bossy this past weekend.

Bossy and her friend Lauren met in 7th grade at Masterman Junior High in Philadelphia. Meet Masterman:

Bless its heart, Bossy’s doesn’t remember those trees. Mostly because the majority of time Masterman looked like this:

Masterman is a public magnet school, even though Bossy spelled it magnate until three seconds ago when she had a run-in with an online dictionary.

Heading up Masterman was a very, very, wrapped in extra very old man named Dr. Melvin K. McMaster:

And while we’re on the subject of yearbook photos, this was Bossy and her friend Lauren:

Masterman was a very special place where the diverse student body got along and girl meanness wasn’t on the roster. Maybe this was because everyone had to take two subways to school, uphill, rendering everyone too exhausted to argue.

In fact, the only thing that wasn’t happy about this inner city utopia was inner city gym class:

Bossy can sum up her public school experience in this way: Diversity shaped every part of the person Bossy would become.

Which is what today’s Ten-Word Challenge is all about. In exactly ten words, can you share something about your school experience?

And be sure to check back later today for the best school experiences on the web.

permanent link to post

55 comments

1. 1
   on May 31st, 2011 at 11:52 am
   Cecily said:

   Hanging with friends and smoking behind the school. Shocked, yes?


2. 2
   on May 31st, 2011 at 11:55 am
   Karen (SubMommy) said:

   I was “mean girled” in seventh grade, changed me forever.


3. 3
   on May 31st, 2011 at 12:04 pm
   Dr. Liz said:

   Followed the little rules, broke the big ones, never caught.


4. 4
   on May 31st, 2011 at 12:08 pm
   BOSSY said:

   Thought things would always be as funny as lunch time.


5. 5
   on May 31st, 2011 at 12:38 pm
   Patricia @Cooking Cakes and Chemistry said:

   got along with everyone – played cards continuously – school was fun!


6. 6
   on May 31st, 2011 at 12:44 pm
   Scottsdale Girl said:

   Oh how I longed for diversity at school….and bigger boobs. Got the boobs (finally).


7. 7
   on May 31st, 2011 at 12:55 pm
   foolery said:

   100 kids, kindergarten-eighth, walk to school, more like family.


8. 8
   on May 31st, 2011 at 1:04 pm
   corrie said:

   I never quite fit in – I was the diversity!


9. 9
   on May 31st, 2011 at 1:06 pm
   Beta Dad said:

   WASPy school across street from CIA HQ. High all day.


10. 10
    on May 31st, 2011 at 1:23 pm
    K said:

    Mean girls suck – wouldn’t go back for worlds of riches.


11. 11
    on May 31st, 2011 at 1:34 pm
    tj said:

    …”Wouldn’t go back if my life depended on it. Period.”

    …Blessings… )


12. 12
    on May 31st, 2011 at 1:36 pm
    KathyB said:

    Split sessions grades seven and eight. Supper at school, weird.


13. 13
    on May 31st, 2011 at 1:46 pm
    KC said:

    I had so many ‘other’ things going on in my life that school was my saving grace. I loved going to school, loved most of the people and was nowhere near the popular crowd but never offended anyone, was semi-friends with everyone, good friends with a few and was mostly my own person. It was a good stepping stone for me. It is (mostly) remembered fondly.


14. 14
    on May 31st, 2011 at 1:58 pm
    Teeny Tina said:

    It was a cherished time before firearms and practiced lockdowns.


15. 15
    on May 31st, 2011 at 2:52 pm
    pkzcass said:

    My late dad went to Masterman; thanks for the memories.


16. 16
    on May 31st, 2011 at 3:12 pm
    W. Keith N. said:

    Maybe my memory subscribes to revisionist history but I, too, don’t remember pervasive meanness in school during the 70’s and 80’s. I DO remember a few fights, but not widespread bullying. I’ve taught high school for 13 years, and the campaign against bullying – both cyber and the traditional live-in-person-wedgying-type – seems to be slowly impacting the way kids communicate and self-mediate.


17. 17
    on May 31st, 2011 at 3:15 pm
    kathy said:

    I went to Catholic school. Trying to block it out.


18. 18
    on May 31st, 2011 at 3:17 pm
    Annie said:

    Catholic Girls’ High School – miraculously, no one was (very) mean.


19. 19
    on May 31st, 2011 at 3:17 pm
    kathy said:

    Couldn’t see the board-had to get glasses much misery


20. 20
    on May 31st, 2011 at 3:22 pm
    W. Keith N. said:

    Twelve years growing up with most of my 63-student class. (Forgot about the ten-word rule in my first post!)


21. 21
    on May 31st, 2011 at 4:20 pm
    bobbie said:

    I didn’t do half the work my kids had to.


22. 22
    on May 31st, 2011 at 4:39 pm
    Little Miss Sunshine State said:

    1970’s. “Open classroom concept” school. Not much learning going on.


23. 23
    on May 31st, 2011 at 5:00 pm
    Not June Cleaver said:

    Elementary school and high school were both burned down. Arson.


24. 24
    on May 31st, 2011 at 6:06 pm
    Suebob said:

    I was a nerd but that was fine with me.


25. 25
    on May 31st, 2011 at 6:20 pm
    Doug said:

    I partied like it was 1969…oh wait–it was.


26. 26
    on May 31st, 2011 at 6:37 pm
    Lauren said:

    Learned so much about diversity and tolerance — lessons for life.


27. 27
    on May 31st, 2011 at 7:49 pm
    Carroll said:

    School? Awful! Zero diversity at mine — highly valued ever since.


28. 28
    on May 31st, 2011 at 7:52 pm
    ally bean said:

    Book worm. Band geek. Somewhat popular despite who I was.


29. 29
    on May 31st, 2011 at 7:54 pm
    Carroll said:

    Oh, and gym class? Uniforms, pinnies and (!) “posture pictures” <-(unclothed!!!)

    Bonus words required: All girls school.

    Additional bonus words: But still!! (Scarred for life!!!!!)


30. 30
    on May 31st, 2011 at 7:55 pm
    AngAK said:

    ditto #27. little diversity(Indiana). now highly valued. big basketball.


31. 31
    on May 31st, 2011 at 8:14 pm
    Sandy said:

    Hated so much, would have quit if parents had allowed..


32. 32
    on May 31st, 2011 at 8:15 pm
    Charlie said:

    Attended Christian, Public, Private, and Quaker schools. Never got easier.


33. 33
    on May 31st, 2011 at 8:27 pm
    Sally said:

    There was a good reason my classmates called me Granny.

    Great post!!


34. 34
    on May 31st, 2011 at 8:31 pm
    Rachel said:

    Thank goodness it is over. That is all. Done, yet?


35. 35
    on May 31st, 2011 at 9:17 pm
    whirled_peas said:

    Fancy private school prepared me little to teach public school.


36. 36
    on May 31st, 2011 at 9:53 pm
    Liz in Virginia said:

    Loved school and laughed a lot — but thirteen really sucked.


37. 37
    on May 31st, 2011 at 9:55 pm
    Liz in Virginia said:

    High school years — mom with cancer chaperoned everything: my hero.


38. 38
    on May 31st, 2011 at 9:56 pm
    Liz in Virginia said:

    My prom date came out to me — at the prom.


39. 39
    on May 31st, 2011 at 9:58 pm
    Liz in Virginia said:

    One of Bossy’s best posts — introspective, funny: made me think!


40. 40
    on May 31st, 2011 at 9:59 pm
    Lynn said:

    Small town, same kids always. No social skills come college.


41. 41
    on May 31st, 2011 at 10:17 pm
    Chrissy said:

    (@Liz in Virginia – mine too!!!)

    Art, music, literature. Fingers crossed my kid gets that exposure.


42. 42
    on May 31st, 2011 at 10:25 pm
    Kristina said:

    Zero diversity. Small town Nebraska. 120 kids K-12. Loved it!


43. 43
    on May 31st, 2011 at 10:27 pm
    Cupcake Murphy said:

    Felt belonging, miraculously, for first time and despite feathered hair.


44. 44
    on May 31st, 2011 at 10:51 pm
    Liz in Virginia said:

    Love Bossy; love Bossy’s council. On-line soul sisters: fabulous!


45. 45
    on May 31st, 2011 at 11:03 pm
    Catherine McP said:

    Highschool, backalley, pot, cigs, MN magnet, Classmate Prince. Oh yea.


46. 46
    on May 31st, 2011 at 11:32 pm
    Sheryl W said:

    Chicago , English speaking- yet most didn’t, made me less tolerant ….


47. 47
    on June 1st, 2011 at 9:25 am
    GK in MI said:

    6 foot tall in 8th grade, subject to unrelenting taunting.


48. 48
    on June 1st, 2011 at 10:10 am
    heidig said:

    Gym uniforms – jersey material. Blue/White stripe on top (horizontally),solid blue on bottom. One piece nightmare!


49. 49
    on June 1st, 2011 at 2:38 pm
    bruce said:

    Black jr high, white high, abject fear then fresh air


50. 50
    on June 1st, 2011 at 7:22 pm
    Beth said:

    Paddled for throwing spit wads accidently hitting teacher. Ooops. (1969)


51. 51
    on June 3rd, 2011 at 8:31 am
    runnergirl said:

    Catholic grade school, bullies, meanness, but a few good friends.


52. 52
    on June 5th, 2011 at 4:27 pm
    Denver Girl said:

    Student Council overthrown, teacher strike, Black Panthers attack, 1968-71


53. 53
    on June 6th, 2011 at 3:30 pm
    Alissa said:

    How could girl scout troop friends make me the joke?


54. 54
    on June 8th, 2011 at 4:00 pm
    Pat said:

    Hey Bossy! Hey Lauren! I love when this blog and my life intersect .


55. 55
    on June 10th, 2011 at 3:26 am
    Lori in MN said:

    “Too short for Junior year” ?!? …teacher called office “to confirm”