A Memorable Fifth Grade Experience
The competition was one of the ways Mrs. Mac Henry Lane taught us. She was my fifth-grade teacher at Woodrow Wilson Elementary. Her name was Mrs. Alta Lane, but everyone always called her Mrs. Mac Henry Lane, not Mrs. Lane. I always thought her name was Mrs. Machenrylane! At least that’s what my momma told me to say. She was one of the best teachers in the whole world.
Geography Class: Learning Through Competition
This particular day began with geography class, where our homework had been to memorize the forty-eight states, their capitals, and how to spell them. This was before Alaska and Hawaii became states. Each team took turns going up to the blackboard, chalk in hand, trying to beat the opposing team member by correctly spelling the state or capital that Mrs. Lane called out. The first student to get it right earned a point for their team. My favorite state to spell was “MISSISSIPPI.” For forty minutes, the thirty kids in our class competed enthusiastically. It was a fun and energetic way to learn.
A Surprise in Art Class
Next on the agenda was art class. Our schedule alternated between art and music. Previously, we had been using crayons to color the birds we had drawn, but today, Mrs. Lane had a special project for us. She announced, “Class, I have a special project for you. We’ve got a little surprise.” We watched eagerly as she opened several brown boxes on her desk.
Inside the boxes, there was colored clay. Mrs. Lane instructed us to keep the clay on a notebook sheet to protect the desks. The clay bars measured about 2”x6”x2” and came in a variety of colors. For the next hour, the classroom was filled with excitement as we created cars, animals, houses, and more out of the clay.
Recess: Creative Play and Clay “War”
One of the boys suggested we save some clay for a game of “war” during afternoon recess. We kept about one-third of our supply and, as usual, our group came up with creative activities for the break. Our games included tree tag, balancing on a steel pipe, races, wrestling, and softball “work-up.”
On this particular day, eight of us played a clay “war” by throwing clay “bullets” at each other. We formed the bullets by pinching off bits of clay, rolling them into balls, and launching them at one another with enough force to make them stick. The playground rang with laughter and friendly competition as we ran, chased, and celebrated each successful shot. After all the clay had been used, we sat together, bragging about our hits and exaggerating our stories.
Trouble in the Classroom
The bell signaled the end of recess, and we hurried back to class, where a grammar session awaited. Five minutes before the final bell, Mrs. Lane wrote eight names on the blackboard: E. Jay McIlvain, Harold Lewis, Marion Stone, Gary Griffin, Ken Hinkle, Jimmy Ayres, Ben Sturgeon, and Bobby Conway. Our eyes widened as we realized we were in trouble.
Mrs. Lane instructed the eight of us to remain after class. We suspected that one of the girls had reported us, possibly because she had been hit by a clay ball or seen us sneaking the clay out. Each of us silently speculated about which girl might have “squealed.” The suspense was palpable as we waited for Mrs. Lane to address us.
Retrieving the Clay and Facing the Consequences
After everyone else had left, Mrs. Lane closed the door and sat on the edge of her desk facing us. The room was silent as we tried to look innocent. She told us, “I know you took some of the clay, and I want it back. Now go outside, pick up every piece of that clay, and bring it to me.” Without protest, we went outside and searched the playground for the colorful clay balls, all the while speculating about who had told on us.
When we returned, we handed over the dirty clay, embarrassed by its condition. Mrs. Lane had us sit at the desks near hers and lectured us about the seriousness of stealing—something we hadn’t considered before. She then gave us a choice: visit the principal, Mr. Yoder, or spank each other with her paddle. We unanimously chose the latter.
Mrs. Lane paired us up, and each boy received three swats with a thirty-inch solid oak paddle. Since we were all on the softball team, we knew how to swing a “chunk of wood.” She warned that if the swats weren’t hard enough, we’d have to repeat them. The session was noisy and full of laughter, especially when Harold Lewis, whom we considered “invincible,” reacted loudly. Even Mrs. Lane joined in the laughter.
Resolution and Lasting Lessons
After the paddling, Mrs. Lane told us she had seen us throwing clay through the classroom window, so there was no one to blame but ourselves. She asked if we had anything to say, and we all apologized, promising never to repeat our actions. We left the classroom in silence, too embarrassed to talk about the incident until many years later, when it was recounted at Ben Sturgeon’s stag party.
This experience taught us valuable lessons: never steal to avoid embarrassment and consequences, understand that such actions can cause distress, and refrain from blaming others without knowing the facts.
A Reunion with Mrs. Lane
Years later, I reached out to some of the boys to help them recall details for this story. When I spoke to Marion Stone, he remembered the day vividly and shared that he received a significant punishment at home after telling his parents what had happened.
Many years on, I found Mrs. Alta Lane living in a nursing home in Canyon, Texas. She was still sharp and remembered “the art class” incident. On March 16, 2008, she turned 102 years old. To celebrate, I sent her a bouquet of flowers from the eight fifth-graders involved in the clay incident, listing all of our names and lifetime occupations.
These are my days…
