Growing Up in Williamsport, Ohio

First Through Eighth Grade Teachers for the Class of 1956
 
Our teacher in the first grade was Mrs. Helen Counts. She was a pleasant person and a good teacher. I was extremely shy but I could cut well with the scissors, so she let me cut intricate things. I suppose she thought it would bolster my confidence.
 
Miss Twila West was our second grade teacher. She had taught all of our sisters and brothers. She was extremely sweet, and her expertise was handwriting. My sister Kathleen learned well and always had beautiful handwriting. My handwriting has deteriorated over the years. 
 
Our third grade teacher was Miss Helen West. All I remember from her class was drawing a cardinal with very large legs. My hands just would not do what my brain told them. She was probably good at teaching science/biology. 
 
Mrs. Winona Ramsey was our fourth grade teacher. She must have been the disciplinarian since she was the only one to give me a time out.
 
Our fifth grade teacher was Mrs. Grabile. She was a sweet, gray haired lady. For some reason, I remember her for Reading Circle Books that I had trouble reading though I have certificates for reading them.
 
Mrs. Bernice Hulse was our jovial, sixth grade teacher who saw to it that we kept busy during recess by playing softball even if we didn’t want to. I think it was her way of keeping us out of trouble.
 
Our seventh grade teacher was Mr. William Alspach. It was refreshing to have a male teacher who actually taught us how to conjugate verbs and play basketball.
 
Mrs. Mary Metzger, our eighth grade teacher, was another sweet, older lady who read to us every morning. She and the Wests were natives of Williamsport. She vacationed out West the summer before I was in her class. She filled the back corner of her classroom with western souvenirs from her trip. She had Indian artifacts and headdresses pinned to a display board and a table full of interesting things. Then she read from the book “Crazy Horse” every morning before the beginning of class. Because of her, I always wanted to go out West. In 1995, I did. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to see the unfinished sculpture of Crazy Horse but was satisfied with everything I did see. I also have read a number of books about Indians and own the “Crazy Horse” book that I found on e-bay.

©Marilyn Francis Ferguson 2020
Photography/graphics by Michele Ferguson Schuck