The globe-independent. (Hagerstown, Md.) 1943-19??, 1952-12-04

of yesterday, you should nave Deen
at the Paramount School Homecom-
ing on October 10 when the new
school was formally dedicated. The
spirit of 1.-THE Old Days" was real
ly there. Old school masters both
told us and showed us how they used
to do things, particularly how things
were done in school. 1t was home
coming for all who ever taught or
were taught in the schools at Para
mount, Maryland. There was pres
ent an overflow crowd from many
states.
To start the program off, school
master Roy Dancer arose and, seiz-
ing the legendary hand bell, the
same one he had used back in 1903,
"clanged' for school to begin This
alone set off the audience to the
spirit of old school days, but was
added to by a number of old-time
SCHOLARS" appearing and filing past
the schoolmaster and taking their
places at old fashioned desks. They
were dressed as in the old days, girls
with huge ribbons and bows, and
aprons, the boys with tight trousers
and bow ties. States and slate pen
ellis were in their hands.
Immediately the schoolmaster
grasped his hickory switch" and
began cracking it over his desk, and
in a stern voice, commanded the
scholars to attention and silence, and
proceeded with warnings of dire
consequences for any misbehavior.
Now you see, Mr.. Dancer was just
re-enacting old times too, for he did
call the children~to school by ring
ing the same old bell, and he did
swing the old hictory stick, as school
master in the Paramount school in
the year 1903-1904. He turned to
his audience and began to explain
how the threat of using the hickory
stick in his hand was no idle threat,
for indeed, he said, whipping was
not only condoned, but suggested
by parents and courts" He told us
he really used it during the one year
he taught.
While talking, he noticed a shiny,
red apple on his desk, left by one
of the children in passing. He pick
ed it up and began to recall how he
used to enjoy red Russets from
neighbours orchard every morning.
Behind him, all his 1852 scholars
arose, Slipped forward, and one by
one laid another shiny red apple on
his desk, to every ones amusement,
The old school house came in for
a bit of description next. School
master Dancer recalled the old one
room building, with grades to all
combined, the windows along both
sides, and especially the nectar of
the Gods" which was to be had
from the old water bucket, with
one tin dipper for everybody to
drink from. The water was carried
each day from Luther Trovinger'S
well.
In the center of the room stood the
traditional old pot-bellied stove. In
Dancers day, it was cracked, and
one day died of old age" as it sim
ply rolled over on the floor, fire and
ALL The children looked on in
amazement, and the schoolmaster
had to get the water bucket and put
the fire out himself.
In concluding his part, Dancer
asked himself if his year of teach
ing had been a failure or a success.
He said, half to himself, that if he
had not taught, the school board
would have saved $3.50 each week,
his salary. He observed that none
of his pupils had ever robbed a bank,
nor became famous, or Infamous.
None had become president of the
United States, but Judging from the
present incumbent" he thanked
God they hadn't" Quoting Abe
LIlCOln, ne Ludlhtu GOu lOI IlG dN-
erage people.
In referring to the beautiful new
school building, Mr.. Dancer told of
a letter he received some time ago
from his son, which read in part, as
follows:
dad, if America had spent one
third as much money for education
as we have for war, there would be
no war"
The assembled audience then sang
School Days" and Church in the
Wildwood" as the old schools serv-
ed both purposes, and then repeated
the Lords Prayer.
Next on the program was his
tory of the Paramount community,
given by Amos Baer, that went back
to the very beginning of the settling
of whites in this valley. The high
lights of this history will be given
in later column.