In fifth grade, an afternoon assembly lasting at least three days was planned for grades fourth through sixth where students were brought to the auditorium to view film footage of the Jewish holocaust of the 1930’ and 1940’s. These films were extremely disturbing and students asked why it was necessary to view this horror. School administration stated that perhaps by viewing these films a future catastrophe such as presented in the films, would be prevented from ever occurring again. My personal view towards humanity changed after viewing these films from a completely positive impression of people to a cautiously optimistic view of people. I discussed my distain for these films with mother and she stated that there was more to this story then met the eye and that I would understand this when older. It became apparent shortly after the second half of fifth grade that our teacher was expecting a baby. Most students became extra helpful to her and exhibited especially good behavior. This teacher experimented with a variety of seating arrangements possibly to keep students alert and engaged in the lessons taught. Sometimes our desks were arranged in rows, at other times desks were arranged in small groups, large groups, and an open ended circle facing in the direction of the chalkboard. For some lessons, especially arithmetic, students solved problems in front of the class on the chalkboard, explaining each step and the reasoning used to arrive at the answer, to the class. It was at this time that I thought about becoming an elementary school teacher. As a matter of fact, at 5’4 and weighing 120 pounds, some people who viewed my fifth grade class photograph, thought that I was the teacher.
Retrospective: The raising, breeding, training, and showing of German Shepherds provided a good focus and interest to divert me from the ever increasing and disturbing societal news. Visiting with extended family was a priority for us. Some people appear not to taste a strong mothball flavor in foods that they store in cabinets treated with camphor. In comparing great grandmother’s requirement to take one pill a day for an illness with today’s over abundance of drugs prescribed for the same illness, I cannot help but wonder if the human body has evolved in an accelerated way during the past fifty years or so. Without a competent education in Biblical morality, it is a “lost cause” to prevent immoral societal forces from heavily influencing children, and I believe great aunt realized this fact.
Historical Accounts 1968: 18
Martin Luther King Jr. is assassinated on April 4.
Pope Paul VI publishes encyclical Humanae Vitae on July 25.
News documentary 60 minutes televises their first show on September 24.
On September 24, Yale University opens enrollment to women.
The United States Congress legislates on November 14 that the dollar will no longer be backed by gold.
NASA launches four Apollo spacecrafts.
Remarks: An African American leader is assassinated causing some people to riot and protest. The Catholic Church continues to condemn abortion. A news show I watched regularly beginning at age