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| Mrs. Bonner's First Grade Class, Orofino Elementary School, 1955-56 |
These first-graders of 1955-56 were members of the second group of baby-boomers to commence their education at the new Orofino Elementary School. Pictured in the back row are Miss Joni Walrath (student teacher) and Mrs. Irene Bonner (teacher). As half-sisters, Joni and I (third student from left in back row) were members of the same household.
Joni majored in elementary and secondary education at the University of Idaho. Her goal was to finish in three years, and her advisor told her this could be accomplished only if there wasn’t some conflict in scheduling. As progress toward her degree was reviewed in September 1955, it was discovered that she could achieve her goal and graduate in May 1956 IF she could complete her student teaching during this first semester. It was late to make those arrangements, so she approached the Orofino School District, which would allow her to live at home.
But
– of the three first-grade teachers, only Irene Bonner was qualified to
supervise a student teacher. School had already started, and I, Joni’s little sister,
was a student in Mrs. Bonner’s class. Rather than move me to another class,
which they feared would be traumatic for me, it was agreed they would just make
the best of it. The situation was explained to me, and I was instructed to address
Joni as Miss Walrath. I wasn’t obedient.
My birthday is late in August, so I was a young first-grader. Well, for whatever reason, I just didn’t get it. I was always in trouble for something. And – I never finished and turned in my work. Observing this, Joni told Mother, and Mother hastened to meet with Mrs. Bonner.
“Why
didn’t you tell me,” Mother asked Mrs. Bonner, who just shrugged, and Mother suggested a plan to make sure that I learned the importance of finishing my work. For every
graded paper I took home, I would get a star on a chart that Mother drew.
Mother continued to be closely involved with my schoolwork. Honestly, I don’t know what kind of student (let alone what kind of person) I would have become if Joni
hadn’t done her student teaching in my class.
Joni graduated from U-I in May 1956. Two weeks later, she and Patrick Nuinan began 60+ years of married life. Pat passed away in 2017. Now 91, Joni resides in Meridian near her son. KW
I just tried to make a list of names and came up with these off my memory:
ReplyDeleteBack row: Joni, Mrs. Bonner, Craig Allen (Keith Hanson's cousin, mom was a sister to Evelyn Hanson and lived in the pink house next door as I recall), Jerry Wilfong, you, Sherry Daniels, me, Martha Sewell, _________, Tim Musiel
Center row: Kay Wisdom, next four unknowns, Charity ?, Vicki Carrico, Susie ?, Rhea Redifer, Mary ?
Front: Chipper Prudhome, Kenneth Dykes, _________, Jim Oud, __________, Lanny Tinney, Calvin Joye, Mike Steinbruecker
You might be able to fill in the others.
On further thought, I think the boy next to Tim Musiel is Steve Titus and the one between Calvin Joye (I failed to leave a blank) and Mike Steinbruecker was Charlie somebody.
ReplyDeleteGreat! You already filled in a few of my blanks, and I can fill in a few of yours.
ReplyDeleteYes, that's Steve Titus in the back row between Martha and Tim.
Center row: Kay Wisdom, next two unknown, Kay Schwartkoff (sp), Judy Partee, __________, Vicky Carrico, Bonnie?, Susie?, Patricia Irby (not Rhea), Mary ?
Front: Chipper Prudhomme, Kenneth Dykes, Gen Randall, Jim Oud, _____, Lanny Tinney, Calvin Joye, Charlie Lindstrom, Mike Steinbruecker.
Now, I'm going to write this down.
Yes! I just came on to say Patricia not Rhea! We're on a roll!
ReplyDeleteHa! Do you think Mrs. Bonner would never have told your mother that you weren't doing your work? Perhaps she assumed all news regarding your schooling was already coming home via Miss Walrath.
ReplyDeleteI posted this photo on FB, and Janet speculated that maybe it wasn't important to Mrs. Bonner whether I turned in my work or not at that point. And she pointed out that I likely wasn't the only one. It took a while, but as I recall, by the end of the school year I was doing pretty well.
ReplyDelete