Looking Back at Elwood Central School Days

In 1961 and 1962, I attended Form 1 and 2 at this school because the new high school down the road did not have room for the lower levels of secondary schooling. I recall Mr S, who had a tough time at the school. I had no problems with him. I recall the time when the blackboard was cleared of all material on it. I was in the room, but thought that the other students were just cleaning the board from a previous class. There was a lot of stuff on the board when I entered the room before the class. I had no idea it was material for the next class. Perhaps Mr S should have stayed in the room, or should have left a note, or perhaps he did leave a note. All of that must have been done by a small group. I also recall seeing Mr S's car between two trees in Scott St. Again it was a private matter relating to some students. Elwood Central was not a rough school from my perspective. I enjoyed being there. Mr S was not cut out for teaching. Some students felt that he was a joke and had no respect for him whatsoever. Many years later I read in the paper he died in a house fire in his home. 

There were some excellent teachers at the school. Mr Tom Evans, a quietly spoken gentlemen who carried a short wooden pointer stick, was an excellent  maths teacher. He was knowledgeable, incredibly patient and kind. His diction was perfect and his lessons always well prepared. When he marked my work he often wrote alternative solutions and corrections. Mrs Yvonne Tipping was a wonderful librarian. Mrs Farber, who taught general science was a dedicated teacher, who always prepared the demonstrations and lessons we attended. Mr Donald Smith, did indeed, try to teach us to walk like brolgas. It must have been a funny sight to have a class walking around the yard putting heel down first and then the rest of the foot to follow. He was a kind, old gentleman and did no-one any harm. The teachers on the whole were competent. Mr Hunter did wield the strap.

The school was poorly heated. Nevertheless its rooms were large, clean and airy. The school yard was mainly concrete. Apart from the tree in the front of the building there was little shade during summer. The students were not permitted in the building during breaks. The student shelter sheds were very cold in winter. Most students in my year had done primary grades 1 to 6 at Elwood Central School. I met three other girls, who also came from other primary schools, on my first day at the school and we kept in touch well into our adult life. Some of my fellow students were very sophisticated with a range of social events to their credit, which I thought only film stars had. This group kept to themselves and were very secretive about their comings and goings. They definitely were the IN group. Alas I have no idea what they were IN to. One of that group, under a different name, was in a TV show called Commotion, where he and other 'stars', mined to the hit tunes of the day.

I have no recollection of what the headmaster, Mr Oulten. did.  I think he met the class once at the end of Form 2.
Overall I have no idea what happened in the two years I was at this school. It seems like it was in another life.