Continuing with our school theme, we’re sharing Walter Schutz’s school memories from his book, “It Was Fun Being Young.”
“The children in our neighborhood attended the 6th District School #3, located at Harmon Street (now Brown Street) and Island Avenue (now Palmer Street). Later the name was changed to the Island Avenue School.”
“As well as I can determine, this must have been my 5th grade class (1911 or 1912). I am standing at the back of the room wearing a big flowing red tie. The man we all feared for his mean thinking and cruel actions, Mr. Ulrich, the principal, is next to me. The boy at the front row desk with folded hands is Elmer Krieger, who was the City Planner of Milwaukee for over 45 years.”
“I remember the names of all my teachers. I was not an outstanding student or star in any sense of the word. My grades were average, but there were a few endeavors in which I did very well and was at the top of my class. The ‘how and why’ were of tremendous interest to me.”
Walter goes on to characterize his school environment. “A very small fragment of the European type of military school was still evident in the Milwaukee school system. You could not enter the school until the bell rang. At dismissal, no one could leave until all left. You could not loiter in the halls or on the school grounds; you had to be on your way home immediately. Teachers could demand all students to sit with folded hands or arms. It was the habit of some teachers to constantly have a ruler in their hand to either poke a slow or unruly student, or to rap their hands or knuckles.”
“The sanitation conditions were unbelievable. There was only one place to get a drink of water, and that was at the janitor’s service sink, which was almost hidden by scrub pails, damp stinky mops, boxes and bottles of cleaning materials. The sink had one mammoth brass faucet, which some small students could hardly reach. The drinking utensil was a chipped and rusted long-handled dipper chained to the sink. After an infection broke out, most students carried their own aluminum fold-up cups.”
“Once a year, in late spring, we would have a sort of ‘show and tell’ where the things pupils had made would be displayed, and the parents would be invited to visit. Tables were filled with raffia baskets, small wood articles such as toothbrush holders, salt and flour relief maps of North America, and much more. The visit was only in the afternoon after classes and only the mothers attended. Fathers never had the chance to see what was going on. In fact parents knew little about the school, the teachers or the subjects taught. There was an extremely wide gap, never bridged, between the parents and the school.”
Due to a stretch of serious illnesses, Walter explained, “I am not pictured with the same class (as above) at the time of 8th grade graduation because I had been ill with smallpox followed by diphtheria which put me back one semester. I was one of six in our class who came down with smallpox. Early in 1914, the hospitals were filled and day by day, we could see more quarantine signs nailed up on the front door of houses. I do not remember how long we were quarantined, but no sooner were things back to normal when I again became ill (with diphtheria) and this time more serious. My temperature became extremely high and there are periods of two and almost three days when I do not remember a thing. By the end of summer I was in almost normal condition, however it was felt I had missed so much that instead of graduating in June, I joined another class and finished in February.”
Next time…Walter goes to Riverside High School.
I love that you are sharing Walter’s stories with us. His life is so important to all students and teachers, especially to those that did not have the opportunity to meet him! For me, when I use my imagination, I can hear his voice and see him telling his stories…on a trip to the studio without his cane!
Love and Blessings, Lynn Schuster
Thanks, Lynn! Walter was and continues to be so inspiring. Those of us who met and knew him were blessed. His spirit lives on in what we all still do today. Take care, Carolyn
What a wonderful read. He would have lived through the Spanish flu pandemic as well. He was a remarkable man.
Hi Dee,
Isn’t it truly amazing that he contracted both those serious illnesses in such a short time and then went on to live to be 90? The polio epidemic would have been within his lifetime, too. We still talk about how he would approach the copy machine and consider it “unbelievable”. Take care, Carolyn
It was such a wonderful opportunity to spend time at Sievers . Miss the island and all you wonderful people I am staying safe and healthy at home. I still do some quilting and am thinking about doing some more American Girl Doll clothes because I now have 2 great grand daughters ( and one great grand son ). Just trying to get some energy to get started! I hope you are all safe and healthy, and we are all
Praying things get back to normal soon! Love to all, Jenny Simon
Hi Jenny,
We’ve missed you and are so glad to hear that you are still quilting and are doing well. Hearing from you put a smile on our faces! Take good care and hugs from all of us at Sievers, Carolyn, Ann and Cindra
I was at Sievers for a class the morning Walter died–and Gisela’s grandchild was born. She said she believed they passed each other. Thank you for honoring and remembering him. He certainly left a legacy–and so have Ann, Cindra, and Carolyn. You’ve touched so many lives. Sievers is the warp on which so many of us have woven the tapestries of our lives.
Thank you, Jeanette for your lovely comment. It means so much. We remember Gisela’s beautiful sentiment, too. All of us who knew Walter were certainly lucky people and to carry his spirit forward is an honor. We still love sharing stories within the office and to all of our Sievers family.
And it all started with rafia “baskets” and wooden items when he was in elementary school Love this story and his courage❤️
Hello Kay and thanks for your note on Walter’s elementary school days. We can see him tinkering around with stuff like that as a kid…we’re so glad he shared his love of learning and making by developing Sievers! Take care, Carolyn