Days of Innocents

Come back with me to September 1953, a month before I turned 6 years old. Let's go to a place where a small building stood not far from a much larger building. To a kid still five years old who had spent most of his life on a farm with his mom and dad this new journey I was about to begin was overwhelming. The small building had no signage with the name of some person to whom it was dedicated. I was soon to learn that they simply called it The Little Building, I guess not to be confused with the larger building which sat across the gravel parking lot. Wasn't that clever? The Little Building, my school home for the next three years.

They called it a little building, but to a 5 year old it looked pretty big. Several concrete steps with no railings led up to the front door, and into a large open area which separated four rooms, two for the first graders and two for the second graders. The boy’s  and girl’s restrooms were located at the opposite end with a flight of steps descending on the right side to access the two third grade rooms below.

The Little Building was plain and simple, but to me it will always be a symbol of innocence even though it was destroyed many years ago. The building is gone, but not the lessons I learned there. I learned my one, two, three’s, and my A, B, C’s. I was taught to read, and was led through the threshold of academia. I had a good start, but I think I learned many more important lessons.

My fellow students and I learned why pledging allegiance to our country’s flag was important. Some of our dads were not many years removed from fighting in a horrible war across the seas. I learned about fair play, waiting my turn, and that hard work has its rewards. I learned that I must earn what I receive. I learned that not everyone deserves a trophy. I learned to respect authority. I learned that school, God and prayer go hand in hand in a nation built on and sustained by biblical principles. My friends and I soon found comfort and solace, I think in part, because our teachers weren't ashamed to read us a Bible story every morning. They loved us and cared for us in a way that made us feel safe. How blessed I was to begin my formal education in an environment like that!

If I could go back to the first days of The Little Building I think I would make a big sign and hang it above the front doors. The sign would read, The Little Building: Home of Innocence. I think our nation needs more Little Buildings because innocence is a rare commodity today.