What was school in SLO County like in 1980s? These students used rocks to ring recess bell
The school year has started in San Luis Obispo County with few of the usual traditions.
Remember back-to-school shopping? Teachers figuring out seating plans for the classroom? Kids trading snacks at lunch?
The coronavirus pandemic has made 2020 different, with many local districts switching to distance learning, but kids are resilient — and educators are too.
Until we get back to packing peanut butter-and-jelly sandwiches and organizing carpools, here is a back-to-school story Dan Stephens wrote Sept. 3, 1986.
Bell tolls at Creston School
Dusty Richards hung from the monkey bars, next to her new friend Christine Vickery, an aspiring dancer.
Unlike many kindergartners, Dusty, who attends Creston Elementary School, did not cry Tuesday, the first day of school.
Just the opposite.
That morning, the country girl wore a smile to her school debut, haloed by a chocolate ring.
The sweet circle came from a chocolate Twinkie “with cream inside” that Dusty had polished of during snack time.
Dusty, who lives on a ranch with her family, animals but no friends, wasn’t alone in celebrating school.
In this town of 270 where four streets comprise downtown, uptown and the outskirts, kids can’t wait to become Creston Cougars.
“The kids here are different,” explained Steve Perruzzi, a 5th and 6th grade teacher who used to teach in Southern California.
“Unlike city kids, like in Atascadero — that’s the Big City to us — these kids don’t see each other outside of school.
“Their lives are school, ranch, chores, bedtime and school. This is the only time they can see their friends.”
According to Mike Clark, the new principal for the five-room school, 105 students are registered this year.
That’s enough to keep four teachers, two aids and one secretary busy.
Attending country school is different.
What some might consider drawbacks are just the way people do things in this town about 15 miles east of Atascadero.
For example, the school lacks an electric buzzer system, which lets everyone know when classes begin and end.
At Creston, an old bell tolls to start class.
To ring the bell, students pick up a rock and gong the bell. It has no clanger.
Getting chosen as the bell ringer is an honor.
During recess, after Perruzzi solved a dilemma of a captured lizard, he selected bell ringers.
He chose Monica Vogt, 10, and Melissa Barrett, 10, to harken the end of recess.
The two climbed into a concrete pit that holds the rusty bell. They selected two rocks — not too big, not too small — and gonged away.
As recess ended, Christine Vickery, 7, and Dusty Richards, 5, were discussing their futures and school.
“School’s fun,” said Christine. “I have more friends here than I do in summer. I like reading and arithmetic.”
She’s the dancer. “I know how to dance real good,” she said.
As for Dusty’s future, she’s not sure.
She likes reading. She likes playing.
And she likes school.
