August 1956, was a busy month for Ken and me. He was stationed at Fort Gordon in Augusta, Georgia, fulfilling his 2 year military obligation. He had a week of leave .during the last week of that month. During that time, we bought our first new car, a 1956 Chevrolet. I graduated from North Texas State College* on Thursday, August 23. Family visits were made and goodbyes were said. The car was packed with everything we might need for the next year. We departed Texas for Augusta and a new adventure. We had the 1000 mile check up for the car in Jackson, Mississippi. We arrived in Augusta late on Sunday, August 27.
I had my Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics and a Texas teaching certificate. I had put in applications to teach in Augusta and North Augusta, South Carolina. I had an interview scheduled in Augusta for Monday afternoon. I had been told that there were no openings in homemaking, but there were other openings. Ken had learned from his fellow soldiers that the employers in Augusta did not like to hire military wives because they were not permanent. We had decided that I would take any job I could get.
Ken left for the base early on Monday morning. He rode with a buddy and left the car for me. I slept in. I was awakened shortly after 8 AM by the landlady knocking on the door. She said that I had a message from the North Augusta school superintendent to call him as soon as possible. I scrambled into clothes and made the call. An interview was scheduled for 11 AM. I was there shortly before 11. While I was waiting, another young woman came out of the office and sat down. My interview went well, and I was offered a job teaching 8th grade English.** I asked if I could give my answer the next day, thinking I would see what Augusta had to offer. The superintendent answered, “No. Did you see the lady who just left my office? She is waiting for your answer. She has only three years of college with a major in English. Because you have a degree, it will be easier for me to get you certified.” I didn’t hesitate before saying yes. The man was desperate. Teacher in-service started on Wednesday and school started the following week. He was in a bind to fill the position. I was not sure what I was going to do or how I was going to do it, but I knew I was going to give it my best effort.
I learned that South Carolina had a teacher shortage. The average age of teachers in the state was forty. Their salary schedule was near the bottom of the 48 states. (Alaska was not yet a state.) My annual salary was $1800. My take home pay was $180 a month. Things were better in Texas. My beginning salary doubled to $3600 the next year in Fort Worth. Our rent was $60 a month, our car payment was approximately $40, and we ate well on $40. A gallon of gas was less than 25 cents. Ken was paid a small sum. We do not remember the amount, but he would always say that after he paid the rent on payday, he was broke. I also had a spousal allotment. We actually saved some money.
Fortunately, my fellow teachers were friendly and more than willing to mentor me. I organized my classroom, put up a welcome bulletin board, made lesson plans, and somehow managed to be semi-prepared for the first day of school.
My students were typical Southern boys and girls. I thought I had discipline problems, and I stressed over them from time to time. As I looked back after a few more years of experience, I realized that I did not have problems. I had only dealt with “age and stage” situations. The students were not rude, smart mouthed or trouble makers. They held doors open for me, were polite and well mannered. They almost “yes ma-am-ed” me to death. They were generally pleasant to be around. I appreciated them more and more as years went by and I experienced serious student problems.
I spoke Texan and my students spoke Southern. Texan and Southern were not the same. I first realized this when a student told me, “Mah da-di works at the bum plant.” All I knew was that Daddy had a job, but I had no idea where. This went on for several days. I also heard about the bum plant in the teacher’s lounge. I did not want to ask a teacher, so one day I asked a student what Da-di did at the bum plant. “Oh, you know ma’am, something to do with that hydra-gin bum.” Mystery solved! Daddy worked at the bomb plant.** I felt rather dense that I had not figured it out. Thereafter, I asked when I didn’t understand Southern.
I unconsciously adopted the children’s speech. By Friday of every week I was ready to go home and “wahsh mah ha-ah” or “paynt mah nayals.”**** By Monday morning, I was back to my Texas drawl, and the speech pattern began over again. Ken had great fun observing this. I was never aware of it until he started laughing.
Having grown up in the very dry mesquite flats of west, central Texas, I was fascinated with the tall trees and green vegetation. I thought Georgia was an oasis. Our garage apartment was surrounded by a beautiful, manicured yard. There was a fish pond with flower beds surrounding it. I had never seen so many flowers in my life.
We made good friends, traveled on weekends, and enjoyed our time in the Deep South.
*Now North Texas State University
**I was required to have a first minor in chemistry. My chosen second minor was English.
***Savannah River Project in Aiken, S.C.
**** wash my hair or paint my nails
The pictures below are poor quality. After all, they are 60 years old.
