Last week, sixth grade students at Henry H. Wells Middle School had the opportunity to invite their grandparents to present to their classes for Grandparents Day. Sponsored by the PTA and coordinated by Tina Aulabaugh, this annual event has become something everyone looks forward to.
The day started out with a breakfast for grandparents provided by the PTA. Next, grandparents met their grandchildren and spoke to classes about what life was like when they were in middle school. “Grandparents talk about their past, their careers, and also the present,” said Wells’ PTA Vice President, Ann Marie Kovaleski. “The kids enjoy it and the teachers do too.”
The grandparents did not disappoint. Some, like Bernie Schatz, brought in props to demonstrate how much things have changed. Schatz showed students an old rotary phone and told them about two-party lines, explaining that he couldn’t use the phone all the time like they do. Maria Diaz brought a photo of her sixth-grade class. Jaclyn Smerling let students take a look at her old record collection.
The difference in technology was a theme in many of the discussions. Patricia Bohrman and Elaine Pasquale discussed some of the issues technology has caused in society today. “You need to look at each other and talk to each other,” Pasquale told students. “We knew what the other person was thinking.”
Another common theme was discussing major cultural events. One student asked Bohrman and Pasquale “Did you witness anything crazy in your life?”
Pasquale immediately responded. “I was in sixth grade the year JFK was assassinated,” she said. “It horrified all of us. Your whole life was changed. Schools were closed. It just really hurt.”
In a different room, Jaclyn Smerling echoed what Pasquale said, telling students about the Civil Rights movement and the assassinations of John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, and Martin Luther King, Jr. “It was very, very turbulent times and we lived through that,” she said.
In another room, Bessie Joyner spoke about segregation, integration and growing up African American in the South in the middle of it all. Joyner’s grandma was seven years old when slavery was abolished.
“There were no ESL teachers then,” Diaz said, getting a little teary when talking about her first teacher in the US. “My third-grade teacher influenced my life the most,” she explained. “She made it possible for the other kids to accept me. The way she behaved opened their hearts to me.”
Not only did students get to learn a little about history and the way culture has changed, but they also learned about asking questions. Before grandparents started speaking in his classroom, Mr. Schnitzler gave students a little advice. “Avoid asking questions that can be answered with a yes or a no,” he said. “Try to ask open-ended questions.”
Students in all of the classrooms seemed to do just that. “Back in the day, if you got in trouble, would the teachers beat you?” one student asked.
“Nuns at school would hit you with a ruler and throw chalk at kids who were misbehaving,” answered Bohrman. “Your parents would ask ‘What did you do?’”
“We were always responsible for our actions,” Pasquale added.
After the presentations, students and their grandparents were treated to a special performance from Johna Barrow’s Expressions Through Music and Dance class before enjoying a catered lunch.
The event was well-received by students and grandparents alike. “I thought it was wonderful,” said Jaclyn Smerling. “The kids were asking great questions. It was so inclusive. And I got to spend the day with Andrew and see him in his environment.”
Her grandson, Andrew Maresca, enjoyed it as well. “It was a good experience,” he said. “I liked hearing about history and hearing how they lived compared to now. There were no televisions and no devices. Now everyone is glued to them. It’s crazy to think about.”