By Ed Stozek
For the Herald
While watching an episode of Family Feud one of the questions made me think about high school. Steve Harvey asked the show’s contestants how many friends from high school does a typical adult keep in touch with? It was surprizing that out of the 100 people surveyed the top answer was zero.
During my three-years of attending Grades 10 to 12 at the Elphinstone Collegiate, class sizes were relatively small and I got to know most of the students at the school.
A new crop of Grade 9 students was officially welcomed in early September during Freshie Days. Dressed up in Hawaiian themed costumes they participated in a variety of initiation activities.
We all had a favourite group of individuals to “hang out with.” During recess and noon hour we often walked the hallways or sat at the back of the classroom, discussed a variety of topics and listened to our favourite music.
School dances provided more social interaction. Three of my school friends learned to play some popular rock songs. Instead of listening to 45 rpm records at the school dance, we were privileged to have them play for us. Since the caretaker did not want marks left by shoes on the gymnasium floor, students were asked to remove their foot wear at these dances. Our vigilant elderly caretaker often pointed to our feet and reminded us, “No shoes.”
Prior to the Christmas holidays each class decorated their own room.
Our Grade 12 room was judged as the best decorated and we were rewarded with a box of oranges and two boxes of chocolate. On Dec. 23 our school held an all-day Christmas party starting with a curling bonspiel. Those students who did not curl spent their day skating and playing broomball. In the evening everyone watched the film, “The Tale of Two Cities.” After the film, gifts were exchanged and the evening came to a successful end.
Organized intramural sports included volleyball, basketball, curling and badminton. They provided an avenue for us to exert physical activity during noon hour. We also participated in other “non-organized activities.”
One day a classmate brought two pairs of boxing gloves to school. During noon hour the equipment room became a boxing ring.
Dennis, a very strong specimen of physical ability challenged me to a round of boxing. Luckily, I had watched some of Mohammed Ali's moves and was able to evade most of the punches.
In June, the dreaded provincial exams were administered. The exams determined if one passed or failed the subject. Since exams were written in the morning there was no need to take the school bus and spend a whole day at school. Instead, I drove my parent’s car and was home by noon to help out with the farm work or study for the next exam. It was a great feeling to drive home after the last exam. It was even more exciting when the exam results arrived via Canada Post and passing grades were achieved.
Our grad class in 1970 coincided with Manitoba's centennial and that year we became the proud recipients of Elphinstone Collegiate’s Spirit of 70 yearbook.
In his principal’s message, Mr. Garry Bochinski noted, “Few books which you will ever own have the lasting value of this Centennial Yearbook. Its true value will only be realized in retrospect. Ten years from now as you page through this book you will again relive the events of this school year. The sound of the nine o'clock bell, the exchange of opinions over a controversial lecture, the noisy bus ride home, the excitement of planning for the spring prom, all of these make you feel the significance of these vital years.”
Mr. Bochinski's words were very true.
1970 marked the end of high school and the beginning of a new phase in my life.
Our graduating class all had different interests and we went our separate ways. It is always interesting to peruse the E.C.I. yearbook, wonder where my schoolmates ended up and reflect upon the highlights of a school year from over 50 years ago.
Sadly, the answer to the question on Family Feud turned out to be true.
