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Throwback Thursday

Writer's picture: Angela SanfordAngela Sanford

by Hattie Dyck


 In years gone by singing was an important part of school life as teachers attempted to give their students a rounded education in the many facets of learning. I well remember wanting so badly to be a “”bluebird’’, as that designation gave you a lead part especially the very Important Christmas concert which was the highlight of our performing year.

     I remember Mrs. Harold O’Brien teaching at the lower Selmah school and putting special emphasis on singing. As I’ve gone back in time to do this column the old Nursery rhymes come to the forefront especially, “Little Jack Horner who sat in the corner, eating his Christmas pie.”

     Hope you enjoy this glimpse into the past as we look back at the teachers who didn’t have the facilities available today but who made the best of all they had. These little rhymes can give us an insight into life before television, the internet and cell phones.


Little ditties:


Hickory dickory dock

The mouse ran up the clock

The clock struck one, the mouse ran down

Hickory dickory dock


Hey diddle diddle. The cat’s in the fiddle

And the cow jumped over the moon

The little dog laughed to see such sport

And the dish ran away with the spoon.


Twinkle twinkle little star

How i wonder what you are

Up above the world so high

Like a diamond in the sky

Twinkle twinkle little star.


Little Miss Muffett sat on a tuffet

Eating her curds and whey

Along came a spider and sat down beside her

And drove Miss Muffet away.


A diller – a dollar a 10 o’clock scholar

What makes you come so soon.

You used to come at 10 o’clock

But now you come at noon.


Pease porridge hot

Pease porridge cold

Pease porridge hot

Pease porridge cold

Pease porridge in the pot nine days old.


This old fun song is usually accompanied by hand clapping.


Little Jack Horner sat in the corner

Eating his Christmas pie

He put in his thumb and pulled out a plum

And said, “What a good boy am I.”



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2 Comments


Guest
2 days ago

Thank you guest. I too grew up in a time when things were hard but I didn't know it. One of the good things about those days was we learned to take responsibility for life and appreciate what we did have.

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Guest
6 days ago

hattie you always send me back to a time when maybe things were hard but i as a child never knew it because of rhymes and teachers we had

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