MVLS I Spy Oral History Interview

Green Corners School, Glenville, NY
Part 1: Audio Excerpts | Current Photo | Historic Picture

Transcript of audio excerpts

Speaker: Alexander Bedzis

I'm here interviewing Mr. Bedzis and he's going to tell us a little bit about Green Corners School. So let's begin.

Q: How is this school different from any other place you've been? Was it like -- what was it like there?
Bedzis: Well, you have to keep in mind that it's a one room school and all of the students from the first to the eighth grade were in that same room.

Q: So it was really crowded?
Bedzis: It was at times. I believe the school would only hold up to about 25 students. At the time I went there I believe there was about 16 - 18 students.

Q: So could you describe what it was like in the school room.
Bedzis: Well, as I indicated before, it was a one room schoolhouse and the seating was a little crowded. We had, you know, the regular benches. I said benches, it was like probably what you're accustomed to seeing. It was a table and a seat type arrangement. And there was a large chalkboard in the front of the classroom and we had a counter where we had a water cooler. And the teacher's desk was off to the left. And we had a large storage area for reference books and regular classroom books. And there were other things that we needed, you know, for school use such as the hand held bell that they'd use when we were outside. They would ring the bell and that was an indication that you had to come in.

Q: Do you remember any of the things you would do outside?
Bedzis: Well, outside we would play different games. I remember one of them was Ally-Ally-Umpfree, where you throw a ball - we used to throw a ball over the Roof of the school and whoever caught it on the other side and there were other things that were involved. And at noontime it was Hide n' Seek because we had a wooded area right near the school and there was a large woodshed there and the bathrooms were outside. They were regular outhouses. They were split - one for the boys and one for the girls.

 

The I Spy games and Website was supported by Federal Library Services and Technology Act funds, awarded to the New York State Library by the Federal Institute of Museum and Library Services, the Mohawk Valley Library System and participating member libraries.

Mohawk Valley Library System - About I Spy - Visit Our Kids' Website