Two Different Nashville School Trips Scenario

Every year Dorton Elementary School took its 8th graders to Nashville, the state capital.

When I was in the 8^th grade Mommie agreed to be one of the parent chaperons.

Early on that Friday morning, long before school opened, we met at the school, boarded a school bus and drove the one hundred and seventy five miles to Nashville.  For all but a very few it was the first time we had been  to Nashville.

Our day involved a trip to the capital building – a quick of the outside—a quicker tour of the inside. As I reflect on this trip I must confess this part of the itinerary was less memorable than the rest. This says more about the mentality of 13 and 14 year olds than the tour.

More memorable was a trip to the State Prison, where we toured a few cells, with no inmates at the time. (Staged I am sure).  I have two persistent  memories of that trip. The first was just outside the kitchen.  A big—and I do mean big—tub  which was full of sliced potatoes submerged in water.  I had never seen or even imagined so many potatoes in my whole life. The second was an old black man with a hand carved action theater.  He displayed his work and lectured us on the need to always obey  the law.

A trip to The Grand Ole Opry was not possible because of time restraints. But we attended a pre-Opry show with singers and dancers before we boarded the bus for return to Crossville.  Mommie was not silent about her like the singers—but not the dancers.

JUMP FORWARD A YEAR

Ivy’s  8^th grade class was going to Nashville. Mommie for reasons never explained refused to give Ivy permission to go.  So on that day when her classmates arrived at school early to board the  Nashville bound bus, Ivy had a usual day, arriving at the usual time, to the usual place. Not quite the usual place. She sat all day in the back of another class until school was over. Staying  home would have preferable.

It was a defining moment in Ivy’s life—the day –the hour—the moment- she wrote off school.

Whatever happened to sour Mommie on the class trip was never known.  Mommie was not so forthcoming about many things. What soured Ivy on school was clear.