Leland School

Before we moved to Elm Grove, Wisconsin, Leland School provided kindergarten through 12th grade for many years. There was originally one room for each year. People moved to Elm Grove and other suburbs following World War II, and it developed into a popular suburb. The high school (in nearby Brookfield) was built in the early 50’s, and, a few years later, the junior high school opened.

Leland School grew rapidly after that time, with three classrooms for every year -- kindergarten through sixth grade. My sister Sara was a year behind me, and her age group was so large that they needed four classrooms. So, she had to go to another school (on the bus) for third-grade, even though we lived close to Leland School.

It was a lot of fun to play outside, and I loved sports. There was plenty of room for sports, including baseball and football. There were swings and slides, and plenty of room for playing in groups. We could take long walks, although we were not supposed to go into the forest, which was owned by local neighbors. We enjoyed very long lunch-time experiences, perhaps an hour and 20 minutes. That long lunchtime allowed many students to walk home for lunch. I did not like the school lunches.

Nearly every day I ate lunch at home. Occasionally I took a paper bag in order to eat lunch at school. One time I forgot that I had a paper bag and planned to eat lunch at school, and instead walked home for lunch with my mother. Mom said, “Oh well”.

The teachers were generally excellent (see my chapter about Mr. Frenzel), although my sixth-grade male teacher was a bit grumpy and difficult. My sister, Sara, had an excellent fifth grade teacher, Mr. Truman, who had moved here from England. I only missed school for illness during kindergarten class and during sixth grade. In kindergarten I felt sick one day but didn’t tell my parents, and went to school anyway. When the students sat on the floor in a circle for a snack, I vomited on the girl who was sitting next to me. I was sent home.

We loved to play in the snow in winter. Following recess, I was sometimes forced to go into a room with a major radiator to dry off before returning to the classroom.

I played hard, and often played with boys who had difficulties with their personalities and their aggressions. I think I was sent to the principal’s office (because of mis-behavior) at least through fourth grade. Starting fifth grade, when I had an excellent teacher, I was no longer sent to the principal’s office.

The last day of school each year was in early June, and it was brief. Our teacher handed out our report cards, and then we went home. I did not want to go home, especially after sixth grade ended. I was quite sad about leaving Leland School.

Elm Grove was a popular suburb, and parents whose children attended Leland School remained in their houses for several years. There was no room for Elm Grove to expand. Once we left the school and went to junior high and high school, the number of students attending Leland School dropped. Eventually, the school closed, and the principal and his assistant retired at that point in their lives. The school no longer exists and ugly houses have taken its position.