Country Roads

High school freshmen have a lot less to beware of starting their school year than the freshmen did years back. Back in the day there were sneaky seniors who couldn’t wait for high school freshmen initiation to arrive at the start of a new school year. That was just the thing to do back then when the freshmen class got plenty of attention. It was considered as sort of a “right of passage” by all of the high school students. After all, the sophomores, juniors and even the seniors had to go through the dreaded Initiation Day, and all knew once a freshman got through that, they were officially accepted into high school.

This monumental day was planned and carried out by the senior class, and it had the approval of the school staff and administration as long as it didn’t get too carried away. The mode of dress chosen by the seniors was to be worn by the freshmen class members that day during school. An example for the boys ensemble might be something like baby bonnets as the head dress, and sometimes diapers made out of colorful towels. Baby bottles were worn around the neck and a doll or stuffed animal was carried.

An example for the girls stylist dress might be wearing gunnysacks made into a “sack dress,” men’s thermal underwear and rubber overshoes on the feet. Their hair might be worn in pin curls and the person’s initials placed on the forehead using red lipstick.

Freshmen had to carry their school books in a water pail. Every time freshmen met up with a senior, they had to give a deep bow and recite a sentence or poem honoring the senior.

In the high school I attended, a school sponsored party was held on the night of initiation, with the freshmen still dressed in their initiation outfit. After refreshments were enjoyed, it was up to the seniors again to challenge the freshmen to more initiation antics. With all the freshmen blindfolded and stationed in a line in front of the other high school students, orders were given to open their mouths and eat what they were told were worms. Really it was cold cooked spaghetti. Then the freshmen were to walk blindfolded and be lifted onto a board. They were told they had to do a balancing act as the board washigh in the air, when really it was down on the ground. There were some other antics but soon the evening event was over, and it was official the freshmen were accepted into the realm of high school.

Now, years later as the high school graduating classes get together for their reunions, photos are brought out showing the happenings of that Initiation Day and laughter and memories are shared. It was a rough day but all freshmen seemed to get through it okay.