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September 22, 2007 Dear Redbankers, What a pleasant surprise to open the Portland Press Herald this morning and find a front page article about the former Redbank Village School. In 1957 Superintendent of Schools Wayne Roberts hired me to teach in South Portland. Earlier in his career, I believe he had been a Redbank principal. Since I didn't have a car, I hoped to be located in a school on a bus line or within walking distance from my living quarters. Fortunately I was assigned to Redbank School and was equally fortunate to rent an apartment at 16 Wainwright West for $76 a month, as I remember. My first year contract was for $3200. At the time, Redbank School was terribly overcrowded. A new wing on the playground side was under construction, but wasn't ready for occupancy when school started. So for the first three months the school operated on double sessions. I taught in the afternoon session. While it might seem like fun to have the morning or afternoon off, double sessions were not without their problems. Students were cautioned not to leave personal items in the desks, but of course they did. Teachers spent a good deal of time fielding complaints that a student occupying a desk at one session had taken something belonging to a student on the other shift. After the four-day Thanksgiving holiday the new wing was completed. Teachers and students alike were overjoyed to get their own classrooms and desks. I taught 6th grade and sometimes a split 5th and 6th from 1957-1967. Anthony Stanhope was principal my first year and Ralph Kilgore (later South Portland City Councilor and Mayor) was principal for the rest of my tenure. The school was fortunate to have a dedicated staff of experienced teachers (Mrs. Schofield, Mrs. Durrell, Mrs. Thompson, Mrs. Bulger to name a few) who not only taught the students, but also taught us neophytes how to teach and "run a taut ship" conducive to learning. I cannot say enough in praise of the principals, staff, parents, and students. Over the 10 year span I took many slides of my students. Unfortunately I can only find a few of them which I'm sending along. Some of the shots were taken on the last day of school. Note the bookcases covered with newspaper and the students in their "Sunday Best". The last day of school was generally difficult. Often times the teachers had something pressing to attend to such as the state-mandated attendance register and the students just wanted OUT! But this wasn't always the case. I had at least two classes that didn't want to leave. They were having too much fun dancing as you can see in some of the slides. Later I taught 9th graders at Memorial for the 16 years that it was a junior high. My last four years were spent at South Portland High School when they returned the 9th graders to the senior high. One of the perks of teaching at the junior high and high school was not having to keep an attendance register. Homeroom teachers just sent the names of absentees to the office. Although I retired in 1987, I still have an occasional school-related nightmare such as: • Attendance registers are due in the office and I haven't taken attendance in weeks. • It's the first day of school and my filing cabinets and book closet are empty. • It's mid-year or final exam time and I haven't' even started to make out the exams. I suspect nightmares occur with every profession. I visited Redbank School at the open house held shortly before it closed and saw a few former students and Mrs. Bulger (now Mrs. Storey). The rooms were filled with high tech equipment, a far cry from the 10 years I lived with a piece of chalk in my hand. With fond memories from a proud, former Redbank resident and teacher. Maxine S. Morris |
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| LAST DAY OF SCHOOL |
| CHRISTMAS PARTIES |
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| HOPE YOU ENJOY THESE PHOTO ALBUMS |