Elementary School

I toured my old elementary school while I was home in Florida. It's called Sanders Memorial Elementary School, and as you may remember, it's being torn down this summer. A special farewell ceremony was held Saturday where alumni, teachers and other visitors could get a last look at the old place.

It was pretty much as I remember, though predictably it seemed much smaller.


This was my old sixth-grade classroom, I think. (I had trouble remembering exactly which of two rooms it was, but I'm pretty sure this is it.) This part of the school dates from 1948.


This is the entrance to the cafeteria.




The older buildings at Sanders were mostly long structures with outdoor sidewalks. These were two classroom additions from the '60s and '70s where I had classes.


This was the old library. At another time it served as the office, which was also once housed in one of those sixth-grade classrooms like the top photo.

It was fun to tour Sanders again. I don't have any negative feelings about it being torn down -- it's a very old school and not really suited to today's learning environment, when schools have to be more secure. That open plan must give administrators fits.

The only unfortunate thing is that my hometown, Land O' Lakes, doesn't have a whole lot of historic structures. This is probably one of the most significant. But time marches on!


Coincidentally, my mom and I found this old photo of me and some of my classmates in first grade at Sanders. That's me on the right, and I remember the girl, but I don't know who any of those other kids are. Pretty funny, huh?