Cool Days
I was reading a classified ad for a home for sale in Coral Ridge; while extolling the virtues of a neighborhood dignified by manicured lawns and mature trees the ad mentioned that the home was in the “prestigious Bayview School district.”
Some things never change. Well over 40 years ago when my parents bought a home in Coral Ridge the selling point was that the house was in the prestigious Bayview School district. I’m not sure if anyone ever asked just why Bayview was so prestigious, but there was no doubt in my young mind what made Bayview so special: Bayview was one of the first air-conditioned schools in Fort Lauderdale.
Air conditioning became a non- negotiable condition of my education during my third grade year at Bayview, when my parents became convinced that my brother and I were in dire need of a Catholic education. My brother was just starting first grade; enrolling him at St Anthony’s was no big deal, but as a third grader there was no room for me. Since my parents were unwilling to have two kids in 2 different elementary schools, they enrolled my brother at Bayview too. In late September of that year, however, St Anthony’s called that they had space for both of us. Mildly apprehensive, my brother and I toured the school and were instantly traumatized: We were frightened by the nuns, we were appalled by the students’ dress code and we were totally stunned to discover that St Anthony’s was not air conditioned. Our apprehension turned into revolt.
In one of the few shows of unity I can remember sharing with my brother through our entire childhood, we took one look at St Anthony’s and, as one man, refused to switch. My parents, surprised by the intensity of our revolt were unprepared; after putting up only minimal resistance they caved and my brother and I enjoyed a crisp and cool elementary education.
But you can’t escape your fate; several years later I switched over to Sunrise Middle School, which was not air-conditioned. I bided my time, enduring heat rash and chafing until Sunrise finally got air conditioning at the end my eight grade year. I thought I was finally safe since my next stop, Lauderdale High, was modern and cool, but my parents were adamant that I attend Cardinal Gibbons which was, you guessed it, not air conditioned. Deaf to my pleas, ignoring my threats, insensitive to my begging I was sent to Cardinal Gibbons where, cruelly, young men were expected to wear button down shirts. With ties.
It’s a wonder I learned anything during those sluggish, torpid afternoons when the clock barely moved and big droplets of sweat rolled slowly down my nose. As Sister droned on I fell into a near-comatose state, eyes half closed, mouth half open, dreaming of those cool days at prestigious Bayview Elementary.
Cool Days
I was reading a classified ad for a home for sale in Coral Ridge; while extolling the virtues of a neighborhood dignified by manicured lawns and mature trees the ad mentioned that the home was in the “prestigious Bayview School district.”
Some things never change. Well over 40 years ago when my parents bought a home in Coral Ridge the selling point was that the house was in the prestigious Bayview School district. I’m not sure if anyone ever asked just why Bayview was so prestigious, but there was no doubt in my young mind what made Bayview so special: Bayview was one of the first air-conditioned schools in Fort Lauderdale.
Air conditioning became a non- negotiable condition of my education during my third grade year at Bayview, when my parents became convinced that my brother and I were in dire need of a Catholic education. My brother was just starting first grade; enrolling him at St Anthony’s was no big deal, but as a third grader there was no room for me. Since my parents were unwilling to have two kids in 2 different elementary schools, they enrolled my brother at Bayview too. In late September of that year, however, St Anthony’s called that they had space for both of us. Mildly apprehensive, my brother and I toured the school and were instantly traumatized: We were frightened by the nuns, we were appalled by the students’ dress code and we were totally stunned to discover that St Anthony’s was not air conditioned. Our apprehension turned into revolt.
In one of the few shows of unity I can remember sharing with my brother through our entire childhood, we took one look at St Anthony’s and, as one man, refused to switch. My parents, surprised by the intensity of our revolt were unprepared; after putting up only minimal resistance they caved and my brother and I enjoyed a crisp and cool elementary education.
But you can’t escape your fate; several years later I switched over to Sunrise Middle School, which was not air-conditioned. I bided my time, enduring heat rash and chafing until Sunrise finally got air conditioning at the end my eight grade year. I thought I was finally safe since my next stop, Lauderdale High, was modern and cool, but my parents were adamant that I attend Cardinal Gibbons which was, you guessed it, not air conditioned. Deaf to my pleas, ignoring my threats, insensitive to my begging I was sent to Cardinal Gibbons where, cruelly, young men were expected to wear button down shirts. With ties.
It’s a wonder I learned anything during those sluggish, torpid afternoons when the clock barely moved and big droplets of sweat rolled slowly down my nose. As Sister droned on I fell into a near-comatose state, eyes half closed, mouth half open, dreaming of those cool days at prestigious Bayview Elementary.