Thoughts from South School Spaghetti Dinner

A special thanks to Tiffany Fine who organized the South Spaghetti Dinner on Thursday evening with her colleagues. Over 100 people attended the event. The following comment was submitted by email after touring the facility:

“On Thursday evening, at about 5:00 P.M., I was advised that my wife had made a commitment to take pictures at South Elementary School. She also said that spaghetti was being served to all attending the “SPAGHETTI DINNER AT SOUTH” event. My reaction was not extremely positive but there was a little interest because I had never been inside this school.

In addition to the spaghetti dinner, the opportunity to have a tour of the school was a pleasant surprise. Andrea Townsend, South School Teacher, conducted our tour and responded to the many questions promptly and in detail based on ten years experience teaching and extensive knowledge of her school. She never mentioned the ghost.

As a basis for my comments, the fact that your author went to grade school in the 1930s in a building in East Grand Rapids that still stands and is now used as the Administration building is presented for your information.

These comments are not presented in any order of importance:

-The distance from some classrooms to the central rest room

-The temperature change from the bottom floor to the top floor – the ancient heating system coupled with absolutely no air exchange may be a factor

-The size of classrooms used for a nominal homeroom class of twenty four was at best adequate in some cases to so small as to represent a challenge

-The thickness of the walls reminded me of my school in the 1930s

-The width of the halls was alarming --- maybe it was my fault but after years on a submarine [NO EXTRA SPACE] these hallways would be a good training environment for future sub sailors

-The use of computers in the teaching process was a plus but the technology used to furnish power and to tie each computer to a server was a demonstration of zero engineering/design – just find a way to make it work

-Use of every possible space showed imagination and initiative but in some cases it made me wonder what the students must think

-The gymnasium (where we at our spaghetti) did have some unique features that would currently be rejected in a heartbeat --- example – redundant sharp corners on the table storage lockers

During the last twelve months, I have been in seven different Darke County High Schools but this was my first elementary school. I strongly recommend that every Greenville School District adult, set aside a few minutes to visit South Elementary School. Only if you become actively involved can you sincerely and truthfully appreciate the need.” A. Bliss