Dear Folks, Frankly I don't have a clue how elementary school children are taught nowadays but back in 1943 if you were in the sixth grade you had only one teacher, your sixth grade teacher. She taught you every subject with the possible exception of music and gym. In going through my old scrapbook this evening (for another reason) I came across a number of stories I had written for my English class when I was in Grade 6a at Maple Avenue School, Niagara Falls, NY. One of them was dated January 29, 1943, and it pointed out to me that we were given assignments in English class that were based on what we had just learned in her History class. This is what I wrote (in pen and ink, not ballpoint) that the teacher graded "Excellent." How a Boy Became a Knight Something a boy in the days of feudalism really wished to be was a knight. He could not become a knight unless the king asked him. Until he was seven years old he lived as did the other boys. When he was seven he was taken from his home to the castle of a lord or famous knight. The boy was called a page which means "little vassal." He was taught to serve at the table, to play a harp and to sing. The lady of the castle taught him to be courteous. He was taught boxing, wrestling, running and riding. At the age of fourteen (seven years after he became a page), he became a squire. He wore the letters S. S. on his collar. A squire's duties were mostly around the table. He carved the meat, served the food and carried water to the guests so they could wash their hands for they had to eat with their fingers. He made the beds, took care of the horses and slept by his [lord's?] door at night. A squire went to war with the lord so he could learn to ride and fight. The squire also waited on the ladies. He went with them on hunts. He picked flowers for them. He sang and read to them. An older squire often taught the girls to read and write. When a squire was twenty-one he became a knight. The night before he was to be initiated, the squire put his armor on the alter and prayed all night. In the morning he took a bath to purify himself. He went in the baron's presence to become a knight. The baron put a sword on his shoulder and dubbed him a knight. The knight promised that he would speak the truth, serve the king and the church, to respect women and never to run from the foe. End of that sixth grade story. But included in my folder of sixth grade English stories are also telling history stories about Joan of Arc and about monks and monestaries. Do I dare hope that sixth-graders nowadays are still taught such subjects in such detail? vee