Of all the classroom instructional shorts made in the twenty years or so after the Second World War, this is probably the most well-remembered due to its inclusion in Pee-Wee Herman's HBO special back in the early Eighties. It's also a favorite of mine because it reminds me of my earliest school days back in the late 1960's. The short haircuts, the Suburban School/Institutional architecture, the prevailing spirit of patriotism and respect for authority - those were great and innocent days. Vietnam? Racial strife? Political demonstrations in the streets of Chicago being busted up by maniacal Daley cops? Mick Jagger pleading "Let's just cool out" while drug-and-booze-crazed Hells Angels bust heads at a racetrack? We who attend public schools in Suburbia knew none of it. Ours was a world of family, faith, and Space-Age optimism, thanks to our parents, teachers, and school volunteers. Would that the youth of today could know such happiness and innocence.
I was also entranced by the size of the chocolate cake our protagonist got as a reward for his good lunchroom manners. I don't remember school desserts being that capacious...
I was also entranced by the size of the chocolate cake our protagonist got as a reward for his good lunchroom manners. I don't remember school desserts being that capacious...