LOUISA COUNTY, IOWA

Page 216
- - RURAL SCHOOL GAMES - -
Doris Clark

Transcribed by Sharon Elijah, November 24, 2019

    The favorite subject for many students in school is recess, and the rural schools were no exception. When a school contained students in each grade, the age range was such that games had to be adapted. To prevent arguments as to what game was to be played, the students took turns at choosing the game of the day.

     If there were enough students enrolled, they divided into teams for a good baseball game. The rules weren’t always the same, but rules are made to be broken. Everyone umpired, especially if the teacher wasn’t there. Sometimes most of the recess time was spent hunting for the ball if it got hit into a clump of weeds by one of the bigger boys or girls. The game ended if the only bat was broken by a mighty hitter. Time out was necessary when a fly ball hit a fielder or hands were hurt because the ball was caught bare-handed. Usually no gloves were available for the fielders—they were lucky if there was a glove or mitt for the catcher to use. When there weren’t enough players for two teams, they played work-up. One version of work-up was to put the runner out by throwing the ball across the base line in front of them.

     If there were enough boys, they played tag or flag football. Once in a while some of the girls played football with the boys. Sometimes games were invented that had no name: such as the one where a few pupils gathered in a circle with a football on the ground in the middle. One of the hardy souls snatched the football and the others gave chase until they caught him. It got rather dangerous to be the snatcher.

     Various kinds of tag were played. Besides plain tag, there was wood or tree tag, squat tag, shadow tag, chain tag, partner tag, and one-legged tag.

     With a few variations of the rules, some games were suitable for inside or outside play. Follow the Leader, Blindman’s Bluff and New Orleans-which was sometimes called Lemonade-were lots of fun and could be played by any number of children. They could also play Statue and Jacks if someone had a ball and the necessary jacks.

     A party was a special time with games such as Pin the Tail on the Donkey, Carry an Egg in a Spoon, Bob for Apples, Spelling Bee, and How Many Words Can You Make From ______. Prizes were awarded.

     Inside games were sometimes adjusted to meet the needs of the pupils present. Only two persons could play checkers, but there was lots of advice and heckling from the watchers. Two people could also play Tick Tac Toe on the blackboard. If there were cards available, Rook and Old Maid were fun. The poor old maid card usually had a bent corner or was especially soiled because it was held longer than the other cards. Regular packs of cards were used for lots of different games, too. Monopoly usually continued through several recesses or noon hours. Carroms, Chinese Checkers, Bingo, Lotto, and Dominoes were often played by several students at a time.

     Other indoor games were Musical Chairs; As you Were; Bumpety, Bump, Bump; Buzz; Toss the Bean Bag; Bird, Fish, Animal; I’m Going on a Trip; Upset the Fruit Basket; Winkum; I spy or Hide the Thimble; Who, Where, What; Spin the Bottle; I’m Going on Vacation; Hangman; Twenty Questions; Guess How Many; Poor Pussycat; and Simon Says.

     Games for the outside were Prison’s Base, Squirrel in the Tree; Drop the Handkerchief; Dodge Ball; Flying Dutchman; Red Light, Green Light; Hide and Seek; Jump Rope; Blackman; Red Rover; Three Deep; Last Couple Out; and Grey Wolf. A favorite if there was a woodshed or coalhouse separate from the schoolhouse was Andy Over. It could be played over the schoolhouse if it was not too tall a building, but the windows sometimes got broken. We yelled “pigtail” if the ball didn’t go over the roof.

     Races were fun to have, but a few arguments sometimes occurred. There were three-legged races, potato sack races, statue races, wheelbarrow races, one-legged hop races, partner races, and an apple race.

     In the winter, it was time to have snowball fights, build a snow fort, slide down the hills on a sled and play Fox and Geese.

     The recesses were never long enough, but there was usually plenty to do. It was a good experience for the pupils to play together when there was such an age difference. The teachers usually enjoyed joining some of the games.