We wound our way thru wooded countryside that sunny morning, just my daughter Laura and I. We had decided to enjoy the day by revisiting the small town of Mecca, the community where I held my first teaching position. They were having a celebration during the annual Parke County Covered Bridge Festival to
re-open the little one room school house that stood next to the lumbering Mecca Covered Bridge which crossed Big Raccoon Creek
.
It had been a special occasion, every autumn, when we teachers would leave the large brick school near the center of town, to come to this little school and teach classes, giving a glimpse to Covered Bridge tourists of how a one room school operated in days gone by. I would adorn my pioneer outfit as all involved did. and when music time came for the respective class who would be holding sessions that day, strap my guitar around my shoulder and come in with many songs the children loved, such as Skip to My Lou, ‘Comin ‘Round the Mountain or Farmer in the Dell.

This was only one of the special occasions allotted to us in our educational environment in the little town of Mecca. In the spring, the pastor of the church just down the block would generously offer his church bus to drive our Children’s Concert Choir to perform at nearby nursing homes, and neighboring schools. Matching sweaters were ordered from money earned selling candy at noon recess, to attire our singers in shades of red that represented our school well. At Christmas, school officials secured intervals on the local radio station to have the choir’s recorded carols sung and sometimes, you might find teachers in the lounge on their noon break putting final stitches on costumes for our Christmas production held each year in the upstairs auditorium.

It was a wonder to behold as community embraced fiercely, not just the music department, but many other departments and activities, that brought them together as one. It was a lesson of acceptance, of promoting one another and being a valued part of community.
How thankful to made aware of this important aspect of living – taught by example.