Wartime shortages

Walter & Lenita Sehnert, 25th Anniversary of Bakery in Plainview.

During World War II there were shortages of just about everything. There was rationing of sugar, gasoline, fats (butter, lard, etc.), which we usually think of, but there were shortages beyond that. Automobiles and farm machinery that were in use when the war began were made to last until the war was done. Some were in pretty bad shape by that time, held together with bailing wire and hope. The seed companies were short of seeds and plants. Clothing manufacturers, citing a shortage of materials caused a change in women's fashions, and the new, shorter skirts were credited with saving at least four inches of material in a lady's dress.

Periodically there were scrap drives for discarded automobiles and farm machinery, cleaning out many a farmer's grove of junk cars -- the metal to be recycled into the making of tanks and planes for the military. Girl scouts went into the marshlands to glean the cotton in pussy willows, to be made into parachutes.

There was also a shortage of manpower (and woman power), which affected the way of life in a myriad of ways in the US. Millions of America's young men were drafted into the service of their country. Millions more workers answered the call to fill vital positions in war industries (and accept much higher pay) in California, Washington, and Detroit, making tanks, aircraft, ships and the like.

During the war at my dad's bakery in Plainview, it was a constant battle to keep a crew together to keep the bakery functioning. I cringed at the long hours Dad put in at the bakery and the sad look in his eyes when they would call the house to report that someone had failed to show up and Dad would have to return to the bakery -- just when he had gotten to sleep. During those years there were a great number of fellows who came through the bakery, teenagers, old timers, and all too often, alcoholics and social misfits.

The bakery was not the only business, of course, that suffered from a lack of competent help. I'm sure that all businesses went through similar problems as the result of the war. I know that for two years of my high school we went to school on Saturdays, so that we could get out of school earlier and the farm boys would be free to work on the farm, and because new autos could not be had, there was a pent up demand for skilled mechanics, and the list goes on. But today I'd like to focus on the war caused shortage of manpower (woman power) in the schools.

My folks were friends of the Superintendent of Schools and his wife at Osmond, just 10 miles east of Plainview. We used to hear of his troubles keeping a teaching staff at Osmond, and he would teasingly suggest that Mom should come join his staff at Osmond. Mom had been out of teaching for years, and just laughed at his suggestion. Finally, the Superintendent was desperate. The English/Latin teacher he had was old -- and deaf. Her students were "high spirited," and her husband had decided that she should retire -- and school was just one week off. Could Mom just fill in for a week or so -- just till he could find someone? She relented, and said that she would come -- just for a week or so. She ended up staying four years.

Those "high spirited" young scholars turned out to be "hellions." Later the former teacher's husband related to Mom that they had driven his wife to distraction, almost to the point of a breakdown. Discipline in the classroom was nil, and it seemed that the kids were determined to drive another "old" teacher out of the system. But Mom was stubborn, and was determined that they would not force her to resign. After a few encounters -- some involving a crack on the knuckles with a ruler, the kids settled down and a cordial relationship between students and teacher began, resulting in a very positive learning experience all around.

One of Mom's duties at Osmond High was to be the sponsor of the Freshman Class. That turned out to be a very pleasant duty, and when the end of the year came a delegation from that class came to Mom, begging her to come back to be their class sponsor the next year -- then the next, and the next, throughout their four years of high school. She loved that class, and over the years came to regard many of them almost like family. Years later, pondering yet another invitation to the wedding of one of her students, Mom remarked, "I loved those four years. They were great kids, but I fear that I've given back most of my salary in the form of wedding gifts."

The years of World War II constituted my entire high school career. At Plainview the school was hit with teacher shortage problems, not unlike Osmond's. Mrs. M was called in to teach English and Latin. She had been a good teacher, and still knew her Latin. But she was old -- rumor was that, as a girl, she had dated Julius Caesar.

During this time the position of vocal teacher, for the grades and high school, came open, and for a while it appeared that the vocal program might have to be dropped. Miss C. applied for the job. She was a crippled lady, and of course the school was not handicapped accessible. She felt that she might be able to negotiate the steps with crutches, but she did not have a place to live. The Superintendent contacted a widow woman who lived cross the street from the school. That lady had never rented out a room, but she agreed to accept Miss C., who was thus able to handle her teaching job at the Plainview Schools for several successful years.

Mabel & B.E. had been in the PHS school system for decades, she as an out-spoken English/Drama teacher, B.E. as a soft-spoken Science/Manual Arts/Woodworking teacher. They were a childless couple -- both were active in community affairs, in the Boy & Girl Scouts, their church and Chamber of Commerce. When the war came along they both assumed additional school duties. Mabel took over the Principal's duties along with her teaching load. B.E. became Superintendent when Mr. W. moved on, as well as head basketball coach, and assistant coach of the other sports---all the time keeping up his full schedule of teaching duties.

Don B. was wounded in the South Pacific, discharged, and came back from the war early. He took over a leaderless football team, caused by the drafting of the former football coach. Don had played some football, but had never coached. At the drug store magazine section he picked up a football magazine that featured "Six Foolproof Football Plays that Really Work." That was our playbook. Surprisingly, we had pretty good seasons under Coach B. -- apparently the other small schools that we played were in similar difficulties.

Miss H. was called out of retirement to teach typing, secretarial training, and business courses. Miss H. was not only old, but she also suffered with some sort of sleep apnea. She was known for "dropping off" while delivering a teaching point. I'm sure that is why she always sat at her desk while teaching, rather than standing before the class. After a short nap she seemed refreshed. When she was functioning she was a good teacher and the girls in her secretarial courses were very positive in their assessment of her. Yet, there was that one small problem.

One time I was in her typing class. She presented us with a timed, one-minute typing test, which was to be a part of our final grade. She started us out, and promptly fell asleep. With no one to call us to a stop, we just kept typing. I dare say that in the entire history of Plainview High no class has ever achieved such high scores on a "One-Minute" typing test.

Tom Brokaw nominated that as "The Grand Generation." He was referring to our Armed Forces, for good reason. Those men stepped forward to save the world from tyranny. But I like to think of that entire generation of Americans -- military and civilians alike, who sacrificed, made do, and worked to keep our American Way of Life in tact, no matter how long it took.