B207. Boonville School, 8th Grade, 1975-1976

 

Our eighth grade year, we were divided into two classes. Each class moved around from classroom to classroom but stayed together as one group. One group spent the first three hours in Mr. Hugh Hampton's class for Language Arts and Social Studies, then spent one hour each with Mrs. Shirley Robbins (Math), Mr. Ricky Hicks (Science), and Mrs. Cathy Wagoner (Health and Physical Education). Mrs. Wagoner started midyear, replacing Mr. Lester Holcomb. The other group started the day in the one-hour classes, then spent the final three hours with Mr. Hampton. Logistically, Mr. Hampton was the only fully eighth grade teacher, with the other three teachers also teaching seventh grade blocks.

On Tuesdays (for probably 30 minutes to an hour), the eighth graders were treated to an extracurricular chorus time. Mr. J.P. Vanhoy, from Starmount High School, would come and lead us in singing songs like "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?" and several Beatles tunes.

Mrs. P. Hayes was the softball coach and Mr. Hicks led our intramural volleyball league. Mrs. Wagoner coached the boys' baseball team and was our summer league girls' softball coach, assisted by Miss Donna Norman.

We took several field trips that year, led by Mr. Hampton. We went to Starmount High School to tour what would soon be our school. We went to Durham/Raleigh, where we visited Duke Chapel, the Capitol and Legislature buildings, museums, etc. and lunched at K&W. We went to Winston-Salem on what turned out to be a rainy day, to see a gem show and Bethabara (Moravian) Park, and ate at McDonald's. On another trip to Winston-Salem, we saw "Gone with the Wind," eating again at McDonald's. And we took a bus tour around Yadkin County, visiting 14 sites, after which we would have a test on which we would write what we had learned about each site. 

Each of the 8th grade groups had regular eighth grade business meetings (maybe in the final minutes of Mr. Hampton's class time). I kept the following minutes for my group. Mr. Roger Nixon was our principal, and Mrs. Joyce Whitesell was our substitute teacher while Mr. Hampton was out.

8/27/1975

The '75-'76 officers for Mr. Hampton's 8th grade class were elected. They are as follows: President Kenny Crissman, Vice President Luanne Prim, Secretary Kathy Vestal, Treasurer Lisa Whitesell, Sergeant of Arms Edwin Stinson.

9/8/1975

Vice President Luanne Prim called the meeting to order by asking how much money to use as dues. Larry Longworth made the motion that it be 10c. David Pardue seconded it. Ricky Parks started discussion on that being not enough. The vote was for 10c. It was carried 16-6. The discussion was open as to where we wanted to go this year. We discussed our conduct.

Luanne Prim, Vice President

Kathy Vestal, Secretary

9/9/1975

President Kenny Crissman called the meeting to order. The discussion was about when to bring our dues. We dicided to do so on Mondays. Sergeant of  Arms, Edwin Stinson, took charge as we discussed money and conduct. Edwin made the motion that nobody with U's can go on our trips. There were several seconds, and the vote was unanimous.

Kenny Crissman, President

Kathy Vestal, Secretary

Approved 10/13/1975

Note: U's, meaning Unsatisfactory, referred to report card grades in "Social Skills - Work Habits" (meaning behavior). That item was graded with S or U, while the other categories (science, social studies, etc) were graded with A, B, C, etc.

10/13/1975

President Kenny Crissman called the meeting to order. He asked if anyone had any suggestions about a Halloween party. We discussed what to do about Mr. Holcomb's leaving. Mr. Hampton said to be sure to wish him well instead of asking why he's leaving, etc. Nancy Owen mentioned a trophy or a plaque, but it would be too expensive. Edwin Stinson mentioned an engraved stopwatch. Ricky Parks mentioned autographed pens. Edwin Stinson started a discussion on dues. He said we should raise our money. After discussing the money for our gift to Mr. Holcomb, we decided on 25c or more per person. Kenny Crissman appointed Marty Cass as the chairman of this committee. We went back to the discussion on class dues. Kenny mentioned 25c per week. The motion was made and seconded. There was no discussion. The vote was unanimous. 

Mr. Hampton brought up our trip to Raleigh on November 11. We talked about which busses to take, Greyhound or Activity. We talked about our meals. The meeting was adjourned.

Kenny Crissman, President

Kathy Vestal, Secretary

Approved 12/2/1975

12/2/1975

Kenny Crissman called the meeting to order. We talked about what to buy for Mr. Hampton since he is in the hospital. Luanne Prim said flowers. The motion was made and seconded. The vote was carried. The discussion was started on the lowering of dues. 10c was decided on. Kenny brought up the subject of Mr. Hampton's Christmas gift. Lisa Whitesell said we had over $5.00 taken for it already. Lisa Whitesell and Luanne Prim are in charge of buying his tape and cologne which we decided on. The idea was brought up that Mr. Hampton  may be allergic to cologne, so Mrs. Whitesell mentioned that we might get a tie. The motion was carried. Secretary Kathy Vestal gave the minutes of the last meeting. The meeting was adjourned.

Kenny Crissman, President

Kathy Vestal, Secretary

12/9/1975

Kenny Crissman called the meeting to order.Marty Cass said he didn't think the ninth graders should be allowed to come to our dance. Luanne Prim and Kathy Vestal agreed. Mrs. Whitesell said we should get together with the other eighth grade to discuss. Nobody in our class wanted 9th or 7th graders. We had a vote as to whether we can invite people or not. The vote was carried that we have only the eighth grade. The subject was brought up that we might have it in the Methodist Hut since there'd be no heat at school. We had a long discussion on refreshments. Mrs. Whitesell said the other class decided we had to dress up. Kenny said it didn't matter what they said. There was no further attention. The meeting was adjourned.

Kenny Crissman, President

Kathy Vestal, Secretary

12/10/1975

The combined eighth grade classes met in Mrs. Wagoner's class. Mrs. Wagoner called the meeting to order and turned it over to Mr. Nixon. He talked about the heat and the possibility of dancing in the Methodist Hut. Mrs. Wagoner said it probably wouldn't be vacant so close to Christmas. Mr. Nixon said we could invite whoever we wanted to, but we were responsible for whatever they did. We talked about the date. Mr. Nixon said the 20th would be good. We counted 17 people who already knew they were inviting outsiders. We talked about refreshments. We recognized our food committee. Scarlet Vestal mentioned the music. It was mentioned that maybe Charles Thun could loan us his record player. The subject was brought up about what to wear. Mr. Nixon said we might want to dress semi-formal. A record committe was chosen as follows: President Kenny Crissman, Secretary Kathy Vestal, Lucky Willard, Ricky Parks. We talked about chaperones. We discussed the time. The final decision was 7:00-10:00. The meeting was adjourned.

Kenny Crissman, President

Kathy Vestal, Secretary

12/10/1975

Kenny Crissman wanted to change our record committee. He said it was Kenny, Ricky, and Marty. Kenny asked about chaperones. David Pardue said his mother might could be one. We had to change classes.

Kenny Crissman, President

Kathy Vestal, Secretary

1/26/1976

Rules were discussed for the classroom. Dale Bryant made a motion that if someone spent too many minutes on one subject, they have to take that much time off their free time. This motion was voted and carried. Mr. Hampton said we needed to hire a librarian. The amount of pay was discussed. Bradley Moxley made a motion that we pay them 10c a day. That motion was voted and carried. If anyone would like to be a librarian, they are to contact Ricky Parks.

Kenny Crissman, President

Kathy Vestal, Secretary

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B102: A Personal Tribute to Mr. Hugh Hampton, Jr.

B102. A Personal Tribute to Mr. Hugh Hampton Jr.

Hugh Hampton, Jr. (1946 – 2014)

“They may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel.”  This is Hugh Hampton’s legacy, at least to one eighth grade student.  That 1975-76 school year, we eighth graders spent about an hour each with Mrs. Robbins for math, Mr. Hicks for science, and Mrs. Wagoner for health and phys. ed., and the other half of every day was spent in language arts and history with Mr. Hampton.

While my actual memories of the class are few, those I have preserved are special ones that honor Mr. Hampton as a creative outside-the-book teacher and as a teacher who found and encouraged the potential of every student.  I’ve never heard one negative word spoken about Mr. Hampton. He was well loved, and he made his students feel like we had something special to contribute.  The few memories I have protected all these years are obvious reflections of the specialness he made me feel.

First, there was the spelling bee. I always loved spelling bees and often won them in my classes, but somehow, every year, when my class would have the one spelling bee leading to the school competition, I never quite made it.  (I think Valerie Johnson was usually my stiffest competition!)  This year though, in Mr. Hampton’s class, rather than having just one bee to select the class winner, we held several bees, to see who won most often. Finally I was able to represent my class in the school bee, which I went on to win, and then went on to win the county bee, and then competed in the Journal-Sentinel regional bee in Winston-Salem.  When I came back to class after one of those wins (I forget which one), I remember Mr. Hampton telling the class that he knew he had the best speller when I correctly spelled “styptic” in one of the classroom bees.  Well, truthfully, I’m not sure I was a better speller than Valerie, but it was a good run!

I have another memory of Mr. Hampton teaching us about homonyms. Rather than giving us a definition to memorize for a test, he set up a competition with a prize.  I don’t know if it was the prize or just my competitiveness, but my over-achieving self came out, and I won the competition by listing hundreds of homonyms during the 1-2 week time span. I remember him being impressed, or at least making me feel like he was!

My only other memory of actual class time was that we elected 8^th grade officers in his class and held class meetings. I was elected secretary, and my job was to take minutes of our class meetings.  I don’t remember what we talked about in our meetings, and I don’t think the minutes have survived, but we were learning meeting protocol and etiquette and building skills that would later encourage me to run and win as secretary of my high school class all four years.  I remember that I didn’t even really understand what “minutes” were, except that my mom was church secretary and she took the minutes of the church business meetings, so in preparation for my “job,” I read the church minutes, which led me to write very formal 8^th grade minutes; and again, I remember Mr. Hampton being impressed, or at least making me feel like he was.

I do have two other memories of that school year with Mr. Hampton – two field trips on the activity bus, both history related. One day we went to Winston-Salem to see Gone with the Wind. Now, for you young folks, this was in the days before video rentals or DVRs. To see a movie, you had to go the theater, except that old movies might show up once a year on one of the three TV networks, but only at the one specific time – no recording to watch later! After the movie we made a stop at Bethabara Park, one of the Moravian historic sites that would many years later interest me greatly, but at that time I think lunch at McDonald’s was probably my favorite part of the trip. Still for some reason, the memory has stayed.

The other field trip was a Yadkin County history tour. We went to parts of the county I knew nothing about, with interspersed stories that captured 8^th grade minds. Even now when I hear of Huntsville, I am carried back to that trip. I remember going to the Hunt House and learning the stories behind its reputation for being haunted.  I remember seeing the Siloam Bridge, which had collapsed just months before, sending cars plummeting into the fog-covered Yadkin River 30 feet below, leaving fatalities and injuries.

In retrospect I can see that in both these trips Mr. Hampton was sharing his love of history, and I so appreciate the creative ways he shared it . . . 

and how he made his students feel.

Above photo: me, Mr. Hampton, and friend Luanne

Top photo: Mrs. Wagoner, me, and Mr. Hampton at 8th grade graduation, June 4, 1976

Mr. Hampton's obituary here

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