[April 28, 2024] You never know when a piece of good news comes along and prevents an embarrassing moment. As a kid, I was chronically unprepared for school, and when the school principal, Mr. Montgomery, came into our First-grade classroom, we were told to sit still and not talk. That was okay with me because, at that moment, I was next up to read from the childhood reader, “See Dick Run,” and I was not ready. Maybe it was a truly lucky day after all.
That school year was a rollercoaster of making new friends and the task of learning “readin-writin-rithmetic” plus being graded on something called “deportment,” whatever that was. As I recall, it was akin to good manners; in my Mom’s words, it was “stay out of trouble.” Keep your mouth shut was a workable theory but it was too often difficult because boys will be boys, always getting into hot water. One of the greatest things about my Mom was that she was unfazed by my many excuses for not wanting to go to school and being unprepared. Homework? What homework?
The reading part of the classroom I didn’t like so much either – it was hard – nor did my best friend and next-door neighbor Wilson like it either. We’d known each other since we were babes in our mother’s arms. Come to think of it, us boys all had other things on their minds, like playing baseball, not girls. Girls had cooties, a mysterious – perhaps mythological – disease that boys could catch by touching them. Ack, run away!
The first book we learned to read was “Dick and Jane: Go, Go, Go.” I had to look up the book title because I avoided reading books then, and remembering book names was impossible. My memory of First Grade was that it interfered with fishing and running about in the woods, swimming in the local bayou, playing outdoor games with my buddies, hunting with my BB gun, and doing nothing at all. I distinctly remember reading these Dick and Jane books. The sentences were three or four words long. So easy, yet soooo dull. The hand-drawn pictures looked like they were taken from a Sears catalog.
And there was a dog named Spot, a little sister Sally, and a baby without a name. There was zero excitement in these books. You can read “See Dick Run” only so many times before you go crazy. Don’t get me wrong; elsewhere, there were some entertaining activities and plenty of learning opportunities in the classroom.
I learned how to Square Dance and to “do-si-do,” mix Plaster-of-Paris, plant radishes in the dirt, learn how to say the word “umbrella” correctly, team up with the strongest boys during recess to win all the games, paint popsicle stick figures after gluing them together with Elmer’s glue, and really important not to make the teacher run out of the classroom crying. It was enjoyable, more often than not.
These “See Dick Run” books have not been used in regular classrooms since the 1960s. However, I did learn that the older books are still helpful to students “with intellectual challenges.” Who would have guessed? We were not the brightest class of kids, but our school teachers, all middle-aged women, knew how to inspire us to be better kids. To my knowledge, none of those in my class ever went to prison or a mental institution. That sure is saying something good about our teachers.
There are a few paths to a good life; one of them is reading. It took me many years to come to that realization, and then I had to make up for all that lost time spent not reading. As a measure of repentance, I recently ordered the original First Grade reader “Dick and Jane.” Opening the package and holding the book in my hands was like being instantly transported back in time. There I was, now standing before my teacher and the school principal to read from this book.
See Dick Run. See Spot run. Run, run, run.
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NOTE: See all my letters here: https://www.theleadermaker.com/granddaughter-letters/
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Please read my books:
I’m new to this blog but the more I read these letters, the better I like it here.
Welcome to Gen.Satterfield’s blog, Funny Man and I hope you enjoy your time with us. These letters are a look into the man when he was a boy and what influenced him and what helped make him a successful man. Sometimes you will find others like Mr. Eddie Gilliam who is very similar to Gen. S., and makes some great comments too. Or JT Patterson or Yusaf from Texas, there are many who know the struggle to succeed and are willing to tell us what they think makes for a good person.
Another great letter, Gen. Satterfield.
General Satterfield is making miracles with his letters. Bless you sir for your wonderful words.
Thank you, Abul Fadl for your kind words.
Sir, your long series on Letters to My Granddaughter is truly lovely. I hope that you use these letters to share your childhood – that made a big difference in your future successes – with others. Doing so, allows other people to read about those things that made you who you are and very successful at that. Most people just go thru life wondering “what if.” Now, if they only got the idea that they can actually figure out what they are lacking, like you figuring out that you lacked reading skills, then they could turn their life around quickly. Learning to read is the key to a good life. I know it is much more complex but that is what you are telling us and what I also deeply beleive.
Nailed it, Good Dog. 🐶
Love this letter, thanks, Gen. S.
The U.S. Army requires extensive reading on the part of their officers. It is a good thing that the boy that grew up to be Gen. Satterfield figured out that reading was key to his successful future. I know too many civilians who reject the idea of reading books. You would be absolutely shocked how many refuse to read. They think that reading is only for brainiacs/elites/experts/scientists. How wrong are they!?
Nothing like coming on Gen. Satterfield’s website to be surprised by another letter to his granddaughter. Love it.
Even if these readers are not used much today, Gen. S., as a little boy learned his lesson:
“There are a few paths to a good life; one of them is reading. It took me many years to come to that realization, and then I had to make up for all that lost time spent not reading. As a measure of repentance, I recently ordered the original First Grade reader “Dick and Jane.” Opening the package and holding the book in my hands was like being instantly transported back in time. There I was, now standing before my teacher and the school principal to read from this book.” – Gen. Doug Satterfield.
Got that right Jerome. Gen. Satterfield did learn his lesson. READ READ READ.
LOVELY LETTER. Thank you, Gen. Satterfield.
Great letter, makes me think back to my childhood years in grade school. They actually graded students on their behavior in class, unlike today where teachers put up with disrespect to themselves, others, and most problematic teachers celebrate kids who disrespect America. Our culture is falling apart because our school system has failed. They now also teach and celebrate anti-Semitism and anti-Americanism. Home school your kids.
A typical first primer contained about 80 words. Zerna Sharp (original author) believed that children became overwhelmed by too many new words, so one new word was added only every third page. There was a lot of repetition, and a typical page might read: ”See Dick run. Run Dick run.” Gotta give Gen. Satterfield credit for remembering this. ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
There were more advanced levels of Dick and Jane books written to be used through Grade 9, but the early books were the more popular. By the 1950s, it is said that almost 80 percent of primary grade classrooms used Dick and Jane. Gen. Satterfield, any idea how long you used these “Dick and Jane” readers?
Probably the entire grade school, as these books were in use the entire 50s and most of the 60s.
good book good boy
I ran across this article that many of us might like to read.
“Dick and Jane: Story of These Early Readers”
https://americacomesalive.com/dick-and-jane-story-of-these-early-readers/
Dick and Jane Content
The stories featured a very limited vocabulary with clear illustrations demonstrating whatever the page was about. For example, if the word to be emphasized was “up,” the story might involve Dick launching a toy airplane into the air with Jane and Sally talking about it. “See it go up. Up up it goes.” Dick and Jane. In the very earliest books (the Elson-Gray readers) the characters were not yet fully identified. Siblings Dick and Jane had a sister, called Baby. Baby, of course, eventually becomes Sally. Their cat, Little Mew, eventually became Puff. The dog in the stories was a terrier. Later, the dog acquired a name, Spot, and became a cocker spaniel. Tim was the well-loved Teddy bear. And of course, Mother, Father, and Grandmother, and Grandfather all appeared in some of the stories.
Very interesting here. Thanks Max. I never heard of these “readers” until today. It is interesting also to learn how the idea of learning to read changed over time. Looks like Gen. Satterfield had a hard time too.
You learned how to square dance? AMAZING. 🕺
Gen. Satterfield, just a quick note to say thank you for this letter and all of them. I had no idea when I started reading these letters that they would take on such flavor, dynamism, loveliness, and wonder. Your letters are far reaching, and like others have written, they take me back in time. Your granddaughter should be loving these letters and I wish all the best for her and all your grandchildren. They are our future, all the better that they learn about us, for many good reasons. Thanks. Oh got your books, “55 Rules for a Good Life,” and love it too.
Gen. Satterfield is DA MAN.
💌💌💌💌💌
Love letters to Gen. Satterfield’s granddaughter. Wonderful.
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Lovely. These letters have been a godsend to me. I’ve been crippled up with disease now for many years and cannot get out of my house without assistance. Your letters to your young and vibrant granddaughter make me relive my youth and want to shout to the rooftops that there is a wonderful life, if only you are willing to live it. I lived my life well and have few regrets. Keep these letters coming our way, Gen. Doug Satterfield, bless you! 😍
I do hope you get better Veronica, I didn’t know that you had this problem. I too love these letters and maybe they are just a simple throwback to earlier and simpler times. That may be true but I love them anyway. Gen. Satterfield has made my day.
Touché.
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Yes, indeed, do better Veronica.
God Bless you! 🙏
Great to hear from you again, Qassim. Best of good for you and your family.
Sir, you have done it again. I’m particularly happy about this “letter” because it reminds me of my childhood, reading in the classroom with those old Dick and Jane books. Well done, Gen. Satterfield. Thank you Thank you Thank you.