Former students, teachers to share memories on elementary school

Clarice Thompson, a student at Bailey Elementary School in 1936, said one of her fondest memories of the school was around Christmas time when all the students would gather in the basement to sing carols.

“It was exciting because the music teacher would have us sing carols and we thought we sounded great because it was echoing off the walls,” said Thompson, who attended the East Lansing school from age four until sixth grade in the years 1936 to 1942.

The East Lansing Historical Society will host a discussion panel on Bailey Elementary School, 300 Bailey St., at 4 p.m. on May 18 for people like Thompson who have a history with the school.

The panel will consist of 11 people who have a history with the school, including East Lansing High School principal Paula Steele and East Lansing School District Superintendent David Chapin, both former students.

Beverly Baten, an event organizer, said she will facilitate the discussion along with East Lansing police Chief Tom Wibert.

She will ask the panel four to five questions about their experiences and memories of the school, she said.

“The story of the school is those who lived it and those are the teachers and students,” Baten said.

The panel is being used as an opportunity to talk about the historical site, which is still standing and in use, she said. The former school is now known as Bailey Community Center.

Wibert has been a member of the East Lansing Historical Society since 2001 and will attend the panel and work on a video of the program.

“It should be interesting to hear people speak that were students,” he said. “They should have several different perspectives on (Bailey Elementary School) and how it was an integral part of the Bailey neighborhood.”

After living away from East Lansing for 45 years, Thompson moved back to the place where she began her schooling.

“I knew this was a great place to live,” she said.

Published on Wednesday, May 14, 2008