By: Dr. Yvonne Simmons Howze

Palencia Resident

Word Count: 562

I went to Mumford’s Kindergarten. In fact, all of the young children in our neighborhood went there. It was a fascinating place, and we learned a LOT every day.

Ms. Mumford was our teacher. She was a tall, light-skinned woman who wore her wavy hair in a bun. She was slim and wore dresses every day. She smelled like lemons. Later in my life, I realized she was actually wearing Chantilly perfume.

Ms. Mumford had a daily routine, and we all embraced it with a smile. When you walked through the school’s door, she greeted you with “Good morning!”, and called you by your name. You were expected to greet her back with, “Good morning, Miss Mumford!”. We called her Miss, even though she was married.

We learned our colors and how to use them to create masterpieces that our parents LOVED to our faces, but rolled their eyes and chuckled about behind our backs. My masterpieces never ranked high enough for display on the refrigerator.

We were taught reading, spelling, arithmetic, about the State bird and flower, along with a host of other trivial information we were expected to memorize. Our day consisted of lining up in a single file, working in groups, singing off-key, and horror of all horrors, laughing at how backwards our friends were. Oh, I enjoyed Mumford’s immensely.

Except, I never got to go to recess because I refused to eat my vegetables. Each day, we were required to line up at the door for recess, but in order to go outside you had to pass her anemia inspection. You had to hold out your hand, Miss Mumford looked at your palm, and if it was bright pink, you could go outside. Mine was always pale pink, so I never got to go out.

Miss Mumford was a stickler for nutrition, and vegetables were at the top of her list for her little chickadees. Squash (yuck), spinach (yuck), and cauliflower (double yuck). I refused to eat them. No amount of cajoling, fussing or threatening could make me eat them, so she just made me stay inside while others went out to play.

Who cared? I lived in Miami, and it was hot and I already had a suntan. Besides, while everyone else was outside, I was learning grown up stuff like how to talk trash about everybody, how to put on lipstick without getting it on my teeth, and how to tease my hair so that it wasn’t flat. You know, useful street lessons.

Since I was assigned chores during recess time, I learned many other useful skills that helped me develop as a leader, such as how to clean a blackboard without getting a trace of chalk on me to remain tidy regardless of the circumstances. I learned how not to interject my “two cents” when no one was talking to me, and to listen quietly while someone else was talking. I learned how to organize my space, how to clean up after myself and others, how to smile politely, how to ask for help, how to say thank you when others did things for me.

In other words, everything I needed to know, I learned in kindergarten, starting with the now proven health fact that vegetables are good for you. I have yet to eat squash or cauliflower, but I have grown to like spinach. I do still clean up after myself and others, I listen instead of talking when someone else is, I try to be polite, ask for help which is not easy for me to do, and I always say thank you, not just thanks! Kindergarten was where I started my leadership journey, and I am still on it!