The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

STONE SCHOOL

THIS IS A GAME PLAYED BY SMALL CHILDREN. ONE
PERSON IS CALLED THE TEACHER AND THE OTHERS ARE THE
PUPILS. THE SIDEWALK IS THE SCHOOL AND EACH BLOCK
IS A DIFFERENT GRADE. THE PUPILS ALL START FROM THE
FIRST CEMENT BLOCK. THE TEACHER TAKES A SMALL
STONE AND HOLDS IT BEHIND HER BACK. THEN CONCEALS THE
STONE BY CLENCHING IT IN EITHER OF HIS FISTS. HE
THEN PUTS BOTH FISTS IN FRONT OF HIM AND ONE PUPIL
GUESSES WHICH FIST HOLDS THE STONE. IF HE IS RIGHT
HE GRADUATES TO THE NEXT CEMENT BLOCK; IF HE IS
WRONG, HE FLUNKS AND STAYS WHERE HE IS. EACH PUPIL
GETS A TURN TO GUESS AND THERE ARE USUALLY ABOUT
TEN TO FIFTEEN CEMENT BLOCKS TO PASS.

Submitter comment: I PLAYED THIS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WHEN VERY SMALL.

Where learned: OHIO ; CANTON

Date learned: 11-30-1967