AI colorized/enhanced Forum photo of 1956 Mrs. Ruth Hooper, 3rd grade, Eugene Field Elementary School “class flight.” The AI may have some misspelled names on the cardboard controls (which were too dark on the original May 12, 1956 issue of the Forum) Caption says: THESE THIRD- GRADERS ARE “ALOFT** in their home-made airliner constructed of cardboard, and furnished with earphones and “instruments” and “steering columns” provided by the pupils in Mrs. Ruth Hooper’s third grade at Eugene Field. This picture shows Larry Moore as the pilot on the right side of the liner and Billy Baker as the pilot on the left side; passengers are, Angela Swanson and John Price, and the “stewardess” standing in her compartment is Ann Volker. Michael White and Mrs. Hooper are looking on. Facebook Discussion. Below is the source image:
- “Ruth Hooper’s third graders say they’re flying — mostly in a straight line toward the paper airplane crash site by the radiator.”
- “In 1956, flying lessons in Mrs. Hooper’s class came with chalk dust and a permission slip signed by your mother.”
- “They’re practicing takeoff — right after recess and before milk and a lesson on cursive.”
- “If you ask why they’re soaring, they’ll tell you it’s for science — and for avoiding the homework monster under their desks.”
- “Their pre-flight checklist: paper hat, crayon wings, and a solemn promise not to hit the globe.”
- “Ruth Hooper calls roll, and someone shouts ‘Mayday!’ — it’s just Tommy stuck in the coat rack again.”
- “They claim they can reach the moon — but only as far as the top shelf of the bookshelf with the Encyclopedia Britannica.”
- “Safety announcement: No actual flying during spelling tests. We don’t need aerial misspellings.”
- “Principal stopped by and asked what they were doing; they showed him a paper plane and called it modern aerodynamics.”
- “They learned gravity today — mostly when Sally forgot her wings at nap time.”
- “Field trip idea: fly to the cafeteria. Destination: mystery meat and altitude excitement.”
- “Ruth Hooper gave a gold star to every pilot who landed on the rug without crashing the globe.”