By Wally WachterRetired Herald Managing Editor
SCHOOL ENROLLMENT in the United States, which had been dipping gradually in the last several decades, suddenly is on the rise again. Administrators had foreseen the influx from the baby boomer era and made adjustments to handle it.
But the prospects of overcrowded school conditions should never again reach the proportions that our generation endured during our school days.
We lived in an era of large families. Our new era of two working parents, effective contraceptive methods, and even abortions, has stunted the nation's population growth.
Today, families of five or more offspring are the exception rather than the rule. The average is two or three. And many marriages remain childless.
Back then, most mothers spent most of their child-bearing years between pregnancies and nursing their infant offspring. This was in addition to tending to all the household chores. This included cleaning, washing and ironing clothes and keeping nutritious meals on the table.
All of this was during lean years when earnings were low, work in the factories was on an up-and-down basis and depression-like conditions constantly prevailed.
It was in this period that the term ``cheaper by the dozen'' was applied to family life. In many ways, this proved to be true.
Shoes and clothing were handed down from one sibling who outgrew them to the one of the same gender next in line. Little regard was paid to changing styles in those days. Often the same wardrobe clothed three or four ensuing brothers or sisters.
There was never a need for hiring baby sitters, although there were very few occasions to do so. There was always someone older to give mothers a break by attending to the younger children.
In ethnic neighborhoods, it was common for families to have series of children of the same age groups who would associate with each other. As they paired up, they became close friends for life. They went to school together and played together after school.
Many childhood romances blossomed into marriages from these friendships.
In school, classes were made up of these friends from the same neighborhoods. Teachers often prejudged their new students on the abilities, shortcomings or attitudes of older brothers or sisters they had taught in previous years. They identified them by the clothing they recognized from former students.
I recall an elementary principal remarking that 42 new pupils from a single one-block area of town were enrolled in the school's three first-grade classes.
Back in the days of ancient Rome, Cornelia, a matron and daughter of a Roman magistrate, was questioned about her lack of jewelry that other women in the same social position displayed ostentatiously.
``These are my pearls,'' she replied, referring to the 12 children she had raised alone after being left a widow.
This was much the same attitude that prevailed through the generations until changing lifestyles put new burdens and responsibilities on women.
The reunions of large families at holiday times were special celebrations, with scores of grandchildren helping to crown the small homes.
Family gatherings are smaller today. But whether there are many children or few, they are still valuable ``pearls.''