Arpie: Marble Craze & Other Fads
Arpie (re: They didn't lose their marbles): I think I’ve typed this before, but after thirty years of teaching, I survived my first marbles craze. I’ve made it through 2-3 jump rope crazes, a few hacky sack crazes, a nard nocker craze(Is that what you call those two hard plastic balls on strings that you cracked together?), countless yo-yo fads, and other short lived flings too numerous to mention. My principal was masterful in handling this. She asked anyone on duty to make it perfectly clear that no adults were going to get into any marble hassles. Playground rules ruled. If you think the guy wanting to play you cheats, don’t play with him/her. If you lose your best marble to, bad so sad. The kids became very discerning and street wise. The few big cheaters straightened their acts or moved on to something else. There were no real sharks, but it was fun to see the kids so in to it and starting to look at the beauty of marbles.
Question: Which fads have you survived? Which was your favorite?