Ybor City Tape

Wilson interview

 6

M: And you did mention the platoon system was there even before

 he came there.

W: Yes, it was there before I came.

M: Do you have any idea how it might have started?

W: No, sure don't.

M: Okay.

W: Somebody got, well, I think it started ... and I'm going to be

 honest with you, I think it started with somebody who knew

 something about a platoon system and because we had so many

 kids there .r. at that time we had nearly 1400 in ten

 square blocks. And I think it started because they didn't

 have enough room ... double sessions and the thing they do to-

 day. I think they, I think the platoon school so they could

 take care of a lot more kids. For instance we had the

 auditorium, which we called "auditorium," --we had three

 teachers in there. And they'd teach them English words and

 teach them to sing and teach them music, songs and things of

 that kind in addition to what the regular music teacher had.

 Then we had four phys. ed. teachers and I'd have, in my

 group out there I might have three or four classes out there

 at one time. Then the other man would have three or four classes.

 Then the women on the other side would have the girls

 for three or four classes.

M: So the platoon system was ideal for handling large numbers of

 ... ah.