Is It True About Everyone Unicycling at St. Helen's School?

[system]

Hi Folks,
I’m updating www.odd-info.com and am wondering if the following
item is true. Please let me know.
Thanks,

• Jeff

At St. Helen’s School in Newbury, Ohio, unicycling is a mandatory
subject. The students are allowed to ride their unicycles in the halls
between classes. Collisions are surprisingly few.

[Goats_On_Unicycles]

I’m not sure… I think I heard something about that a long time ago but I’m not sure.
btw, Isn’t that were Rod Serling went to school?

[dunawan]

Hm, I think im going to transfer schools. =p

[skrobo]

Saint Helen's

John Foss wrote: >In the late 60’s or early 70’s they visited St. Helens school in Newberry, >Ohio. This was the school where everybody rode a unicycle as part of the >P.E. program. I grew up (and still live) about 15 miles away from Newbury and I have vivid memories of the St. Helen’s Unicycle Drill Team appearing every year in the parade at my town’s annual festival back in the '60’s. For me, it was always the highlight of the parade. I still remember how amazed I was to watch those kid…

perhaps they are still allowed to ride in the hallways

FROM 1999

@Rick Bissell

John Foss wrote:
>In the late 60’s or early 70’s they visited St. Helens school in Newberry,
>Ohio. This was the school where everybody rode a unicycle as part of the
>P.E. program.

I grew up (and still live) about 15 miles away from Newbury and I have vivid
memories of the St. Helen’s Unicycle Drill Team appearing every year in the
parade at my town’s annual festival back in the '60’s. For me, it was always the
highlight of the parade. I still remember how amazed I was to watch those kids
up on 6 and 8 ft giraffes tossing a football back and forth and weaving back and
forth between each other. And the stories of students being allowed to ride
unicycles in the halls of the school…well you can imagine how that sounded to
a 10 yr. old kid like me! Took me 30 years, but I finally achieved my dream of
learning to ride.

St. Helen School is still around, and as you enter the township of Newbury on
Kinsman Road you will see a sign proclaiming the home of the famous St. Helen
Unicycle Drill Team. But I am sad to say that the school dropped unicycling and
the drill team about 5 years ago because of the difficulty in finding a coach.

~ Rick Bissell

[johnfoss]

@javawizard

At St. Helen’s School in Newbury, Ohio, unicycling is a mandatory subject. The students are allowed to ride their unicycles in the halls
between classes. Collisions are surprisingly few.

I think the text you’re updating is from the early 70’s or before. At that time, this is how the school looked, but I don’t think unicycling was ever mandatory. It just became ultra-popular, was allowed and encouraged. It all started with Father James Moran buying a used unicycle for the school’s P.E. program. Things started slowly, but for some reason they exploded and virtually every kid at the school was riding, at least for a few years. Father Moran was one of the founding members of the Unicycling Society of America.

Not sure what the situation is at the school these days. I doubt unicycling has been allowed in the halls for many years, due to insurance.

[thejdw]

@dunawan

Hm, I think im going to transfer schools. =p

thats a good idea, I may follow

[STHELENLJE12]

Back in the day when I went to St. Helens we did ride to class & we had spills too. Father moran made everyone learn to ride, however joining the team was your choice. I beleave this made a stronger people ready for what life gave you.

[scottwojo]

My 3 girls just learned to ride in just 2-3 months. My youngest (6) was very determined. This will be their 2nd year at St. Helens.

About a year ago the old team decided to have a reunion. After that they decided to start the team up again using old members as coaches and new kids as the disciples. They now have a very large group and are very sought after for the parades. Many trophies have already been won in a very short time period.

Do I ride? are you nuts?

[scottwojo]

Here is a page from the group.

Facebook-ryhmät

[ldlux]

@scottwojo

Do I ride? are you nuts?

Of course we are. Most of us ride unicycles, after all. I assume from your questions that you are not and do not.

[unigami]

I live about 6 miles away from St. Helen’s and people that see me riding ask me all the time if I went to school there…wish I had! I probably wouldn’t be riding today if I hadn’t so impressed by seeing them in our local parades back in the late 60’s/early 70’s. I’m so glad that they’ve brought it back to the school.

[SDHeckler]

St Helens

I attended St Helens in the 4th & 5th grade. We rode in Jimmy Carter’s inauguration parade so that gives you a hint at my age. We WERE NOT required to ride unicycles or take classes. You were free to choose to ride or not. We DID ride in the halls and I don’t recall any accidents.

We rode uni’s in gym class quite a bit in order to get better…