I was raised in New York City, in the boroughs of Manhattan and the Bronx, actually, all over the place including Brooklyn, long island (pronounced long island by those who live there), and parts of new jersey. It was a time when streets were lined with venders, selling their wares; fresh fish, apples and all kinds of vegetables, flowers, and all other household necessities. It was a time when ice was delivered to apartments such as where I lived for our ‘ice box’. It was a time when, both, the second avenue elevator and the third avenue elevator were still operating. The year was about 1936 when the street venders began to congregate indoors. Someone came up with the term, co-op.
I attended thirteen schools; eleven were elementary grades and one in another country it was a mess. Depending on which school I entered, I was either, advanced a grade or two, or put back a grade or two. In those days, a grade consisted of 1a and 1b, etc. Think about it. If a child does very well, that child may skip from 1a to 2a. On the other hand, if the child does poorly, he may only miss half a grade. This is not a bad idea.