Remembering "My Little Enemy"

Young Carl Schorske arrived at Edgewood Elementary School, shortly after it opened its doors on January 6, 1919. He was enrolled in kindergarten, but didn't last there long. He got in trouble with his teacher, who marched him to the office of Principal Mary Piedalue.

As Professor Carl Schorske recalled, during his visit to Edgewood in 2007, his kindergarten teacher was offended when he sang a German song, about a German soldier. After all, World War I had just ended. So she turned him in to Miss Piedalue and declared him "My little enemy."

Miss Piedalue, evaluated the situation and understood what needed to be done. She took Young Carl to Mrs. Beyer's first grade classroom and introduced him as her new student. He had been promoted.

Carl Schorske would go on to teach history at Princeton University and earn a Pulitzer for his book Fin de Siecle Vienna: Politics and Culture. He was also among the first winners of a MacArthur Fellowship, the so-called Genius Award.  Professor Schorske died in 2015. To watch the complete video of his visit to Edgewood School in 2007, click here.

Carl Schorske recalls his sudden
promotion to first grade.

Carl Schorske sings the German

song that earned him the promotion.