History File: The School Bell

Many students think the school bell has always sounded the same. However, the old records at Haruno School tell a different story.

In 1978, the bell was very loud. It did not simply announce the next class. It attacked the hallway. Teachers said it was useful. Students said it removed their souls for three seconds.

One day, the music teacher, Ms. Arai, suggested a softer sound. She brought a small keyboard to the staff room and played five choices. The first sounded like a doorbell. The second sounded like a sad microwave. The third made the principal stand up and say, "Absolutely not."

The fourth sound was gentle and clear. Everyone liked it except the P.E. teacher, who said it was not powerful enough for rainy Mondays.

The fifth sound was chosen by accident. A student dropped a lunch tray while Ms. Arai played the keyboard. The soft bell and the tray made a strange but pleasant harmony.

The school did not keep the tray sound. Still, Ms. Arai used the rhythm of that accident when she wrote the final bell.

That is why Haruno School's bell sounds calm but slightly surprised. It is not just a bell. It is a tiny piece of history with lunch in its heart.