1900-47 County Schools

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1900-47 County Schools

Ina Fuson Combs' Memoirs

Shared by Jean Combs Menry, Class of 1976

Jean Combs Henry is sharing these old photographs in her family's collection. (Ingraham School was in N.E. Clay County.)

Excerts from Teacher Ina Fuson Combs Memoirs

To read the complete memoirs, click here.

EARLY SCHOOLS

There was much social connection with the church and school life over the turn of the century. You need to bear in mind, this was before telephones, automobiles, or hard roads. You’d be surprised the activities that are cooked up in connection with the country school.

In the early days, there were log school houses where only the boys went to school. Finally it was decided that girls needed to learn to read and write.

Women were secondary to men when it came to teaching school. Directors wanted a man teacher who could keep the boys under control. Women drew less salary than men for the same work. A woman teacher was cheaper. A pregnant woman was kept out of sight even as late as 1920.

(Omissions)

THE OLD FASHIONED SCHOOL

The country school was a part of our social life in the early days. The church was indispensable, of course, but the district schools, dotted all over the countryside, at every two mile cross road, was indispensable, too. These were the first educational institutions whereby all boys and girls could learn to read, write, and count.

It was not compulsive in the early days, for children to attend school until they were sixteen. A common school education doesn’t seem like much, but it was all they had, in the early days. Many a grandfather or grandmother never learned to read or write.

Back tracking a bit, on the importance of common school. Let’s just say, if you were lucky enough to have parents who were healthy, wealthy, and wise, you were off to a good start. Most pioneers had no such a grand opportunity.

But we are dwelling on the primary school, for the child who has never known another society outside of his home. He is now six years old and sent to the cross road school to meet and associate with many others of the same caliber. His mother sends him well dressed and clean and the teacher meets him with a smile. She points him to a seat of his size in the school house that will seat from forty to sixty pupils. He is bright eyed, as are all the other boys and girls.

A bell rings, and soon is recognized as law and order. Oh! The room is comfortable and airy on the first day of school. Johnie has a few books, and the teacher gives him another primer, just alike all the rest.

(Omissions)