Patricia Robinson Schlatz
In 1949, and at 17 years old, I was issued a teaching certificate after 12 hours of college credit in something called Rural Education Nebraska. I was hired at District #42 in Harlan County, known as Pleasant View. I was paid $150/month for nine months, and was in charge of educating four students: Two kindergarten, one third grade and one fourth grade.
Not only was I educating the students, I was responsible for many schoolroom chores each day. I raised and lowered the flag every single day. I pumped water to use each morning and emptied the bucket each night. I had to sweep the floor a few times a week and had to lock the door every night as that was very important to the school board.
Lesson planning was challenging with a limited number of students. We did many hands on activities. We went on nature hikes to study different plants and bugs. Students enjoyed using a sand table and built villages when we studied Native Americans. Of course, decorating for the seasons and holidays was also enjoyable for the students. Noontime and recess were particularly challenging, with softball being a popular activity. I was the pitcher, and the four students were: one batter, one catcher and two fielders. If you hit the ball you were allowed to bat again.
In the fall of my first year, a truck from the local lumber yard brought something to the school and unloaded it in the basement. In an act of bravery, I lifted the wooden door in the floor and discovered narrow, dark stairs. Further investigation led to a room full of coal. At this point, I realized I would be in charge of providing heat for my students. Fire building had not been covered in Rural Education Nebraska. I was expected to bring coal up those narrow, dark stairs and start a fire in the stove that sat in the middle of the room. The school was long on windows and short on insulation and my mastery of furnaces was limited. I had students move desks as close and safely to the stove as possible and on very cold days we wore our coats.
After my third year, District #42 voted to consolidate with another district and move the other school house to a central location. I had married and was expecting my first child so I decided to retire. However, this did not end my teaching career. When my youngest child started school, I returned to Kearney State College and graduated in 1967 with a bachelor’s degree in education and taught for another 30 years.
In 1949, and at 17 years old, I was issued a teaching certificate after 12 hours of college credit in something called Rural Education Nebraska. I was hired at District #42 in Harlan County, known as Pleasant View. I was paid $150/month for nine months, and was in charge of educating four students: Two kindergarten, one third grade and one fourth grade.
Not only was I educating the students, I was responsible for many schoolroom chores each day. I raised and lowered the flag every single day. I pumped water to use each morning and emptied the bucket each night. I had to sweep the floor a few times a week and had to lock the door every night as that was very important to the school board.
Lesson planning was challenging with a limited number of students. We did many hands on activities. We went on nature hikes to study different plants and bugs. Students enjoyed using a sand table and built villages when we studied Native Americans. Of course, decorating for the seasons and holidays was also enjoyable for the students. Noontime and recess were particularly challenging, with softball being a popular activity. I was the pitcher, and the four students were: one batter, one catcher and two fielders. If you hit the ball you were allowed to bat again.
In the fall of my first year, a truck from the local lumber yard brought something to the school and unloaded it in the basement. In an act of bravery, I lifted the wooden door in the floor and discovered narrow, dark stairs. Further investigation led to a room full of coal. At this point, I realized I would be in charge of providing heat for my students. Fire building had not been covered in Rural Education Nebraska. I was expected to bring coal up those narrow, dark stairs and start a fire in the stove that sat in the middle of the room. The school was long on windows and short on insulation and my mastery of furnaces was limited. I had students move desks as close and safely to the stove as possible and on very cold days we wore our coats.
After my third year, District #42 voted to consolidate with another district and move the other school house to a central location. I had married and was expecting my first child so I decided to retire. However, this did not end my teaching career. When my youngest child started school, I returned to Kearney State College and graduated in 1967 with a bachelor’s degree in education and taught for another 30 years.