In March of 1950, I was looking forward to graduating from Red Cloud High School at the young age of 16. Our class had 32 graduates eventually five were going to be teaching one teacher schools by the next September.
That same early spring the school board for District #9 contacted me to see if I would be interested in teaching their school starting that fall.
The teacher the past year was an “Inside Teacher” with no outside supervision. A group of middle school aged boys created some problems. In one situation one of the boys fell from the top of the privy breaking his arm. The board decided they needed a man who would be outside with the pupils at recess and noon-time.
This teacher and the active boys got along well. The secret was to keep them occupied in their free time with softball, running games, etc. with their teacher right in the action.
At the school meeting we agreed on a contract ($160 for nine months) with the approval for my eighth grade brother and my first grade sister to attend District #9 under my tutelage.
The summer of 1950 I attended Kearney State Teachers College, earning 12 hours of college credit required to qualify for a temporary teaching certificate. The first day of school in September in 1950 found this 17 year old looking at 23 students kindergarten through eighth grade. The District #9 schoolhouse was a newer building with a full basement including a large coal burning furnace but no inside facilities.
That fall Webster County had 35 one teacher schools under supervision of County Superintendent Maurice McAvoy. I was able to stay at home earning my board and room helping with farm work and chores. My second year of teaching was spent at District #51 a classic school building with the potbelly stove in the middle of the room with just 10 students.
My third year of teaching was back at District #9 with 20 students and a salary of $250 for nine months. The third year I was determined to make our Christmas program something special. We learned the Flying Dutchman, the Mexican shuffle and a Texas Square Dance. The pupils worked all fall to learn the dances and by Christmas we were ready. A unique program that was a big hit with the performers and their parents.
The academic achievements of these rural students were impressive going into high school with no problems. Many of my pupils went on the interesting careers. Reminiscing some 60 years later – I don’t know how the teacher in the One Teacher Schools did it ~ BUT WE DID!!!!
That same early spring the school board for District #9 contacted me to see if I would be interested in teaching their school starting that fall.
The teacher the past year was an “Inside Teacher” with no outside supervision. A group of middle school aged boys created some problems. In one situation one of the boys fell from the top of the privy breaking his arm. The board decided they needed a man who would be outside with the pupils at recess and noon-time.
This teacher and the active boys got along well. The secret was to keep them occupied in their free time with softball, running games, etc. with their teacher right in the action.
At the school meeting we agreed on a contract ($160 for nine months) with the approval for my eighth grade brother and my first grade sister to attend District #9 under my tutelage.
The summer of 1950 I attended Kearney State Teachers College, earning 12 hours of college credit required to qualify for a temporary teaching certificate. The first day of school in September in 1950 found this 17 year old looking at 23 students kindergarten through eighth grade. The District #9 schoolhouse was a newer building with a full basement including a large coal burning furnace but no inside facilities.
That fall Webster County had 35 one teacher schools under supervision of County Superintendent Maurice McAvoy. I was able to stay at home earning my board and room helping with farm work and chores. My second year of teaching was spent at District #51 a classic school building with the potbelly stove in the middle of the room with just 10 students.
My third year of teaching was back at District #9 with 20 students and a salary of $250 for nine months. The third year I was determined to make our Christmas program something special. We learned the Flying Dutchman, the Mexican shuffle and a Texas Square Dance. The pupils worked all fall to learn the dances and by Christmas we were ready. A unique program that was a big hit with the performers and their parents.
The academic achievements of these rural students were impressive going into high school with no problems. Many of my pupils went on the interesting careers. Reminiscing some 60 years later – I don’t know how the teacher in the One Teacher Schools did it ~ BUT WE DID!!!!