A Visit To County Schools in 1879

For some very early history of our county schools, lets visit around with County School Commissioner Rev. James F. Price.  He shares his reports The Crittenden Press in 1879.

• October 30, I visited Chapel Hill School, A. C. Cruce teacher. I found a very good school and one in which the students are making rapid advancement. The average attendance is about 30, the teacher is alive to his work and instructs his pupils thoroughly in the fundamental principles, he has some obstacles with which to contend, one is that he is hampered up in a schoolhouse which is not sufficient to supply the wants of the district. This is a good district, and we don't believe the citizens will allow another school taught in such a house. The discipline of the school is very good, whispering is prohibited except by permission, the children of this district is somewhat advanced in education, the teacher has classes in Physiology, Higher Arithmetic, Higher Algebra, Latin Reader and Geometry.

• October 21^st, I visited Cookseyville School, G. W. Hall teacher, I found a very good school though not very large in the number of pupils, the school has only averaged about twenty, this is Mr. Hall's first school, but he evidently shows ability as a teacher; he keeps very good order and teaches very thoroughly; this district is not for advanced in education, but the teacher, works faithfully among the little fellows endeavoring to advance them; he gives them many drills besides the lessons they recite from the textbook; the school house is not so good as desired, but it does better than some. I spoke that night to a few of the citizens, after Mr. Hall and Mr. Rushing each gave a talk.

• October 22, visited White Hall school, Emma C. Hayward teacher, I found a small school, only averaging about fifteen; this is a large district and it has a very good school house, but the patrons are very much wanting in the interest among the patrons is manifested by a want of energy among the pupils; the government of the school is tolerably good, there is no whispering except by permission; the instruction is not so thorough as desired in some of the branches. I talked that night to most of the pupils and about four of the patrons of the school.

• October 23^rd, I visited the school in the Owen district, P. B. Walker teacher; I found a very small but interesting school; the average number in attendance is only about ten; the teacher is instructing them as thoroughly as his qualifications will admit; he keeps very good order in the school, and the students seem to take an interest in their studies; they have a very bad house, entirely uncomfortable and insufficient in every respect for the comfort and advancement of the school.

• October 24^th, I visited Sisco school, Willie Adams teacher; I found the school small on account of protracted meetings, but the pupils who were present seemed to be taking an interest in their studies; Willie seems to be giving general satisfaction in the district; the average attendance is about eighteen; there is not very much whispering in the school; this district has a very good school house, built for both a school and church house; the patrons of this district as in many others do not send regularly.

• October 25^th, I visited Union School, Miss Irene Cole teacher, I found one of the best schools I yet had the pleasure to visit; the school has averaged forty pupils; the order and system of the school is very good; but very little whispering or disturbance of any kind is found in the school; the teacher is alive to her duty; she is one of those live, energetic teachers that would infuse spirit and vitality into any school; she has the firmness and indomitable will to govern a school without difficulty; superadded to these qualifications for governing is a spirit of kindness which restrains the students without violence. The instruction is through and practical, the pupils are advancing very rapidly in their studies,and are understanding it as they go. Map drawing is taught in a very systematic manner. About fifty dollars will be raised to assist in paying the teacher. The schoolhouse is not so good as desired but we hope the community will erect a good house before long.

This is a good community, one that is taking an interest in education and it is to be hoped that they will raise the standard of education still higher.