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School at the turn of the century Information of early 1900's education: Development of Public Education in Watauga County North Carolina. Compiled By A Bicentennial Committee. Available from the Appalachian Collection at the Belk Library, Appalachian State University. APP Coll. LA 341.W39 D49 c. 4
Compiled by: Reka W. Shoemake, Chairman Maxie G. Edmisten Lucy G. Luther Kate Peterson Beatrice C. Winkler
Edited by: Tom Corbitt | Education in early 1900's |
Education in 2008 |
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In 1900, the U. S. Census revealed that there were 5,050 white children in Watauga County of School age. Only 3,794 were actually enrolled in schools, and the average daily attendance was 2,101. There were also 125 colored children of school age, with 95 enrolled as students with an average daily attendance of 58. |
Watauga County Schools serve 4,550 students in eight K-8 Schools and one High School. Interestingly -- there were more school age children in the 1900 census than 2008 school enrollment. |
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Watauga County complied with the North Carolina school law of 1869 that required the county to be divided into school districts. Each district contained an area not more than six square miles, and there had to be at least one school in each district. The area was not great, but for many children, the walk was a very long one, and some did not enroll. At this time the school had 71 school districts, two of which had two schools, giving a total of 73 one-room school houses. In 1919, Valle Crucis High School is the only high school in the county. In 1937, a new district organization for Watauga County was made. As shown below, many small schools existed at this time. Many of these existed in 1908.
Other early schools: Sandy Flat, Maple Springs, Big Hill, Tugman, Lentz, Mast, Phillips, Old Meadow Creed, Middle Fork, Laurel Branch, Whiting, Rush Branch, Sands, Doe Ridge, Rocky Point, Rocky Pond, Virgil, Meat Camp, Lower Valle Crucis, Baird's Creek, Deerfield, Lookabill, Silver lake, Willowdale, Allen Greene, Dew Drop, Buckwheat, Laurel Ford, Thomas, Possum Hollow and Middle Cane. |
There are eight K-8 Schools and one High School. | |||||||||
Dr. Blanford B. Dougherty became Superintendent of schools in 1899 and served for a period of 16 years. The county was indeed fortunate to have such a man to lead the schools. Mrs. Lottie Byers of Mabel District recalls that Dr. Dougherty rode his horse over the county, encouraging students to continue their education. |
Dr. Bobby Short drives a car around the county. | |||||||||
| Children often took the "nigh" way to school, through the meadows and over the hills, to avoid the muddy roads as well as to escape the long walk. Nevertheless, they often arrived at school with muddy shoes, and before the day was over, the floor was very dirty and dusty. After school it was sprinkled heavily with water and swept. | For the most part, students arrive in air & heat controlled cars, trucks and school buses. | |||||||||
| Sanitary facilities continued to be very poor and some times non-existent. Toilets were built over streams were possible. Luckily, many buildings were close to the woods, and trees and other shrubs were used to provide some measure of privacy. Boys would often to up the road and girls down the road. | Several Girls and Boys bathrooms are available with in each school. | |||||||||
| Drinking water was usually carried in a peck bucket from a neighboring spring, and many children continued to drink from a common dipper. A few children who had tin collapsible cups were the envy of the whole classroom. | Drinking fountains are available throughout school buildings. In addition, many students bring water bottles to school on a daily basis. | |||||||||
| School supplies furnished to the schools by the county were homemade desks, a bucket and dipper, a shovel, and a broom. For instructional purposes a black board, erasers, and chalk were furnished. | Modern classrooms are well furnished with furniture, storage areas, rugs, wall posters, pictures, maps, paper, books, art supplies and computers. | |||||||||
| Parents had to furnish all textbooks, pencils, and paper. Even though the cost was not high, money was hard to come by. Some parents could not afford books for their children, so these had to study with other children. Some might get only a geography or an arithmetic book and not be able to afford more. Others could buy them all. | While parents are expected to purchase some supplies for students, virtually all textbooks and educational material are purchased through county, state and federal taxes. | |||||||||
The area offered little opportunity to earn money, but it had an abundance of roots and herbs that could be bartered at the nearest country store. During the summer months many children gathered these roots and herbs and dreamed of the new britches or dresses they would have to wear on the first day when school opened. Mrs. Lottie Byers, who has already been mentioned, recalled gathering elder flowers, galax leaves, chestnuts, and stagger balls to barter for clothing and school supplies. Mrs. Ola Thompson remembers working her father's store in Triplett, North Carolina. The herbs most often brought to the store were elder flowers, galax leaves, beadwood leaves, mullen, bloodroot, ginseng, sassafras, catnip, chestnuts, and clover blossoms. These were traded for paper and pencils, shoes, stockings, and yard goods to make clothing. |
Clothes, toys and other material goods are readily available to the majority of students. In 1908, there were no TVs, no Computers, virtually no Telephones or Automobiles, no Cell phones, no Game Boys, no X-Boxes, no PlayStations, no Walmarts, no Malls, et. cetera! |
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| A common sight on the way to the country store was children carrying pokes of herbs, a pound of butter, a basket of eggs, and, perhaps, a chicken tucked under an arm to get what they needed for the opening of school. | Pre-school opening involves visiting Walmart, the Boone Mall, the Hickory Mall etc. for school clothing and school supplies. | |||||||||
Because supplies came so dearly, a great premium was put on them. Penny pencils were often cut in the middle to make two pencils. Notches were cut close to the top, and a string was tied around each pencil which was then worn around the neck to prevent loss. Using paper to draw on was considered a waste of time and money. Both sides of the rough tablet paper had to be used for necessary writing and figuring. |
Students come to school with plenty of supplies: pencils, paper, binders, folders, backpacks, pens, markers, crayons, colored pencils, scissors, glue, etc. as dictated by grade. | |||||||||
Students who liked school and could not go to an academy often continued to attend the elementary school and repeated the seventh grade. Many really mastered the books and became good students. In a few schools the better qualified teachers taught some high school courses. Much peer teaching occurred in the early schools. Those who worked fast and "got up their lessons" helped others. |
Students go to school through the 12th grade. | |||||||||
| Classes were large, and ages ranged from four or five years to the upper teens. | Classes generally include about 18-25 students. | |||||||||
| The school day was a long one, usually lasting from eight until four. When the bell rang, it was "books time". | A school day lasts from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. | |||||||||
Discipline was strict and often kept with a hickory stick. However, among the many people interviewed, only one reported severe discipline. In this instance, some of the bigger boys tore down the stove pipe while the teacher was out of the room. A fire was in the stove, so the smoke, soot, and ashes that filled the room made a terrible mess. It was reported that the teacher whipped the boys until he "gave out". Other forms of punishment included having the student stand on tip-toe with both hands touching a certain mark, or keeping his nose in a ring on the board. Girls were sometimes required to sweep the floor and boys to chop wood. Parents often told their children if they got a whipping at school they would get another one when they came home. |
Discipline no longer involves capital punishment. Serious discipline problems involve in school and out of school suspensions. | |||||||||
| Children still had to walk to school most of the time. In very bad weather some fathers would take their children on horse-back. Families were very large and three or four children might ride on one horse. Sometimes parents would take their children in a wagon or, if there was a big snow, on a sled. Other children might miss, but school was never canceled because of snow. | Very few students walk to school. Students are driven to school by car, truck or bus. Many high school students drive themselves to school. School is often canceled due to winter weather or flooding. |
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| Lunch was carried in a big bucket or basket. Usually lunch for all in one family was packed in the same container. Biscuits were used to make sandwiches of jelly, apple-butter, butter and brown sugar, eggs, and ham. Vegetables were sometimes taken, as well as fried "flitters", apples and cookies. Milk and cornbread carried in a jar was often a favorite lunch. | While some students bring a packed lunch from home, the majority of students each at the schools' cafeterias. | |||||||||
| The lunch period lasted for one hour. After eating, children hurried to their play. There was also a recess period of thirty-minutes in both the morning and afternoon. | Lunch lasts thirty minutes and there are no recess periods. However, Physical Education is a daily class lasting forty minutes. | |||||||||
Attendance was often poor because of bad weather, sickness, or indifference. Many parents kept their children out to help gather in the crops. If a frost was expected, the whole family had to stay at home to strip or cut cane. Children had to help with molasses-and apple-butter-making and with hog killing. On wash day water had to be carried and wood cut. The baby also had to be tended while the mother washed. This often kept two children at home. In order to make less washing and save clothes, children changed into old clothes when they returned to school. |
Attendance is relatively good and modern medicine makes children healthier. Children rarely help with farming, food-making or hog killing. | |||||||||
| Most children had chores to perform after school. A daily routine included chopping wood, carrying water and driving the cows home as well as feeding all the animals. | Children now a day have some chores, but nothing like those of times past. | |||||||||
| Homework done by light from an oil lamp was usually started after supper. Many parents were not educated, but they did have a desire for their children to do better and encouraged homework and a good relationship with teachers who were often invited to spend the night in the homes of their students. The meal prepared was comparable to that prepared for the preacher. In case of a disagreement between the teacher and a student, parents often "sided" with the teacher. | Homework is done with modern lighting, of course. Teachers are rarely invited to students' homes, but parents and students do show their appreciation for teachers in other ways: gifts, material support for classrooms and often by volunteering in classrooms. |
Jones House Community Center |