The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1868-03-19
Education ian jackson County.
NUMBER ~.
RY D. MAcKlEY,

ADuul tlG tint tHe urSt oiu hCuOOl HOUSES WcIV
rotting down, the school laws were being enact
cd, and new school houses were being erected
under the provisions of the law. The voluntary
action Of the people ceased and the first school
officers did not understaHdlheir duties very well.
The people depended too much upon their Off
GERS, and the officers could do but little without
the cooperation of the people. Hence it was
difficult to get school houses as fast as they were
needed
spoke last week about the difficulty had in
teaching my second school, as the house was ut
terly unfit for the purpose of teaching school
in and this is q fair sample Of the general situa-
tion of affairs between the years 1885 and 1915.
In the year 1912 hired to teach district
school in Madison township, on the road between
Oak Hill and Ctntrevile, and on the land now
owned by Humphrey Roberts. They had no
school house, and commenced in u miserable
old log cabin, that had become so dllapidated
that no family could live in it. No fire wood was
provided, and the boys and | had to turn out and
cut and carry our wood. do not think that the
directors expected that | would continue my
school long In fact they told me so. They said
the Welsh boys and the natives quarreed and
fought so much that the last teacher they had
gave it up in despair in two weeks after he had
commenced. They said he had to place the Welsh
boys on one side ofa fence at noon, and the ma
tive Americans on the Other butstill they fought
over the fence. | then believed as much in the
equality of races rs do now, and told the boys
that should make no distinction, and they must
oil play together, upon perfect equality, and
that would have no lighting. If there must be
lighting, proposed to do it ali myself. | had no
trouble at that school, and never saw a more
agreeable set Of boys.
When the directors found that was determin-
ed to teach, and fulfill my contract at all hazards,
they went to work and put up a new log school
house, on the lands now owned by James Mutt,
and the last six weeks Of my school was taught
in the new school house. The day before my
school closed one of my pupils, Josiah Spencer,
died, and he was buried at New Zion Church,
near Centrevie, the last day Ofmy school, That
was on the 18th day Of February, 1913. II Yves
showing hard, and dismissing school at noon l
went in a sleigh to the funeral.
In the summer OF the year 1871 l taught three
months district school near where Joseph F.
Cackly then resided, q mile north east of Oak
Hill. The house was the hardest one ever saw.
The ceiling was made ofsplit unhewn puncheons,
and mud daubed on the top to make all tight
This ceiling was scarcely six feet high. There
was O kind of rough furnace in the house, lead
ing 10 the chimney. This was made of rough
stone, and when fire was built in il would no
doubt make the room quite warm. As my school
was taught in the summer, l did not use this
furnace.
In the summer Of 1916 / hired to teach six
months in the same district. The directors had
got new school house up, as the old one was
rottlng down. The new house was made of
hewcd logs and was ofa pretty good size. The
roof was put on.
When the time came for me to commence my
school was at the house, but nothing had been
done. The building was some three feet from
the ground, resting ut the corners upon large
stones The hogs had been sleeping in it, and
there were plenty Of leas. Several children
CulllSt u oSb bllNh w Oul ltuNGh
where the hogs had slept, while | went to Mr..
Caclily and borrowed saw. | sawed out u door
way, and In the afternoon We commenced our
school in good earnest. The weather was warm,
and we sat upon the sills Of the house. as they
projected inwards sufficiently for seats and the
logs Of the walls made good backs to our seats.
| thus run This school the first three months. |
Then tho weather was getting coal, and the di. !
rcctors found that something must be done. SO |
VIC suspended school for two weeks, and they |
hired me to hew jolsts mud slceperS, haul and put |
Them In, aud lay down a loft and floor of loose
planks, which they furnished, They got a shut
Ter made for the door, aud had the house chunk |
I'd and daubod and / furnished stove and at
.he end of the two weeks all was ready, and the
school went on for the other three months. We |
lod no window, but we got along as well as we
,ould.