The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1894-01-05
early Schools Of Red willow County

Early Schools Of Red Willow County
One accustomed to the splendid school
system Of today, can lave no conception
of the small beginnings of school work in
the county.
c. l.. Nettleton was the first Superin-
t-ndent, and on December S, 1873, gave
notice that school district No. 1, was
formed at Red Willow, giving boundaries
and directions for procedure, etc. A
notice of meeting for organizing was
written on December IS. 1873, and the
meeting held on December 2e, 1873. in
the house of L. H. Lawton. The first
examination of teachers took place in
the house of J. G. Eaton, now owned by
Mrs. Taylor. Mrs. Eaton said she
wouldn't have minded their coming, if
they had let her known, to say nothing
of asking if they might come" At this
examination, there were present, Mrs.
Towne, Mrs. Gallagher, and Miss Nc
Neil. Mrs. Towne taught a school of
FIVE little children in the dug-out on the
townsite, now owned by Jacob Randel.
An election came off while she W a S
teaching, and as it was to be held at the
school house, it was a question, who
should lose the day. The board decided
if the teacher reached the place first, she
should not be required to 'make up'the
time. OF course, she was promptly at
her post, and when the voters made their
appearance, she was ready to give place
to them. Miss Mcneil taught the next
school of three months in this same dug
out, and another term of the same length
in the Culdice log house on the hill, now
owned by Ira Miller. The house was
taken down years ago, and lest some one
should cavil at this statement, I'll say,
that, through ignorance OF the surveyed
lines, the house was NOT on the claim it
was supposed to be on-and in telling of
things that occurred, 1 am having no ref
erence to the FIRST" so jealousy
watched for, by the FIRST settlers"
G. W. McElroy taught an early school
in tue frame shanty on what was after
wards known as the "Flora Buck claim"
The crudeness of the times is shown by
one incident during his term. Some
trouble arose among the scholars, and
one of the mothers, with a propensity
for both causing and settling difficulties,
went to the school to have the affair at
tended to. During the stir, her daughter
reused her anger, and taking matters in
her own hands, administered rigorous
corporal punishment, much to the de-
light of the small boy element, and dis
ma of the large girl.
About this time, the clark ages" of
school and country came on, and the
several successive superintendent, who
followed Mr.. Nettleton, are remembered
more for their unftness for the position
than for anything else. for even their
were formed and other schools taught,
and at one of these, one superintendent
made an official visit, but as he had diff
fculty in getting out of his buggy and
walking straight, and sat and nodded in
his chair after reaching the room, the
school was not greatly benefited.
A custom of the times was for the
board to bring a pressure to bear upon
the superintendent in order to have a
certificate granted to a chosen teacher
and, on occasion the board, in a body,
would accompany the pedagogical aspir-
ant. One superintendent was called on
in a case of this kind, when wen his in
difference svas startled by the utter in
competency of the applicant. Upon the
insistence of the board, he undertook to
indirectly coach the person by saying to
a neighbor: "Dr. B-ten her how many
TEETH SHE HAS, so she can answer one
question:"
The same official remarked after an
examination sometime later: "Why, B.
I wouldn't know as much geography as
those girls do, for the world! Why, my
head would burst?"
The school boards enjoyed their dis
tinction as public officials, and dignity
of Office was closely guarded. One d.
rector, in his zeal for economy and in
the interest of a favorite, entered up the
records, GA protest against squandering
public funds by paying one person $40
per month, when a legally qualified
teacher could be got for $I6 per month"
We have not lived far enough past
those times to tell some of the most in
teresting things, that will come in after
years. But we, who despised NJ the
day Of small things" rejoice in the ev-
olution of the school from the dug-out to
the finely equipped buildings and super
ior teachers of today.
Quite a few geese on the river yet.
49, ,I1al IN Hhorfax-