La Junta tribune., 1909-11-27
SCHOOL BUILDINGS.


The mans romance lies far behind,
Had we the present and no more,
Fate were unkind -- Blackwood's
Magazine
1t is a difficult task to cut out a
cross section OF a century In one Of
the great fields OF human endeayor,
and with the telescope Of retrospcc.
tion tell the story OF our schools.
with their humble beginning In the
little log school house that stood on
the banks Of the Arkansas SO many
years ago The story OF that log
house Is the history OF our city.
When the little village Of otero
received its first citizens. civilization
had Just begun 10 cast its magic
spell over this part cf the Great
West School advantages there were
none and in this as IN all other pt
oneeT movements, the first thought
of the new settlers was 10 establish
both school and church. A loG car
served the latter purpose. while the
little cotton. wood log structure with
adobe roof. one window and mud
chinked cracks admirably served for
the former
To Miss Ida Crittenden belongs
the distinction OF being the first
teacher. when In September OF the
year 1877. school was called to or
der with the following pupils answer
ing roll.call Matte Lizzie and VIII
Anderson. Hattie and Mamie spane,
Annie Jobe. Albert Lura. and Frank
Miller The school was ungraded, AS
were all the rural schools OF that
time. and consisted OF but one grade.
The common branches only were
taught and consisted OF reading. writ
ing. arithmetic. and geography. or as
some one has aptly expressed It. rod
rule, and remembrance
What contrast between the old
and the new Evolution Is slow
process. but when We Try to oompre-
hend the changes that have taken
place We are more Inclined to use
the word revolution" 10 those days
the school master was hired 10 teach
his pupils to pronounce printed and
written words and TO spell them. to
manipulate figures tn their ordinary
combinations. and 10 mcmorize a
modicum OF useful facts There were
II Is true some local variations as
TO this contract between teacher and
community, but such variations CON
cerncd the quantity rather than the
kind OF matter taught II boy did
not learn his lessons. or II he in
dulged in mischieyious habits when
he should have been "clphering." d
was In the contract that the school
master had the right 20 pummel the
boy This 9ummeling was not re-.
gardcd AT all as one ministering to
morality. but was merely a personal
perquisite Of the office. for in those
early days It was conceded that the
school master was entitled 10 some
indulgence In the sweets Of lifa
Those pioneer days we're days Of
unrest. days OF growth. and soon the
little log cabin was too small TO &C,
oomodate the increasing school popu.
iation. for with the schools had come
changes, the little village had changed
Its name from Otero TO La Jun,A In
due course OF time another building.
with three rooms. was secured and
10 this the seat OF learning was trans.
ferred the spirit and method. aud
scope Of the work percoptibly srcw.
and on all sides were the unmistak-
able evidences OF growth and change
Just how. when. and whore these
changes took place. the most power.
ful microscope Of inference and lmAg.
ination will not reveal The field Of
growth is so oycrlappcd. It's processes
30 involved and dependent tha, all