Omaha daily bee., 1910-07-10
wENTY years in the Omaha schools.

In that time many changes would be
notched in the stick of progress; changes not
only in the externals of school hfe-build-
ings equipment and kindred things--but
also in the methods teaching Likewise in that time
a long procession of young Americans-native and
naturalized-who have entered the primary depart
ment, tmidly and fearfully have gone out from the
high school, boldly and proudly. waving their diplomas
in testimony that they've finished school, 50 far,
that is. the city's public school is concerned.
Measured in this way twenty years become an epoch
indeed but there is even vivid way OF getting
the picture Remember that the four teachers who
this summer entered the retired list have all served
at least that time in the Omaha schools, and most OF
them for longer
Miss Nancy Lewis Miss Louise NJ Adams. Miss
Virginia Kennedy and Mrs. Lucretie S. Bradley. who
this year put aside the of the instructor to
joy life of leisure. could each and all give a
personal picture OF the changes which have come in
the twenty years This retirement list is a
lively part OF Omaha school life dating only from
the year 1903 1t includes beside the four teachers
above. the five who left active service year
ago-Miss Jennie McKoVn, Mrs. lngeletta Ware, Mrs
Nete C, Rhett, Miss Ada E. Alexander and Miss Villa
B. shippey
Miss Frances Butterfield. who had taught forty
and was entitled TO place the list did
ask be retired. but who, during the last year.
forced by ill health to give up work did live
TO enjoy the pension.
The popular old song, which has itself survived
than the OF years many points of pertnency
in regard to the story OF these teachers service
The old school house is altered now; the benches
replaced
BY ones, very like the same our peuknves once
defaced.
But the same old bricks are in the wall; the bell
swings to and fro;
Its music just the same, dear Tom twenty years
ago
For tventy-three years Miss Nancy Lewis taught
he at he Wall thati
toddlers twenty-three years ago when they en-
tered the first grade now they much sophs-
ticated. having gained school experience in the
kindergarten. Twenty-three years ago first grade
the first of school painful or pleasant ex-
perience of getting accustomed to the that had
mind which be trained. Training too used to
be less painlessly administered Instead rust as
Stimulating words, sounds meaning and all that, the
beginner used to struggle with the awful sequence
Of A. B, G, until he could sng-song it off backwards
and forwards The thing has happened in num-
Der work The child who used to watch with fasciua-
tion-akn terror-the teachers skillful and uuie,
sliding OF the colored balls upon the wires of the num-
Der frame, and. trembling that and two
made four, learns the important fact with
much less difficulty. However it is recorded that
even twenty years the toddlers who began their
studies at Walnut Hill found school life a thing OF
JOY The steady march OF educational methods did
not daunt nor distance this educator. From the
time she left the State Normal School OF Nebraska al
Peru in 1876 until her retirement in 500 she wa,
always in with the fore guard Before connine
to Omaha Miss Lewis taught in iowa Missouri and a
Peru, Neb.. and was at time principal of four
room school at Grinnell la. She began teaching il
Omaha in $50 and entered upon her valuable servic,
at the Walnut Hill school in 1887
Miss Louise Adams has during the last six or sever
of her teaching in Omaha been much interested
AID given valuable service of the more modern
developments Of school worE-the night school Thi
work with our foreign charges she found exceedingly
interesting. and it her ambition some time Civ
all her attention TO tutoring the stranger who woul,
be American.
The night school work, while quite recent develop
ment, is already important and much needed one
In one of the night schools last year whole roomfu
of Greeks were studying the language. The student
Included, sometimes, whole families--father, mothe
and all the chidrenall intent learning the Ian