The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1952-05-09
WHERE LIVING'S
WORTH WHILE
OCRACOkE SCHOOL
By THEORORE RONDTHALER

When the wind is right you can
hear the surf through the windows
Of Ocracoke School. On the play
ground the principal problem is
playing games on sand-where the
pail won't bounce. Each room re-
Iuires its own water cooler, fur
1ished with the purest water there
S: rain water from the cistern;
here is no other water for drink
ng on the island. The safety and
barking of school buses is no
problem: there are none. The far
hest pupil lives a Is minute walk
rom the building. The principal
ives 5 minutes by bicycle. The
cafeteria is no problem: all but a
half dozen walk home to lunch.
There are no problems of conges-
ion in the corridors: there are no
corridors. Each room of the six
has its own entrance to the out
side, and all outdoors is corridor.
The only problem associated with
he flag out front is that every
how and then the wind blows hard
enough to slant the flag-pole-but
t has never yet blown the flag off.
Storm tides have been known to
surround the building with salt
water, but that is very rare and
Usually at a season when school is
not in session. The schools very
attractive and substantial building
vas substantially renovated by
State funds this past year. A
lifetime" roof of asbestos shingles
vas put on, electric lights were in
tailed, inside rest rooms and
plumbing were created, and steam
heat was put in. These four much
Needed improvements make the
building efficient.
Isolation could be a handicap to
school, but not at Ocracoke. An
extremely active and loyal P. T. A.
works constantly and enthusiast
ally at ways and means of i'm
proving the means of instruction
ANNUAL grants for the purchase Of
library books have given the school
IN enviably well-stocked library
n well-equipped quarters. And an
Intending stream of other instruc-
lonal and recreation supplies
Eomes in from the same source
Fecords, pictures, charts, maps
encyclopedias, drawing materials
laboratory supplies, workbooks
balls, bats, rope for swings-thest
md many other such aids. In ad.
iition, the P. T. A. will undertake
without hesitation such ambitious
proposals as Venetian blinds fol
'ooms exposed to sunshine, fur.
lishings and equipment and labor
or a kitchenette, stage fittings
ping-pong tables, to mention sew.
Pral recent ones. All in all, the 10.
al P. T. A. has earned and spent
something like $500 a year, veal
lfter year, for the betterment OF
Ocracoke school.
Besides these physical values anC
ne sef-reliance required tt
schieve them, Ocracoke's isolation
produces an interesting spiritual
'alue among it's pupils, one that
EDUCATORS the country over have
pleaded for without success. This
$, sport for sports sake, minus
ne bitterly competitive element
Because it is impossible to contact
'ther schools, all sports must be
within the organization. AS a con.
equence, all sides must be on 8
'choose-up" basis, and who wins
pecomes much less important thar
ust playing the game. This Same
plrlt also allows much more wide.
pread participation in games thar
n schools where "the teams thu
hing" and the incompetent plaS
apply alongside the competent
Without too much urgency about
kill.
In a sense Ocracoke school coulC
pe called five old-fashioned one.
DOM schools in one building
trades must be, and are, grouped
everal under each teacher, and the
Younger learn from the older anC
ne older review with the younger
The high school course of study j.
'ather traditional, consisting of the
standard four years of English
wo of algebra, one of geometry
hree of social sciences, two Of
pure science, two of Latin, two Of
ypewriting and commercial work
md two of health and physical
ducation. In addition, occasional