Memories of Mexia's First School from 1878
Editor's Note -- Following the recent Mexia High School Homecoming (1950) Miss Alma C. Harris, now of El Paso, wrote her recollections of early Mexia school which the Black Cat school paper published. Miss Harris has consented that her recollection be republished in this newspaper. Following is the first of several articles.
Later, Dr. Malone, a Baptist preacher, who had a school not far from Judge D.M. Prendergrast's old home, moved his building to the Masonic lots and the school were combined.
Later, Mr. Park moved away from Mexia and Dr. Malone continued the school until 1884 when the public school was opened. During these six years my teachers were Miss Janie Park, Mr. Park, Miss Veazey, Miss Crosthwaite, and Dr. Malone.
Used McGuffey's Reader
We were not classified by grades but by the readers we were in, as Third Reader class, Fourth Reader class, etc. These were the old McGuffey Readers and they were good. They were still in use when I was teaching in Mexia (1890 - 1895).
Another textbook of those early years that I remember distinctly is the old Webster's Blue-Back Speller. I still have respect for it, too. We were well grounded in all the fundamentals, and although we were not called graded we fitted into the grades later on.
During this time there were several other private schools.
Mrs. Rowe had a school in her home in what had been Dr. Gibbs' office in the front yard of the Gibbs home.
About the time that Mr. Park and Dr. Malone combined their schools, a group of parent, including Dr. McCain, Mr. Munger, Mr. J.L. Smith, and Mr. L.P. Smith built a house near the Munger's Gin and employed Mr. Guy Mosely to teach.
This building was remodeled and became the old McLendon home.
Educated Teachers
Previous to Mr. Park's school, Mr. Estill had a school in the Masonic building until his death. His wife had a primary school in their home. This Mr. Estill was the father of Harry Estill, who was president of the Sam Houston Normal for so long. (For this information on other private schools, I am indebted to Mrs. Blanche McCala Rimasa).
While according to present standards these early schools were primitive and crude, all of these teachers were well educated, cultured, and refined men and women and they were good teachers. We cherish their memory.
It was in September, 1884, that the first Public School of Mexia opened in the fine new building on Sumpter street, with General John C. Moore as superintendent.
Mexia Was Proud
Mexia had a right to be proud of this new building. It was a good building and up to date. There were five large classrooms on the first floor, and two large classrooms, two small rooms, and a good auditorium on the second floor.
Each floor had two large halls and there were three large porches downstairs and one upstairs. There was no central heat in those days. Each room was heated by a large coal stove.
A few years later, a building containing two classrooms was erected on the southwest front corner of the school grounds. A short time later, a duplicate of this building, with an additional room for the superintendent's office, was erected on the southeast corner.
Each Teacher Two Grades
I do not remember whether the second floor was occupied that first year except by General Moore, but all the first floor rooms were full.
I think each teacher had two grades except the principal, who had the ninth, tenth, and eleventh grades. I was placed in the eighth grade with Mrs. Lillie Shaver as teacher.
Mrs. Shaver was a widow with two little boys. She was a graduate of Trinity University, at Tehuancana, and a sister of Mrs. S.I. Munger.
When I was in the ninth grade, the principal, Mr. E.C. Chambers, was my teacher, and in the tenth grade, Mr. C.M. Supple. I remember all of them as excellent teachers.
Others whom I remember on the faulty at sometime during the three years that General Moore was superintendent are: Misses Janie Park, Louelle Jose, Mattie Steele, Kate Hunter, Florence Thornton, Lizzie de Graffenried, and Fannie de Graffenried.
I remember General Moore with great respect. I would almost say with reverence.
He was a tall man, very erect and dignified. He had grey hair and a nearly clipped grey beard. He impressed me as a fine cultured gentleman of the old school, with a kind and courteous manner to all.
That he was a man of ability is proved by the fact that he graded and organized the school and had it running smoothly and efficiently from the first: He laid the foundation of the present school system. Those who followed builded thereon.
The First School Board
This record would be incomplete without mention of the School Board who built the first Public School building and elected General Moore as the first superintendent.
Fortunately, I was able to obtain their names from Mrs. Blache McCain Rimassa.
They were: Mayor W.E. Doyle, Dr. J.H. McCain, Mr. W.H. Bessling, Mr. J.W. Simmons and Mrs. Elmo Ross. All honors to this School Board and to General John C. Moore as founders of the Mexia Public Schools.
After serving three years, General Moore left Mexia to become principal of a school in Dallas and in September 1887, Mr. R.B. Cousins became superintendent and Mrs. T.L. Gladden, principal.
Others on the faculty at that time were: Misses Lizzie and Fannie de Graffenreid, Kate Hunter, May Watson, Louella Jose and Mattie Steele. Mr. Gladden taught all the ninth and tenth grade subjects and the eleventh grade Latin.
If there were not two grades in a room, there were two classes of the same grade, so the teacher was at all times teaching one class and keeping an eye on the other class which was supposed to be studying.
That year Mr. Cousins taught all the eleventh grade subjects except Latin. We had with him: rhetoric, English literature, mental science, moral science, logic, solid geometry, trigonometry and surveying.
Surveyed a Pasture
I remember that we practiced surveying Mr. J.A. Arvin's pasture and pond. Among the subjects that we had already had in the ninth and tenth grades were: algebra, arithmetic, physiology, physics, geology, astronomy, history, grammar, and Latin.
We liked Mr. Gladden, a gentleman in every way, educated, cultured, and capable, and a good teacher, but we were partial to Mr. Cousins. We though he was something wonderful; indeed, we indulged in a sort of hero worship.
Graduation, 1888
Even so, when he told us that our class would be graduated in the spring, we did not take it very seriously. There never had been a graduating class before.
But we did graduate, reading our essays and receiving our diplomas in May 1988. That could be called the beginning of the record of the Mexia High School, a record which became outstanding under the wise administration and guidance of Mr. Cousins in the many years of his superintendency.
His standards were high and his leadership and his example were inspiring. His influence remains through the years.
In all our school career we had none of the present day "frills." no art courses, no domestic science courses, no business courses, no music courses, no public speaking courses, no athletics, no bands, no yell leaders, no pep squads, no majorettes, no laboratories, no library, nothing but textbooks and lessons.
And our social life was strictly the responsibility of the homes and the parent.
But to show that all this was in keeping with the times, I may say that when three out of our class of eight entered the University of Texas that fall (1888) we found no more of the education "frills" than in the High School, except that there were departments, laboratories, and a library.
Our social life was as simple and limited as it had been at home. Compared with the sophisticated high school graduate and college freshman of the present time, we were mere children.
Debating Club Organized
It was in my second year at the University that the first girls' literary or debating society, the Ashbel, was organized.
Mrs. Kirby, a true gentlewoman of the old school, who was deal of the women, strongly opposed the organization as unladylike, but the assistant librarian, Mrs. Clark, an elderly lady with snow white hair, but with a young and progressive outlook, was an ardent booster for the newly organized Ashbel.
I may say here that the three Mexia graduates, on arriving at the University, were required to take the entrance examinations and we all passed, thus giving proff of the high standards and the efficient teaching of our Mexia schools, even at that early date.
School Affiliates
The following year the Mexia High School was "affiliated" with the University, permitting its graduated to enter the University without examinations.
In 1890 I was elected to teach in the Mexia school.
A surprising incident in this connection is that I had to miss commencement week at the University in order to come to Mexia and take written examinations in a dozen or more subjects, on a par with those required for a State teacher's certificate, as a part of my application for the job.
Five men and I took the examinations. I think these men were applicants for the principal's place, but none of them were elected. I remember that two of them walked our in the middle of the examinations.
Last Written Exam
The examinations were held in the school buildings under the supervision of Mr. Cousins and two of the School Board. I distinctly remember that Mr. H.K. Hall and (I think) Mr. W.H. Adamson sat with us, through the day, as did Mr. Cousins.
In fact, they graded one set of our papers while we were writing another. This is the one and only time in my knowledge that applicants were required to take written examinations.
Well, I was elected, But I was not through with examinations.
That summer I had to go to six weeks summer normal at Marlin, ending with examinations required to obtain a State teacher's certificate. Mr. Cousins was one of the faulty of the summer normal.
Now at that time State certificates, even though of the first grade (the highest given) and with high scores had to be renewed by written state examinations every two years.
I taught the Fourth grade for five years, with from forty to fifty pupils in my rooms.
We were proud of the fact that Mexia at that time and for some years later paid better salaries than other towns round about.
Mexia paid grade teachers $55 per calendar month for nine month per year. I do not know what Mexia paid the men teachers.
Today I came across a photograph of the school building and the faculty of 1895 (my last year there). The faculty were: Superintendent R.B. Cousins, Principal L.R. Scarborough, Mr. C. E. Evans, Mrs. Lizzie Watson, Misses Mattie McLeod, Ellen Gillespie, Carrie Everett, Betty Burton, and myself.
Others in the faulty at some time during these five years were: Principal J.E. Blair, T.L. Gladden, and Dr. Johnson; either grade teachers G.E. Folk, J.F. Kimball, and L.R. Scarboough (later made principal); other grade teachers were Misses Fannie de Graffenried, Louelle Jose, and Mattie teele.
Members of the School Board that I recall were: Mr. Walter Blake, Mr. H.L. Hall, Mr. W.H. Adamson, Dr. M.B. Kemp, Mr. W.H. Bessling, and Dr. T.F. Oates.
A unique feature introduced by Mr. Cousins was the series of public examinations during the closing week of school each year for several years.
I do not know when they were discontinued, but I participated in them first as a students, then later as a teacher. These examinations were held in the auditorium and continued about three days.
Only the grade to be examined came to the auditorium, and each grade had an hour and a half. The pupils were seated at the front facing the audience. The teachers questioned them on most of the subjects of that grade.
At all times the auditorium was filled with parents and friends. While in a way this was a sort of entertainment and the people seemed to enjoy it, the examinations were real and entirely unreheared.
I have pictured the schools of the "good, old days."
Personally, I believe that High School graduates of today go forth far better prepared to cope with life and its problems than we who had only "book-learning."
The modern curriculum with its many optional courses and the numerous activities of High School life, give these boys and girls a broader experience and more varied interests and develop them in more self assurance and poise in meeting life situations in the world outside the schoolroom.
I could easily envy them the wonderful opportunities they are having, and also the good times.
Still, my heart-felt wish for each and all of them is that they hold fast to some of the old-fashioned ideas and ideals.
Comments
Post a Comment