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VERY OLD TEACHER-Bridget Nihill 1901

NIHILL

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 1/12/2017 at 12:07:50

Dubuque Daily Herald, September 8, 1901

VERY OLD TEACHER
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MISS BRIDGET NIHILL
TAUGHT COUNTRY SCHOOL
OVER FORTY-FIVE YEARS
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HER PUPILS IN THIS COUNTY LEGION
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Veteran Teacher is a Quaint Character
Possessing Humorous and Kindly
Disposition
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One of the most interesting characters that walks the streets of Dubuque is Miss Bridget Nihill. Bridget is perhaps the oldest country school teacher in the state of Iowa, having taught school for over forty-five years. She possesses a quaintness of character that attracts, and in talking to her one is held by the humor of her disposition.

Bridget Nihill is 72 years old. She was born in Ireland and came to America when she was sixteen. When she was eleven years of age she fell one day and injured her arm. Little was thought at the time of the accident, but the injury continued to bother her and five years later she was constrained to submit to an operation in which the arm was amputated at the shoulder. Bridget speaks of the accident very pathetically, says she suffered greatly when the doctors performed the operation. There was no such thing as giving anaesthetics in Ireland in those days: the patient suffered the pain of the knife in full possession of his senses. The absence of the arm mades Bridget look a little odd, but she always wears a little cap that hides the deficiency.

The most interesting thing about Bridget Nihill is the fact that she has taught hundreds of men and women of this city and elsewhere their A. B. & C’s. She began to teach when she was quite young and held schools in Dubuque and contagious counties, and her pupils are legion. Bridget taught school in Key West, Washington Mills, New Melleray, Springbrook and many other neighboring places and as her mind reverts to old familiar scenes her eyes enkindle and her face brightens. The old school teacher was asked how she managed to govern unruly boys, when she had only one arm to whip them with. The answer she gave would do credit to any teacher pedagogues of the present enlightened day would do well to let her words sink deep into their hearts and profit thereby. If they did there would be more scholars than dunces in the world today. Bridget said, “I didn’t have to whip my pupils. All a teacher has to do is keep her pupils busy and study their dispositions. Kindness will do more than the rod any day, I use to praise my pupils and I always got along alright. A good teacher always studies his pupils and gives help to the dull ones. Bright ones do not need so much attention. The test of a teacher is the success he has with dull pupils.”

Bridget does not teach anymore. She is too old now, she says. She lives in town now with relatives and enjoys life to the fullest. Bridget spends much of her spare time helping church fairs and school entertainments, etc.


 

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