MUSCATINE COUNTY, IOWA SCHOOL NEWS

Transcribed, as written, by Beverly Gerdts on June 26, 2019

Page 94

ETHEL MAY NORTHEY

    After teaching grades one and two in Pleasant Plain, Iowa for four years, I moved to Muscatine in 1938 and accepted the position of first grade teacher at Garfield School. Previous to this time Miss Irene Carl had held this position, but when the first grade enrollment numbered more than fifty students, the class was divided and two teachers were hired. Miss Carl transferred to Lincoln and Miss Margurette Kirchner and I were assigned to Garfield. With Ms Othmer as principal and a group of very fine teachers along with wonderful parental cooperation and eager youngsters, I spent eight happy years at Garfield. Any teacher could run a second to Art Linkletter when it comes to reporting interesting episodes when you work with children. It all added up to the productivity and enjoyment of teaching.

     I would like to pay tribute to one first grade girl at Garfield who holds the record of being the only child, in my teaching years to have had a perfect workbook without a single error. She really showed her determination to do her best. Congratulations Charlene Strause.

     In 1946 I transferred to Grant school where I taught a combination of kindergarten and first grade. I had kindergarten in the morning only and the first grade all day. As the neighborhood expanded, the kindergarten went to two sessions, morning and afternoon, with 1st grade all day. At this point, the new school was under construction and I was appointed principal in 1954. We moved to the new school in December of 1955, where I continue to teach kindergarten on a half day basis for the next two years, then went to full time basis and then to full time administrator. During my tenure as administrator at Grant, I was pleased to have a former Garfield student, Sheila Wilson Ossain, as one of my teachers.

     Since my retirement in 1975, I have tried to keep in touch in the field of education and for several years did some tutoring with pupils who needed a little help. I have also enjoyed church and social activities. I have had the privilege of travel to many places of beauty and interest in the U.S. A. as well as observing the beauty and cultures of a number of foreign countries. Teaching is both a challenging and rewarding profession. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to meet with and work with so many wonderful people. I enjoy visiting with former students and hearing of their careers and families. I am always glad when a former student speaks and tells me his or her name. I do fairly well with remembering names, but fall short of recognizing people. Why? Seems all of you have changed a bit since first grade.