Keokuk County Iowa IAGenWeb - 1904 School Essay Contest - English River Township, School No. 4

A community is generally known by the school it has kept in the past, by the school it keeps at present and by the school it intends to keep in the future. Fifty years ago, in the district which is known as Grant district, school was taught in a colonial structure situated between the residences of Mr. G.C. McCombs and Mr. R.A. Miles. In my imagination I can see that school fifty years ago and can also see the school of fifty years in the future. Let us hope there may be a far greater progress made in the improvement of the schools in the future than has been in the past. For as Spencer says, “If education be a daily preparation for life, then should every child have a daily experience of this fact,” civilization calls education. With this fact in mind, an independent district was organized in the year 1858. Mr. Lutton, Mr. Peck, and Mr. Harris were chosen as first directors. Mr. Nisewander and Mr. Crosby built the first schoolhouse in this independent district and named it Grant in honor of the famous General Grant. Bartley Scott was chosen as first teacher. (Our present schoolhouse was built in the year 1901.) It is located on one of Iowa’s fair hills, which slopes off toward the sunset. About one hundred square rods or a little over one half acre of Iowa’s soil is laid out for the playground. This one-half acre contains fourteen trees: namely, maple, elm, and crabapple. The plant life consists of cinders and weed stubs; a little grass mixed in occasionally. A very substantial fence surrounds it but according to my notion it is not very tasty. The school was at one time blest with a well but it got to leaking and the bottom was removed and a new floor was put in its place.

The patrons of the district try to show quite a bit of economy. At one of their annual meetings there was one gentleman arose and asked to have the well sold because some fellow might want it to work up into post holes.

The schoolhouse stands near the northeast corner of the square, about two feet from the road. It is very beautifully located. The door faces sunrise and the house has four windows on the north and four on the south. The schoolhouse is 20 by 26 feet and has a hall at the entry which is 20 by 6 feet. The house is two years old and is in fair condition. The decorations on the inside are composed of a few pictures and two calendars. The outside painting is mainly in spots, being completely covered when it was new but wearing away with time. The stove stands near the rear of the house, between the two doors. The pipe, which is now leaning at an angle of ninety-two degrees, has been pushed in line a number of times since school began. The stove has a bright crimson color. We have no globes or charts. We have one map of Iowa, but it has fringed edges and has seen its best days. The blackboard is located at the front and is composed of four slates, each three by five feet, which are in good condition. The seats and desks are in the common old fashioned double kind. They are not extra good and are not beautiful by any means. They have done duty for many generations of pupils. Our window curtains are all in fair condition except one which is stationary.

We have a fair library of twenty volumes containing such books as “Girls Who Became Famous,” “Great American Industries,” and “Four Great Americans.” The books are all in good condition. We have twenty scholars enrolled and have seven who have been neither absent nor tardy during the term. Out present teacher is Elis Kirkpatrick who just finished the 20th of February a very successful term of school.

Now look with me into the future of not only my school but of all country schools. Will the time ever come when the country schools shall be blessed with adjustable and single seats and also be properly ventilated? When will Iowa decorate her public schools as she does her capital and county seats? When will the room be added which may be used for the public entertainments? When will they be supplied with a basement containing a furnace, a workshop, and lunch tables? When will proud Iowa be willing to give at least one acre to each school for playground? Will the time ever come when the schools will be supplied with globes, maps, and charts as they should be? Will the time ever come when the Keokuk County schools shall be consolidated and all scholars be given a fair and equal chance at a high school education? Will the time ever come when the patrons will take the interest that they should take in our public school system? Why not have the public school stand out as an example of art and beauty? Will the time ever come when the Stars and Strips shall float over every public school in America? When will the schools become as comfortable and attractive as the home? When it becomes all this it will be none too much for the cause of education. Pupils would have an inspiration not only to be in school but to try to obtain an education and be somebody. If the schools are to be the success that we hope for, they should have the attention, interest, and cooperation of all citizens.