Historical Collections Volume 14 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1908 Excerpt: ...the best teacher in the State, to undertake the management of one hundred and fifty pupils in a schoolroom thus unfinished and unfurnished, save with the multifarious and nondescript "desks, stands and chairs" which the whim of each pupil had selected and brought there for his or her own use. They acknowledged that the situation was unpromising but urged me to go and do the best I could. This was done. We considered our winter's work in that schoolroom the pursuit of knowledge under difficulties. And we often said to the students, "Those of you who acquit yourselves as good and orderly pupils under the adverse circumstances here this winter, will not only receive the approbation of all your friends, but you will have received a discipline that will be of great value to you in after life." There were two recitation rooms, partitioned off with studding and rough boards, at the east end of the large school room. I conducted recitations in one, and Miss Hinsdale in the other. Thus for the largest part of the time, during school hours, the pupils in the main room were left to govern themselves. This was an unusual thing, but even the students saw that it was inevitable, and endeavored to make the best of it, as the following resolution, drawn up by Manly D. Rowley, and signed by most of them, will prove: "We, the scholars and students of the Union School No. 1, of the village of Battle Creek, feeling a due sense of the responsibility resting upon us individually as students and members of the same, for the maintenance of good order and the establishment of good principles, which we would ever strive to secure; and also feeling the deepest responsibility due to teachers and instructors for the disinterested kindness by them bestowed upon us, h...