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As far as I know, the one room school house is a thing of the past. Our one room school, was Valley Star School, District No. 28. Dawes County, Nebraska. The one room was about 30 feet wide and 60 feet long, and contained the material that the teacher needed to teach the first eight grades.
We were a motley bunch of youngsters, we ranged in ages from 6 to 14 years. The 14 year old girl, Maude Dahlheimer, considered herself a mature lady. The little 6 years old lad that didn't make it to the privy in time, and went all day with wet pants, considered him self an outcast. I often wonder how we appeared to the County Superintendent, who visited us twice a year to inspect our work. I am sure that the teacher knew when she was to coming, because we would get instructions to put on our best manners. We often worked very hard on some project in order to have it completed in time for inspection.
I can still see the two rows of seats, that extended from the platform where the teacher sat, to the back of the room. There was the potbelly stove that was located in the center of the room, the pail of water with the one dipper that every one used. There was a line of clothes hook that stretched across the back of the room, with a name above every one of them, and there was the blackboard in the front of the room with a crack down the middle.
The teacher rang the bell at 9:00 o'clock, and we would be considered tardy if we were not in our seat within five minutes. If I was late getting in my seat, I could miss the first recess, and be required to clean the black board, and empty the waste paper baskets.
I remember being tardy only once, and it was very embarrassing, I was the laughing stock of all my friends, Mumsie had sewed some buttons on my pants and I couldn't keep them buttoned. I thought if I got there a little late that no one would notice.
My memories of country school have always been good. My problems with grammar and spelling have followed me all my life, but I don't think it was the teachers fault. The girl I married was an English teacher, and I am still going to her for help in spelling or grammar.
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Metzger Memories
