Challenges Abound for Yesteryear's Students

Highlights of 1906-07

Early record books speak volumes for the challenges youngsters faced in attaining an education a little over a century ago. During the 1906-07 school year at District 8 Pauline School, 41 students were enrolled in the fifth through the eighth grades; but on an average day only 21 students - 51 percent - were in attendance. A mere 13 of the 41 upper elementary students were present for more than two-thirds of the nine-month school year, and not surprisingly, no one attained perfect attendance. There were, however, 318 tardies, with one student logging in 41 for the year; while another was late 26 out of 82½ days attended.

Against all odds, however, two out of the 14 youth on the eighth grade roster, Eva Boswell and Nellie Allen, graduated from the eighth grade in May of 1907. Both young women were 16 years of age. The academic year began Sept. 3, 1906, and culminated with graduation on May 31, 1907.

Shown is a 1907 yearend summary. During the 1906-07 school year upper elementary students were graded in an array of subject matter: orthography (spelling), reading, writing, arithmetic, geography, grammar, U.S. history, physiology, civil government, agriculture, drawing and music. Physiology and agriculture studies included oral lessons. Writing and drawing consisted of sessions from the blackboard; Teacher F. Faustina Forrester had 5 square yards of blackboard on which to impart knowledge to Pauline scholars. Music included study of notes, writing notes and singing. A typical school day began with opening exercises and current events study. Late afternoon entailed "library work and Geographical Journeys." Condition of repair of the school building was listed as good.

Sadly, a notation of "Work too difficult" was given to a 15-year-old sixth-grader who attended only 55 ½ days of school.
The student body for grades 5-8 was comprised of 24 males and 17 females who ranged in age from 9 to 18. Students in the eighth grade were from 13 to 18 years of age. There were no seventh-graders listed. Sixth-grade students were from 10 to 15 years of age. There were 19 students in the fifth year of study ranging from 9 to 13 years of age.
Visits to the school included two by the county superintendent, but none from the school director. Also notable were appearances by the locally prominent Griffith Evans, a Welch immigrant, educator and Adams County civic leader. Likely this was a momentous occasion, as Mr. Evans was elected Adams County assessor during the year following his visit to Pauline School. He was the uncle of Owen G. Evans, future Pauline storekeeper and school board member.

Students in the fifth through the eighth grades ranged in age from eight to 17 years. This included 24 male and 10 female students. The number of students on the roster dipped to 34, as compared to 41 in the previous year. Average daily attendance rose slightly to 18, with 56 percent of the student body present on any given day. Once again this year there were no days that someone was not absent or tardy.

Highlights of 1907-08

As students began the 1907-08 school year, they would have been privy to the sights and sounds of an elegant stone structure being erected just a block away, as the burgeoning Pauline Methodist Episcopal congregation was in the process of constructing a large and beautiful house of worship that remains to this day. Among the 15 visitors to the classroom that year was a Mr. Shoaf, likely the Rev. W.H. Shoaf of the local church. Mr. Shoaf had no children in school at the time, but record books show that it was not uncommon for local clergy to visit school in those years.

Mr. Shoaf and other visitors may have observed upper-level elementary students taking writing lessons taught from the blackboard.

"Numbers 4, 6, 9 are behind their class in arithmetic. Numbers 5, 6, 9, 24 are also behind the class in reading." -Teacher Nellie Sherman

Young scholars also memorized poems and wrote letters and stories for language studies. The school day began at 9 a.m. and included 15-minute recesses at 10:30 and 2:30. Also on the study docket was preparation for eighth-grade examinations, which took place March 27, an indication that Pauline was a graded school at this point. There only three eighth graders on the roster, as compared to 14 during the 1906-07 year. All three, Emma Boswell, Josaphine May and Clyde Triplett, had been on the rolls the previous year as eighth graders. They were now 16 and 17 years of age. However, no graduates were listed for the year.

The challenges of haphazard attendance were borne out in the year-end summary recorded in the classification register. Referring to individual students, teacher Nellie Sherman wrote, "Numbers 4, 6, 9 are behind their class in arithmetic. No. 19 is able to take up 5th grade arithmetic but he can not make his grade in reading. Numbers 5, 6, 9, 24 are also behind the class in reading. Those pupils marked sixth grade, or at least a few of them who came until the close of the year, have had some sixth grade work but it would be well to commence the review at the beginning of that grade."

Highlights of 1908-1909

Likewise, teacher Ella McCarty duly noted at the end of 1908-09 that "Fifth grade arithmetic class were obliged to review nearly all of fourth grade arithmetic on entering, so have not covered all work outlined by course – Would suggest a review of the applications of percentage in elementary before taking up advanced text. . . . . Nos. 13 and 24 have missed some school and were weak sixth grade but by good application can do the work A textbook inventory for the 1908-09 school year is shown. – were promoted on condition."
The record reflects what a struggle it must have been for some to attain an education: 17-year-old Josephine (sic) May, who had been listed as an eighth-grader the two previous years, was on the school roster for 1908-09, but without a grade designation. Also among the upper elementary student body was an 18-year-old in the seventh year of study. Teacher McCarty duly noted that another student was , "unable to do good work on account of physical defect."
The school day began at 9 a.m. and ended at 4 p.m., with the last five minutes of the day devoted to writing or drawing. The nine-month school term was in session for 186 days. Condition of the building was listed as fair, with 5 1/3 yards of blackboard on which to impart wisdom to young minds.
Enrollment continued to decline, with only 22 students on the fifth- through eighth-grade rolls during the 1908-09 school year. The students - 14 male and eight female - were between nine and 18 years of age; twelve out of the 22 attended school more than two-thirds of the year. On an encouraging note, average daily attendance was up to 75 percent, meaning that 15 out of 22 students would be present at school on any given day. There were 159 tardies over the course of the academic year. Students and teacher saw one visit from the county superintendent, but none from school board director R.O. Slater.

Highlights of 1909-10

Appearing on the student roster for the 1909-10 school year were three of the seven Jones brothers - Erle, Harvey and Elmer - sons of "Seven-The sons of "Seven-Boy Tommy" Jones, three of which were on the student roster during the 1909-10 school year. Exact photo identities are not determined. Boy Tommy" Jones who later became proprietor of Pauline's Chicago Lumber Store. Fifteen-year-old Elmer Jones was the sole graduate for the year 1909-10. Harvey Jones would eventually go on to marry one of his classmates, Roseanne Lofquist. As an adult she was a leader in school, church and community affairs, and was instrumental in Pauline transitioning from a 10-year to a 12-year school in 1929-30 (See 1920s section of school history). She served as a newspaper correspondent for The Hastings Democrat, adding greatly to the body of knowledge of Pauline life during the 1920s and '30s.
During the 175 days of school that year, students were instructed in orthography, reading, writing, arithmetic, geography, language, grammar, U.S. history and physiology.

The five visitors to school included a Miss Kress, possibly the daughter of early Pauline settler Mortimer Kress. This year there was one visit from county superintendent and none from school board director.

Highlights of 1910-11

The year 1910-11 featured Saturday school, held at the end of May, in order to make up for a day missed on Jan. 2, although no further details were given as to why a day of school was missed. Appearing on the rolls were future Pauline High graduates Alfred Lofquist, at that time age 9 (grade level not listed); and 11-year-old Bennie Leighfield, fifth grader. Both were prominent Pauline residents in adulthood. Lofquist (brother of Roseanne, mentioned in 1909-10) eventually operated a garage and electrical plant in Pauline, while Leighfield was an area farmer, beloved by many.

Bennie Leighfield, in Lawrence, NE, about the time he would have started school in Pauline.All students were either tardy or absent at some point during the school year. The highest grade earned was a 99 in orthography; the lowest given was a 60 in reading. Coursework included advanced U.S. history, physiology, civil government, agriculture and geography; the latter included geography of Nebraska. Teacher Ernestine Kolberg wrote in her year-end summary, "The entire sixth grade did not pass in Geography. They are very poor readers and for that reason could not get the work." She also recommended a review in reading for the sixth grade. At least one of those sixth-graders, Arthur Sime, nonetheless went on to become a successful Pauline businessman. Instructor Kolberg's listing of texts utilized included Cyr's reading; Palmer's Method, writing; American W'd Book, orthography; Milne's Progressive Arithmetic, Milne's Standard; Nat. Elem and Natural Advanced, geography; and Geography of Nebraska; Metcalfe's Element. Gram., language; Hoenshels Adv. grammar and Metcalfe's English Grammar.

Highlights of 1911-12

In what likely was a first in the history of Pauline School - and certainly a contrast to the recent preceding years - student Alfred LofquistAlfred Lofquist attained perfect attendance, being neither tardy nor absent during the term. He eventually graduated from the 10th grade at Pauline School. The 19 upper-grade boys had an average daily attendance of 15; while the 14 girls' average daily attendance was 10.
The academic year ran from Sept. 5 - May 18, with 180 days of school being taught. The school day began at 9 a.m. and ended at 4 p.m. Among the subjects proffered was drawing, with 91 being the highest grade given. Future spouses Rosanna Lofquist, 14, and Harvey Jones, 16, were both eighth graders. Also in their class was Harvey's 15-year-old brother Erle Jones. Rosanna attended 170 days of school, while her future husband Harvey attended 143 days.

Under a section entitled "Graduates this term", teacher H.W. Barker wrote "All but 3", likely meaning that Record reflecting Lofquist perfect attendance, perhaps the first in Pauline School history. Rosanna Lofquist, Klen Sherman, Thomas Abbott, Erle Jones, Harvey Jones and Guy Osgood all graduated from 8th grade or the 8th year of study. Student No. 3, Golda Bauder, appeared on the student roster with ninth-graders in the succeeding year, but was unclassified in terms of grade level; although she eventually graduated from the 10th grade at Pauline's fledgling high school.

This school year featured three visits by the county superintendent, but none from the director of the school board. Seven other visitors graced the student body with their presence.tes this term", teacher H.W. Barker wrote "All but 3", likely meaning that Rosanna Lofquist, Klen Sherman,Thomas Abbott, Erle Jones, Harvey Jones and Guy Osgood all graduated from eighth grade or the eighth year of study. Student No. 3, Golda Bauder, appeared on the student roster with ninth-graders in the succeeding year, but was unclassified in terms of grade level; although she eventually graduated from the 10th grade at Pauline's fledgling high school.

High School Coursework Added

Class schedule from 1912 for District 8 Pauline School. Taken from Welch's Upper Grades Classification Register. Adams County Historical Society, AR 1.8-1-3.

 Highlights of 1912-1913

Records from this year reflect the addition of high school coursework, with ninth-year students on the rolls. Algebra and bookkeeping were now offered for the upper grades, along with civil government and agriculture. Also studied was Masterpieces of American Literature.

The ninth-grade roster included four of the previous year's eighth-grade graduates: Rosanna Lofquist, Erle Jones, Harvey Jones, and Guy Osgood; as well as Golda Bauder, who was listed with the ninth-graders but not given a grade classification. Also on the rolls with the ninth-year students were Vernon Binderup and Harry Stromer (also not given a grade classification). This group ranged in age from 14 to 19 years of age, with future 10th grade graduates Rosanna and Golda being the youngest.

Overall, the 35 fifth- through ninth-grade pupils ranged in age from 8 to 19; these included 21 males and 14 females; average daily attendance was now up to an impressive 86 percent, with 30 students likely to be present on any given day. Students exhibited a range of abilities, with grades from 45 to 95 posted in orthography; and 45 to 98 in algebra, both given to fifth-graders. A "natural slant" technique was studied in writing, along with natural and advanced geography and drawing. Teacher H.W. Barker entertained five visits from the county superintendent and one from the board director, in addition to 10 other guests throughout the year. Condition of repair of building was listed as fair, with 5½ square yards of blackboard.