- North Forrest Elementary
-
North Forrest Elementary School is an elementary school in Forrest County, Mississippi.
Contents
Brief description
Situated in the northeastern corner of Forrest County, the North Forrest Elementary campus has been the site of a community school since the 1890s. NFE is currently “home” to 325 students in grades K-6 from the communities of Eatonville, Glendale, and Rawls Springs. The educational program consists of 22 regular education classes. Students in Grades K-4 are assigned to self-contained classrooms. Grades 5-6 are departmentalized, with students moving from one class to another. [1]
History
Mr. W. M. Hemeter gave 3 acres (12,000 m2) of land to the school with the stipulation that “should the school fail at any time for a period of two years as a neglect on the part of the patrons of the Eatonville school, the land revert back to W. M. Hemeter.” The original building was an L-shaped, 2 room building constructed from rough lumber. As there was no electricity or indoor plumbing, wood stoves provided heat and water was distributed using a community bucket. The schoolroom had a bench where students sat and recited their lessons to the principal who sat on a stage. The students used slates to write on and Mrs. Nobles recalls that using the double slate was “extra special.” Students would enter the primer class at age five, but many students began earlier as they attended with an older brother or sister. School sessions only lasted four months each year. The school day began each day with chapel which consisted of a song, prayer, and Bible reading. The rest of the day was spent studying the subjects of arithmetic, grammar, history, physiology, geography, spelling, and penmanship. During recess time the children played in the surrounding pine forest. The boys and girls played on separate sides of the playground. According to Mr. Tolbert Montgomery, Miss Duncan would spend time at recess instructing students about manners, especially on how to introduce a lady to a gentleman. In a published report in the 1920s the school was said to have a good playground in a beautifully kept cove of trees. The property was estimated to be worth about 2,500. This same report also described the school as lacking supplies such as desks and chalkboards. It also stated the school had no library, one map, window shades in poor condition, and one teacher’s desk. The school at this time had two pit toilets and the water supply came from a pump with individual cups used by the students. At this time there were three teachers working at the school. M. H. Bassett, Nellie Grantham, and Reta Larey, they were paid $210.00 from the county and $20.00 from the district. At this time teachers were not required to have college training, they only had to pass a state exam and the courthouse. If they were able to pass the exam they were allowed to teach. The school had 119 students enrolled in the nine grades that were taught. The records show that there were several canning club members. Also, domestic science and farm mechanics were taught to some degree. The county even budgeted $115.00 per month for transportation for students. If a child lived more than two miles (3 km) from the school they could ride the school wagon. In 1922 a modern brick building was constructed at this time to serve as both the elementary and high school. The trustees were L. M. Richardson, C. F. Trussell, and R. W. Knight; and J. P. Krouse was the architect. In 1923 the school closed early due to lack of funds. These problems continued throughout the 20’s and in 1928-29 the school bus drivers were paid only half the year. The buses were then driven by students for the rest of the school year. Again during the 30’s the school began to have money troubles. In 1932 the teachers were paid 45 per month from the county, Forrest County was one of the few counties able to pay their teachers. Many counties were giving I.O.U.’s but were never able to pay. In 1925 the school boasted its first graduating class. It consisted of two students, Ruby Lee Mixon and Mary Mixon Collins. There was no formal ceremony for these students, they were just given their diplomas. The following year, the second graduating class was much larger. It had nine members: Walter E. Bedsole, Martin Richardson, J. Stanton Lee, Rolland B. Odom, Clarence O. Bedsole, Naomi Bryant, Mary Jones, Carey Bufkin, and Walter Lee. This class had the first class ring, it cost the students eight dollars. During the 1940’s many teachers were soldiers’ wives and taught for only 6–8 weeks before moving on with their husband. In 1945 a war surplus building was placed by the gym. This building was used to house a vocational agricultural room and a dark room. This later led to the schools membership in the Film Library at Mississippi Southern. The first school annual, The Eagle, was published in 1948. The editor was Dot Story and Peggy Lee the assistant editor. It was this same year that the school had its first football team. In a report that was published in 1953-54 the school was said to consist of an elementary building, a gymnasium, a superintendent’s home, and a vocational agricultural building. There were six teachers in the elementary school with enrollment at 143; while grades 7 thru 12 had seven teachers for the same enrollment of 143. The school session lasted eight months, but the following year it changed to nine months.[2]
See also
Forrest County School District
External links
References
Categories:- Elementary schools in Mississippi
- Schools in Forrest County, Mississippi
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
