Only a few people can relate today to one- and two-room schools that existed in Clark County and other parts of the country 100 years ago.
Usually heated by a wood- or coal-burning stove, these pioneering institutions of education sometimes taught students in multiple classes in one room, such as first, second and third grades; or “middle school,” sixth, seventh and eighth grades. Often, one dedicated teacher was in charge of education on all those levels.
As one who attended an early-day school (Sara), I recall the teacher did everything, including preparation of the lesson plan for two or three grades; taking students on field trips; maintaining discipline (sometimes with the sting of a rod or ruler); supervising playground recess, and sweeping up the classroom at the end of the day.
Battle Ground School District — noting its first century — will be recalling those early times, and recognizing educators and volunteers who helped make those schools function.
Gregg Herrington, district communications director, using research from district sources and information from Clark County and state archives, said the district was created in 1908 by consolidation of the Maple Grove and Dublin districts. Maple Grove was south of today’s downtown Battle Ground and Dublin was north. After overcoming a challenge, the consolidation was approved by the Clark County commissioners, and the Battle Ground district’s first year was 1909-1910. Central School was completed downtown in 1910.
The district is celebrating its 100th birthday Saturday with a public community gathering (including lunch for $3) from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Battle Ground High School. Vancouver Heritage Ambassadors will appear in 1909-1910-era costumes, and “100 heroes” (living or deceased) nominated by district employees and the public will be honored at 11:30 a.m.
A long journey
Esther Skarstedt Brown of Maple Grove was one of those pioneer teachers. She attended school to the sixth grade and, encouraged by her teacher, passed the eighth grade examinations ”with flying colors.” In 1901, she became a teacher in the Alpine School District in Roxwell, north of Venersborg and east of Crawford near Battle Ground Lake in northeast Clark County. Her salary was $30 a month, $5 less than a male teacher’s salary. There were 17 children in her class, 14 of whom had no previous schooling. Nine spoke only Finnish. Brown later taught 62 children at Glenwood. Many were older than she. Her pay increased to $40 a month.
Other district “heroes” during the past century included R.S. Durkee, Clark County superintendent of schools from 1955 to 1963. During his career, Durkee helped create the district; drove the district’s first school bus in 1918 and was a teacher, basketball coach, principal and state legislator over five decades.
Annie Ryan Ebert taught in a one-room school near Tumtum Mountain about 1914, and was acclaimed by former Vancouver librarian Eva Santee as the “best-read woman” in Clark County.
Others among the “heroes” included Marion Halberg, volunteer at Maple Grove primary and mother of 13 children.
Axel Forsman was the Battle Ground High School librarian in the 1940s and 1950s.
D.B. Mickey was the district’s only janitor and served as school bus driver in the 1930s.
About 175 people were nominated as district “heroes,” including clerks, volunteers, teachers, administrators and board members of the past — all doing their best to support education.
From its pioneer beginning a century ago, Battle Ground now provides learning in 20 schools for more than 13,000 students. The district covers 271 square miles, 43 percent of Clark County. That’s a long educational journey from 1863, when Brush Prairie was likely the first school district in the northeast part of the county.
This event, as the district notes, is “celebrating 100 years of preparing our children for the rest of their lives.” That’s what education is all about.
