Report Card for pupil, Tillie Siebens: Year 1919 - 1920

Teacher: Emma Dack

~Card scanned & submitted by family descendants, Vernon & Karen Harrington

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TOWNSHIP NO. 8

By Edna Lubben Johnson, former student and teacher, 1946-1949

   I attended this rural school grades 1 through 8. The teachers I had were Esther Bunge for 1st grade. Marie Phalen for grades 2, 3, 4 and 5. Valencia Kiewell for grades 6, 7 and 8.  My classmates were Duane Ludwigs and Norman Heeren. The 7th and 8th grades went to Christ Lutheran Church on Friday afternoon and Saturday mornings for confirmation instruction.
   County exams were taken in grade 7 and 8. There was an 8th grade graduation at the end of the year. Christine Petersen was the County Superintendent and she usually visited the school unannounced twice a year.

   After graduation from high school (Le Mars Central) in 1946 I received an emergency teaching certificate which was valid until I turned 18. I had completed 2 years Normal Training in high school. Because of the World War II there was a shortage of teachers. After teaching 2 years I took courses at Westmar in the summer of 1948 to renew my teaching certificate. After the school year of 1948-1949 I resigned because I got married. Some of the years about every grade had students. It took time to plan and schedule all the classes.

   Each county school had a director who gave us our checks and they were who we could go to if there was a problem etc. They would clean the school before it started in the fall. Then it was up to the teacher to be the janitor—start the coal furnace in fall and winter. Our water was brought by the parents or gotten from a neighboring farm. Everyone brought a lunch pail for noon lunch and snacks.

   Most every fall the pupils would have a program for the public. It was usually Halloween or Thanksgiving. There was an admission charge for them. Money received was used for school supplies etc.  We did have electricity—but no telephone. If there was a need an older student would go to the closest neighbor.

   The students I taught were:

Ida Heeren – grade 8
Dennis Osterbuhr – grade 7 and 8
Jenene Popken-grade 7 and 8
Lorraine Lubben-grade 6,7, and 8
James Hoffman-grade 6
Romain Popken-grade 5,6,and 7
Heinz Wilms-grade 6
Robert Doering-grade 3, 4, and 5
Maynard Mammen- grade 3, 4, and 5
Shirley Harms-grade 5
Gary Popken-grade 2, 3, and 4
Janice Mannem-grade 2, 3, and 4
Henry Ricken-grade 2 and 3
Shirley Ahrendt-grade 3
Marlow Ahrendt-grade 1
Barbara Popken-Primary, 1 and 2
Janet Rieken-Primary
Marlin Lubben-Primary
Ronald Beeck-Primary and 1
Geneva  Harms-Primary and 1
Howard Mammen-Primary and 1
Mark Doering-Primary
Douglas Beeck-Primary
James Marienau-Primary
Else Wilms-grade 4
Betty Hoffman-grade 3
Larry Hoffman-grade 3
Lanny Harms-grade 1, 2, and 3

   Games and various types of ball were usually played at recesses and noon hour. The country schools were important to the community.

~Edna Lubben taught Grant No. 8, 1946-1949

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