By: Sheila Crowley
Murray County News Staffwriter
One of the last remaining country school buildings in Murray County was torn down on Friday, October 12th. Lake Beauty School, according to a 1908 plat book was already in existence. Many of the rural schools in the area disappeared in the late 1950’s when consolidation took place. The little blue schoolhouse, which closed in 1956, was a landmark for many.
“Country” schools as they were termed in the early days, one teacher taught students through the eighth grade. The school year was eight months long with enrollments ranging from 30 students and up. During the winter months, there could be as many as 45 students due to the fact corn picking had been completed and the older students were allowed to come back to school for three or four months until the spring work began.
The teacher served in many capacities including custodian, counselor, disciplinarian, peace-maker, librarian, physical education instructor, music teacher, program director, as well as classroom teacher. Teachers started the fires in the big old stoves with jackets around them, swept their room every evening, and carried the ashes. They also set up traps to catch mice.
School began at 9:00 a.m. and let out at 4:00 p.m. with one hour off at noon and a 15-minute recess each half day. In the winter, the noon break was shortened to 30 minutes and dismissal was at 3:30 p.m. so the kids could reach home before dark. Some had over two miles to walk home.
They did have hot lunch programs in those days, too, but no cooks to prepare it. Students brought things in fruit jars to be heated in a large kettle of water or baked potatoes in the ash pan of the old stove. They also had sandwiches, fruit, and cookies in their lunch buckets.
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