Uncategorized

The Wilson Dam Schools of 1920 [includes a vintage film of the school and children]

(The Wilson Dam Schools had some very innovative programs as can be seen by this historic vintage film below)

The Wilson Dam School

From Times Daily Newspaper, February 20, 1920

Florence, Alabama

The Wilson Dam schools gave us such a good representation last term that they have a record difficult to beat during this quarter. Prof. Davis is leaving no stone unturned in order to bring his school up to the high mark he had set for it. That he has already far surpassed any of the other outlying schools is well known, but he feels that they have not yet arrived, and for this reason, he has gone to work this term to do even greater things. In Miss Dodd and Miss Gypson, he has splendid co-operators, and they have secured the individual and class co-operation of the pupils, in every grade in the school.

Tardiness practically eliminated

The attendance is of the best, and the percentage of study extra good. Tardiness has been practically eliminated, and all are working for the goal of a one hundred percent school.

The school continues to grow in interest and enthusiasm and new pupils are coming in each week. The enrollment has now reached 112, twenty being represented. Last week was considered by both teachers and pupils as being the best week since school opened. A number of interesting contests are on in the different rooms and bid fair to be more exciting than those of last month.

Spirited Debate

The pupils of the 6th and 7th grades had a very spirited debate in their Alabama history class Monday, the subject being, “Resolved, that Alabama is a greater state than Tennessee.” The affirmative was represented by Elizabeth Lamb and Samuel Carroll, negative by Alice Perry and Robert Johnston. After carefully considering the points brought out by both sides the primary teacher, Miss Gypson, decided in favor of the negative.

Gave to help Armenian children

On Monday Mr. Davis called upon the pupils to give at least 5 cents to help clothe and feed the poor Armenian children. Every pupil responded. One young fellow, Samuel Carroll, had 20 cents he was saving to go to the show Monday night, but after hearing about the distress and suffering of the little children, said, “I’ll give it all and gladly stay away from the show.”

On Friday afternoon the pupils of Miss Dodds room gave a very interesting program. They had as their guests the pupils from Mr. Davis’ and Miss Gypson’s rooms.

ALABAMA FOOTPRINTS Pioneers: A Collection of Lost & Forgotten Stories

Other stories include:

  • The Yazoo land fraud;
  • Daily life as an Alabama pioneer;
  • The capture and arrest of Vice-president AaronBurr;
  • The early life of William Barrett Travis in Alabama, hero of the Alamo;
  • Description of Native Americans of early Alabama including the visit by Tecumseh;
  • Treaties and building the first roads in Alabama.
Tags:

One comment

  1. The article is from 1920. The film is from 1941 according to the license plate on the bus. I found the film very interesting, similar to my elementary school experience beginning in 1953, but much different from my observing my own children in the 80’s and beyond and my wife’s experience as a teacher from 1990-2015.

Leave a Reply to Locksley S Stubblefield Cancel reply