AppreciationforaTeacher
By Taylor BaileyTeacher Appreciation Week is still a couple of months away in May but it’s never too early to recognize one of our own.
I spent some time with Dorothy Robinson, a resident since August 2022, as she remembered her time in her one-room schoolhouse.
MARCH 2024
“I taught in a country school, all grades. 1st until 8th but we combined 4th and 5th grades and 7th and 8th grades,” she says. “I had four little first graders my first year, twenty-seven students in all. It was a different atmosphere from the parents to the children. Whatever I said, that was it! There was no arguing; I never had to spank anyone! I was the only teacher.”
I asked her why she had wanted to be a teacher and she talked about her students. “I received a thank you letter from one of my first-grade students from the first year I taught there,” she remembers. “He sent me a Christmas card and wrote thank you for being my teacher. He has been successful. That will be enough for me, that my students are successful.”
One of the possibly unintentional benefits of a one room schoolhouse that my own father has talked about was that if you missed a week for any reason, sickness or needing to help with the farm, it didn’t hurt your education. You made it up the next year. Because all the grades were in the same room together, all the knowledge was reinforced, and you heard it more than once.
Dorothy also talked about some of the duties outside of teaching that were required. “I taught in Sprague Schoolhouse, just west of Rich Hill, MO,” she recalls. “I had to start the fire to heat the room in the winter mornings. The third year I taught there an 8th grade boy was paid to help with the ashes in the stove. I got there early, absolutely. I had to be able to manage things, but the parents were always helpful. All I had to do was tell them I needed something.”
Although schools look very different now, historian Michael Day says oneroom schoolhouses are a huge part of American history. “For most of our nation’s history, most people in the United States got their education in a oneroom schoolhouse. The last one closed in 1967,” he said.
Teacher appreciation –continued on page 2
Helpful volunteers make life better
For roughly the past year, Life Enrichment director Angela Carpenter has enjoyed a big, helpful lift from one of her key volunteers, Kathy Vaccaro.
“She comes in every Wednesday and hosts game time with the residents,” Angela said.
“Anything from playing cards, board games, whatever they want to do for the evening as far as games.”
In addition to helping on Wednesdays, Angela said Kathy has stepped up to help with other events, such as serving at large group dinners.
“They had an event at the college for people to sign up with different companies that had different volunteer programs,” Angela said. “Kathy was one of the only people who signed up and completed everything. And she’s been wonderful!”
Angela said the work of a volunteer like Kathy is invaluable in helping her do her work effectively - and find a balance with other parts of her life.
“I am the only activities person here, so I can’t be here every evening, I can’t work 24/7,” she said. “To have her here for 2 or 3 hours with residents, they love her and it’s amazing for me. But the residents really benefit from that extra engagement and interaction from someone outside of the community.” u
Teacher appreciation –continued from page 1
Dorothy said she couldn’t compare the two since she hasn’t had anyone in school for a while. She mentioned that up until the last three years she had still been substitute teaching and still enjoyed it.
Dorothy also reminisced some of the fun events outside of lessons. “We had a pie supper. I was dating the man I married, my Bruce, and he knew which basket was mine,” she says. “I didn’t have a car when I first started teaching but it wasn’t too long before I got a little Model A Coupe. It had a carriage in the back and kids loved climbing into it for a ride. We lived in a different time, it was wonderful.”
I asked her if she had any advice for teachers today and she thought about it for a moment. “I don’t know what advice I would give. Everyone was helpful, I never had to ask for anything that I needed or wanted. It was a great environment to teach school in.”
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Teacher Appreciation Week is May 6
– 10. Eleanor Roosevelt started the celebration in 1953, originally observed in March.
During this year’s appreciation week,
take a moment to thank a teacher in your life like Dorothy. Something as simple as a card or a message can let them know that all they do to help lift future generations is appreciated. u
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Fort Scott, KS 66701
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Community Matters
is published quarterly for residents and friends of Fort Scott Presbyterian Village by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America, Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization.
To submit or suggest articles: mheckman@pmma.org
Marla Heckman, executive director
Taylor Bailey, senior living sales specialist
OUR MISSION: To provide quality senior services guided by Christian values.
