Berrien Springs High School - Canoe Yearbook (Berrien Springs, MI)

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THE COUNTRY TEACHER “O’er trackless prairies bleak with drifted snow, ‘Cross swollen streams of mountain gorges deep, Or on mud roads, soft with drenching rains, May lie the way the country teacher goes.” Or it may be by babbling streamlet’s side By woodland where the care-free wild-birds sing, Where flowers spring up, and ferns and mosses grow; By pastures green may lead her happy way. “What’er the path, forth to her task she goes One of a mighty host and yet alone. No cheer of comrade over victories won, No laurel crown, no plaudits of the throng But patient, day by day, she lifts the veil Krom wondering eyes that glow with knowledge gained, As visions of new worlds are brought to view— Wonders of earth and air, of sky and sea; Beauties of art, of poetry and song; Deeds of great men and true. But greater far Than these, she sees awakening souls grow Conscious of their powers, God given, waiting A magic touch.” Discomforts fade when comes this great reward; Our greatest joys are felt in service done. No matter what successes later won, No matter what the joys of after years, Hearts never feel a brighter, purer glow Than that which comes from duty nobly done In waking souls to light and strength and hope. A child’s bright eyes that shine as powers unfold Will light a teacher’s pathway to the skies. —Revised, by Miss Jennie Burton. n oooo OOQ OOO

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CEMQE CJO i HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY NORMAL The Berrien County Normal was established in the fall of 11)08 in the Washington school building at St. Joseph, under the supervision of Miss Angeline Landon as principal and critic. Fifteen students graduated in the spring of 1909. Several of the graduates are still active members of the profession. On account of the upper story of the Washington building not being fireproof, and since this was the only part of this building available for the Normal, it was transferred to the Garfield building for the term of 1909-10 with Miss Blanche Pepple as instructor. By September of the following year the enrollment of the public schools had increased to such an extent that the buildings were overcrowded and the Normal had to be transferred to Berrien Springs from St. Joseph. This was especially fortunate for our little village since most other county normals are held in larger cities. Miss Pepple being retained as principal and Miss Jessie Palmer, the first critic teacher the Berrien County Normal had, conducted the work during its first year at Berrien Springs, in a little brick building on the present site of the High School. It was not allowed to stay in this place very long, however, for the building burned in the winter of the second year. The only place available for temporary quarters was the old De Fields Hotel whei e the work of the year was finished. For 1912-13 the old register of deed’s office building was furnished for the Normal. That year the entire faculty was changed. Miss Bertha Mac Kenzie succeeded Miss Palmer as critic and the Normal was indeed fortunate in acquiring Miss Jennie Burton as principal, a most competent and best instructor of Normal students a county normal could obtain. She has been our principal for the last nine years. To her, the Normal students and people of this county owe very much. Her work in the Normal is of high grade. She is a very thorough teacher and continually holds the work up to the standard. No one has received a diploma from her hands who has not done a good year’s work and has shown some ability as a teacher. I o ooo ooq OOO ooao 8