Dunkerton High School - Raider Yearbook (Dunkerton, IA)

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Process of Svolution Before the town of Dunkerton was even on the map the District Xo. 9 school house stood near Fettkether’s corner. They held school out there after the town of Dunkerton was started, then they moved it to town. In 1892 the board voted to rent the building which stood on H. YV. Bucher’s lots for ninety dollars a year for a term of three years. This same building is occupied at present by M. Rinderknecht. Some of the teachers who taught here were: Kellie Johnson. Minnie Jones, Anna Lanigan, Grace Jones, F. F. Knapp, Jessie Markin, C. W. Harter and I. N. Eaton. In 1895 the school board bought a tract of land for $410 of Win. McNellis for a site for a new school building. The lowest bid for building was $1,300 made by C. M. Lamb and was accepted. 1. N. Eaton with Olivia Bachman were the first teachers; others were Lucy Dunkerton, J. V. Boyle, Bessie llodges, I. M. Law, G. Sage, Ortha Hartman (Mrs. Ortha Cowlishaw), Clara Chapman, Mae Frances, Lucy D. Mason and her daughter Mildred, Edyth Van Tuyl and Bessie Jones. Bessie Hodges taught here the longest of any teacher except Miss Whillis, who was here nearly five years. In 1900 the board had a meeting to decide what should be done with the school house. It was voted to repair it as much as absolutely necessary and bring the question to the voters at the next annual meeting. In 1908 the board met and delegated T. 1’. Dunkerton and J. R. Page to have the old building torn down. I lie laborers, who tore down the building were paid 15c an hour for their work. The board bought the present school house site of G. T. McNellis for $200. 1 he bids that were up for the decision of the board were from Mr. Scales -and J. A. Renz. J. A. Renz’s bid for $2,200 was accepted. When it came to buying a bell, a motion was made that they buy the bell from Sears, Roebuck Co., but when it came to a vote there were two in favor and two opposed, it was then decided to buy the bell of J. A. Campbell. The first teachers who taught in the new building were Gertrude Merrit who taught in the upper grades, for $40, and Harriet Merrit in the lower grades at $40. Some of the teachers who followed were: Marguerite Atherton, B. E. Guyer, J. G. Spiecher, Mamie Shillington, Robina Leask. Mrs. C. A. Morris and Miss Maude liillis who came in March, 1914, to take the place of Mamie Shillington. 1 lie following fall the school was somewhat enlarged by the addition of the ninth grade, which was taught by Miss E. E. Morgan while Miss De Frehn had the primary room. 'I'lie school house has been improved ( ?) a little by the addition of a house over the front door, and the tearing out of the partition in the upper room to make more space and accommodate more grades, and the changing of the heating plant. This leads up to the beginning of the present school year with the same corps of teachers as the preceding year. They were Mrs. Cruise, principal; Miss Strayer, grammar; Aliss Whillis, intermediate, and Miss Coombs, primary. Everything ran smoothly until the “flu” made us close down for a while, and the civil service called Miss Coombs, Miss Strayer and Miss Whillis to Washington, D. C. Aliss Wheeler took the place left vacant by Aliss Coombs, and Airs. R. brands substituted in the grammar grades for a week, then Aliss Lucy Francis was appointed to finish out the year, while Airs. Johnson took Aliss Whillis’ place in the intermediate room. Afarch 28 an election was called to find out the sentiment of the people. 1 hirteen votes were cast for an addition and twenty-eight for a new building. We anxiously await the future. —Russell Brant.

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We the Sophomores of 1919 do dedicate this ( Annual to our Principal and Teacher oMrs. Pearl Giddings Cruise who has so faithfully labored with us the past year

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Education is a process from the time one enters school as “raw material” until he comes out, a finished product. It is a melting, mixing, refining, shaping and moulding process until at last he is ready for a useful life. Each must go through the big “Factory of Schools” and the “Machinery of Books.” When the child enters school as “raw material,” we must subject him to a melting process, by teaching him the fundamentals of education. The mixing process takes place in the fourth, fifth and sixth grades. Here the child must be mixed with the elements that make a good student. Writing and Arithmetic and a few thoughts in History, Geography, Grammar and Agriculture tend to make a good firm backing for a future useful life. The refining process comes in the Seventh Grade, where the things which will not be useful must be eliminated and the essentials retained. Now comes the most particular process, where the child is either shaped into a useful production for the “World Market of Life” or becomes an inferior article. If the Eighth Grade is passed then a High School training is generally the result. After the strenuous measures are taken to finish Grammar Grade he must enter upon a High School career. Here he must mould his ideas for his life’s work. If in moulding lie is made strong enough to finish the Ninth process, we may feel sure that the High School will be finished. The Tenth Part is the Finishing Process for the Dunkerton Schools and, the getting ready to enter another factory which gives the highest process. Our aim is to make our Finished Products acceptable in the larger factories. —Editor-i n-C h ief.