Kasson Mantorville High School - Komet Yearbook (Kasson, MN)

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CHAPTER II Our school story begins in 1776, the year of our in- dependence. In reality, however, it began more than a century earlier—shortly after the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock. That’s when the first American schools were started. The Puritans were practical people, you see, and they felt that their ability to conquer the wilderness lay in their children’s state of preparation. Only through edu- cation could they attain the knowledge they needed to “confound Satan.” First, these children of the Puritans needed desper- ately to learn to read—English in order to master busi- ness and the law and Latin in order to understand im- portant religious materials. (Massachusetts passed a com- pulsory education law in 1642. Later, the state made provisions for each town of 60 families to provide an elementary teacher; a town of 100 families or more had to maintain a suitable Latin grammar school in addition to the elementary teacher.) Books and classroom materials? They were neither varied nor sophisticated. The Bay Psalm Book, the Bible and the Catechism were at the top of the recommended reading list. Supplementary classroom aids were in the form of oral tales and allegories to teach moral lessons of the day. There was a hornbook of ABC’s for teaching the vernacular. Colonial charters of the Dutch colonies—Pennsylvania, etc.—also provided for government-established schools. The middle colonies had difficulties. Varied as to religion and heritage, there was dissension among the people on educational issues. In short, each religion insisted that its children receive educational training in keeping with its creed. The South’s problems were different, too. Because of the rural nature of the population, centralized schools were impractical. As a result, wealthy planters employed tutors and set up schoolhouses on their lands. Their children as well as the children of their less well-to-do neighbors received instruction from the tutors. By 1776, both the curriculum and teaching methods had progressed considerably from the earlier days. In keeping with European tradition, vocational studies and applied sciences had largely been omitted from the early 18th century curricula in favor of the classics—Cato, Virgil and Cicero. But, America was born at a time when science and rationalism were challenging the validity of many traditions. The students benefited. Science, math, writing, astronomy, etc., were added to the school-day agenda. And, there was more of a choice in schools themselves. Although the Latin grammar schools still flourished as prep schools for the Harvards and Yales, private English schools had been introduced to better prepare middle class students for the business world and for the task of governing themselves. (Some private schools even agreed to admit girls alongside the boys, though most offered special classes for females—classes emphasizing sewing, music, art, reading and penmanship.) Even then, however, it was impossible to please all of the people all of the time or even most of the people at a single instance. Just as some had though the Latin schools too restrictive, others felt that the private English schools lacked discipline. 23

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Kasson Schools r % In 1879, a new brick schoolhouse, 60’ by 80 feet, costing $15,000 was built. This was de- stroyed by fire in 1882. 1879, the School Board of Kasson awarded the contract for re- building the school to a firm in Winona. In 1895, a second story was added, together with a belfry. June 20,1917, this school (pictured top right) was destroyed by fire, which was be- lieved to have started when some boys threw a fire-cracker into the belfry that contained straw from birds nest. The school pictured to the right was com- pleted during 1917-18 to replace the one that burned. After consolidation of Kasson and Mantorville it is now used as the primary school for grades K-4. At the east end of the Kasson Park stands a square brick home. This is on the site of the former brick kiln. At one time, this was the home of Mr. Thurwachter, the Agricultural instructor in the high school. The land sur- rounding it was used for experimental crops. Below: Kasson’s second school building, con- structed in the late 1860’s. It is with a feeling of considerable pride and pleasure that the editor and adviser present this history to the people. The undertaking has not been an easy one and the difficulties have been many. This work would not have been possible without the financial backing of the generous contributors listed below. Also, to the following who helped in some way: Grace Fredrickson, Mr. and Mrs. Earl Bartel, Mrs. and Mrs. Richard Folkestad, Mr. Don Fiegel, Mr. Folmer Carlsen, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Leuthold. It has been our aim to select matter that is authentic, reliable and interesting to the people to hand down to future genera- tions. We are indebted to the following sources from which we recorded our in- formation: ♦Dodge County Independent news- paper files ♦Kasson Centennial booklet ♦History of Mantorville, Minnesota ♦History of Winona, Olmsted and Dodge Counties ♦Atlas of Dodge County Minnesota ♦Dodge County Profiles Clsruru C - c t A,' TpferM n' Trecfr cAso ?; $30.00 contributor Kasson State Bank $25.00 contributor The Relay Station $15.00 contributors Folkestad Chevrolet Garage Kasson Lumber Company K-M Telephone Company Stussy Construction Inc. $10.00 contributors Ben Franklin Store Bishop and Wachholz Burt’s Standard Station Daryl Graves Insurance Dibble Furniture Store Dodge County Independent Erdman’s Supermarket Friendly Tavern Gambles Greenway Coop Elevator Harold’s Welding Shop Harris Insurance Agency Kasson Karpet Mart Leutholds Kasson Parts and Supply Maxson Electric Miller’s Used Merchandise and Antiques Moorman Mfg.Co. 1-Stop Realty Inc. Prescher Electric Service Dr. M.L. Stucky Spillman’s Barber Shop Spilman’s Market Thompson Insurance Village Inn Zumbro Valley Golf Course $5.00 contributors Abel Signs and Decorating Center A1 Rud’s Auto Mart Bette’s Beauty Salon B G Auto Repair Bob Shadow Accounting and Tax Service Boston Cafe Charlie’s Hauling Service Chimney Cupboard El’s Texaco Erickson’s Hardware Frank’s Feed and Seed Gordy’s Body Shop, Inc. Greenway Coop Service Station Hubbell House John C. Banks Ins. Ag. John’s Radio and TV Inc. Johnson’s Mobil Service Kasson Ford, Inc. Kasson Krafts Kasson Lanes Kasson Speed Wash Komet Kleaners Marjorie’s Beauty Salon Patterson Motors and Implement Ron’s Barber Shop Rosemark Agency, Inc. Shoe Hospital Suzy’s Shoppe and Gallery Ted’s Mobil Service Zwemke Music Co. $2.00 contributor Morson Hardware

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CHORUS...Junior and Senior JUNIOR CHORUS Row one: Julie Solberg, Kim Bchms, Leah Allen, Lisa Schuster, Diane Miller, Lisa Finley, Shelly Aim Olson, Melinda Johnson. Row two: Dawn Dohrman, Peggy Milner, Ginni Gorvin, Lynn Schomburg, Wanda Klossncr, Kathy Zinter, Marsha West, Rita Iloehn, Tammy Schweigert, Mary Jo Checkel, Tom Rasmussen, Dave Olstad, Dave Krieg, Charles Kelly, Ronald Hailing, Debbie Scheigert, Debbie Splittstocsser, Denise Cotton, Shelly Robb, Mary Castncr, Ruth Pcttey, Winnie Ncrud, Kathy SENIOR CHORUS Row one: Debbie Perkins, Vicki Hanen- bcrgcr, Lisa Gronvold, Julie Colburn, Wanda Ryan, Kathy Foote, Mary Lee Moen, Charis Johnson, Brenda Klossncr, Audrey Fin- ley, Gigi Cutting, Jennifer Haapala, Liz Parker, Tammy Glcnna, Joan Tomfohrdc, Karen Schwcigcr, Director Mr. George Gentes. Row two: Louise Johnson, Lynncttc Dahms, Dawn Anderson. Nancy Schmoll, Karen Ncscth, Carol Raygor, Laura Juhnkc, Nancy Lagar, Joliene Nelson, Missy Stucky, Dcggie Westphal, Deb Suhr, Deb Hodncficld, Mary Johnson, Lisa Selle, Janice Fay, Julie Rikcr. Row three: Mary Koebelc, Pat Sorenson, Diana