North View High School - Southside Echoes Yearbook (North View, VA)

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Jtlecfelentmrg Count? Ikijools Virginia has always been proud of her schools. Her sons have gone forth to shine in the world, proud of the fact that they were educated in the Old Dominion. It was in the private school, academy, college and university that the best culture was disseminated. The public schools were ill thought of, at best, because they failed to reach even near the ideal of what a Virginian wished for his sons and daughters. They were educated in private schools and colleges. Soon all this was to change, for the great civil conflict was at hand. The little, despised log cabin schools were to be no longer sneered at and ridiculed. The scene changed. It was April, 1865. The noble Lee had laid down his arms at Appomattox and had lovingly ad- vised his devoted followers to turn their faces homeward, and with cheerful hearts, if possible, to begin life anew. Sadly and reluctantly they loyally obeyed this last request of their old commander. They returned to their homes, many to find them ruthlessly destroyed, and, even at best, if not destroyed, only a shadow of what they had been. In the downfall, schools went down. Reconstruction days came on, and then negro domination. Education was under a cloud and it seemed that children must get all their education at their mother’s knee. Reconstruction days finally came to an end. Then the Virginian took renewed hope in building up his fortunes. Thus it was in Mecklenburg County. Attention began to be paid to the public schools. But with the passing of reconstruction days, debts came. Taxes would scarce serve to meet them. Consequently schools suffered. Teachers were given a mere pittance, — ’twas all that could be afforded them. Those best

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PUPILS AND TEACHERS, NORTH VIEW HIGH SCHOOL

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10 SOUTH SIDE ECHOES qualified to teach usually sought other employment. The schools of the country were crude, in every sense of the word, but the people turned to the public school. Picture to yourself the Mecklenburg school of twenty-five or thirty years ago. In a little clearing in the edge of the woods we see a rude log cabin, and a rough stone chimney at the end. The floor was mother earth. A few rude benches were placed around. The teacher, in accordance with standard of the day, taught thoroughly the elements, — the three R’s as we would now call it. School was kept only a few months during the fall and winter. Thus many of our sturdy Vir- ginians received the foundations of their education, to which they have added, and become educated self-made men. All felt the need of better public schools in Virginia. Mecklenburg’s citizens longed and groped for the light. Every one worked diligently for the betterment of the schools. Some- times it was in sunshine and sometimes in shadow, but the work went on. Men with stern hearts kept their faces to the front. Efforts were made constantly to advance, but it was uphill work, because of the lasting ravages of the war in a financial way. Thus things went on. Improvement was made, but it was slow. It took men with stout hearts to take a long look ahead in educational matters. But, lo, the light finally broke over the hills. The people of Virginia called a Constitutional Con- vention in 1902. It opened the door for higher education, and the hope for the future made us all alive. The Convention provided for high school work. Taking advantage of the op- portunity, Mecklenburg County tried to be in the vanguard. The first steps toward a high school were made at North View. The course was raised year by year until we are proud to say it has reached its culmination in 1908, and North View High School offers the first class which has completed the