EARLY SCHOOLS HELPED AMERICANS ACHIEVE SUCCESS

When Europeans learned about the discovery of America across the Atlantic, it created in the minds of many the desire to migrate and start a new life where they could obtain land and eventually educate their children, worship as they pleased, and be free from military service.

After villages and communities eventually were established, one of the first concerns of the inhabitants was schools. In this regard the people of the United States today, like the founders of the country, are absorbed with the same problems. Education and money to provide what board of educations and parent-teachers organizations want is of great concern to national and state leaders. The public is kept informed about the problem of education in daily newspapers and other publications.

When Cape Girardeau was founded in 1792-'93, there were no schools in the area. Life was primitive. When a school was provided for the few children there were, it was a small, log building that stood on the southwest corner of Themis and Main.

Most families who wanted their children to learn provided tutors, or a group of friends engaged a teacher for the children and had a building where classes were held. This was the case both in Cape Girardeau and Jackson, the county seat, which was established in 1814.

Today, imaginary school bells will be ringing in late August and early September as public and private schools and Southeast Missouri State University start the fall semester.

Classes at Southeast Missouri State begin Aug. 26. Aug. 30 is the last day to register for the fall term.

Cape Girardeau schools are in District 63, and classes will begin Sept. 3. There are six elementary schools in the district; one middle school, grade 7; a junior high, grade 8-9; and a high school, grade 10, 11, 12.

There are parochial and private schools and numerous preschools and kindergartens. All have their own schedules. The many schools in Cape Girardeau are an indication of the great interest the residents of the city have in providing a good education.

Jackson is in the R-2 school District. There are nine buildings in the district: Burfordville, Millersville, Gordonville, North Elementary, Primary Annex, Orchid Drive Elementary, West Lane Elementary, R.O. Hawkins Junior High, and Jackson High School. All Jackson schools begin Aug. 22.

Every year the enrollment in the nine schools increases since the city of Jackson is growing.

Soon after the town of Jackson was establish, Henry Sanford opened a school. The teachers were Beverly Allen, Mrs. John Scripps, Mrs. Edward Criddle and Miss Rhoda Ranney.

A Mr. Books made a small painting of the building showing the detail of the construction, including the shed where the students sheltered the pony or horse they rode to school. From early years of the county seat it became a center of learning, and several private academies and subscription schools were organized as well as the Jackson Military Academy for boys.

Schools opened in the small communities that surrounded Jackson and in larger settlements: Perryville, Ste. Genevieve, Altenburg, and St. Marys.

The first buildings were always made of logs, and children walked a distance to reach the schools. Roads were bad and there were no bridges except for fallen trees across streams.

The log schools were heated with fireplaces, and when the wind blew hard, cold air came through. Students who sat away from the fireplace got cold. In very bad weather students were prone to stay away from school.

Although parents wanted their children to learn, fathers insisted their sons learn to farm and care for the land, and daughters were taught house skills. Farsighted parents who had an education continued to instruct their children at home, and many of them later progressed in business. But the development of the education system in Southeast Missouri was not an overnight miracle.

The United States purchased the Louisiana Territory in 1803, and the first territorial convention was held in St. Louis in 1805. At that time the subject of schools was discussed, and it was urged that public land be set apart in each community for the support of schools where English and French is taught. Many of the settlers were French.

In 1812 Congress gave certain public lands in several towns and villages for schools. Thomas F. Riddick rode from St. Louis to Washington on horseback at his own expense to urge Congress to make funds available for education in St. Louis and elsewhere in Missouri. The amount asked for was minimal compared to the huge amounts state and local governments ask for today and expect to receive.

Our ancestors would not understand this financial phase of modern education. They would say: Money alone is not the answer or high-paid instructors and equipment. The secret of success also lies within the students who want to make the most of what is offered them, and have the desire to succeed."