St. Clair County
Schools
Then and Now – Reminiscence.
B.F. Lawler
In 1850 the best school building in St.
Clair county was in Osceola and if nothing occurs it will be
so again in September of this year, sixty-five years from that
date.
A few wealthy people lived here then, but
such a building as we now have in process of erection was far
from their thoughts. School houses were built of logs then
except the brick academy in Osceola and a frame building in
the neighborhood of Mr. Speed, who was a teacher in it a few
miles northwest of Osceola. A course of study was hardly known
among our pupils, but elective studies were common and few had
uniform books for classes as we now have.
I wish to congratulate our school board,
our teachers and all the pupils upon the prospect of opening
school in so fine a building in September. I wish also
congratulate the contractor and the builders upon the high
order of work being done on the building.
B.F. Lawler
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