SCHOOLS IN THE TOWN OF ALEXANDRIA

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The following is after Mina King's articles in The Thousand Islands Sun, courtesy of Jeanne Snow, editor. Quotation marks indicate Mrs. King's own observations.

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DISTRICT NUMBER 3

was in Plessis. This was a two room building and always had two teachers when operating. Plessis is a small hamlet, but this building with two rooms was well equipped to care for the grades.

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It evidently had four teachers, divided into a senior department, with 11 to 14 pupils and a primary department with 20 pupils.

The District Superintendent, Mr. D.D. Marshall, reported of it in 1912:
Teacher, Florence G. Wiegelt, TTC*--$10.00
and teacher Edith G. West, Normal* $9.00.
senior Department Registered 11-14.
Primary Department " 20
Inez Brown -- $10.00
Margaret McHugh 9.00

*A comment at the bottom of the page suggests that TTC refers to Teacher Training Class, given in local high schools as a combination high school and teacher training curriculum.
Normal school was the forerunner of today's teacher colleges, and provided more thorough background than a training class, with two or three years beyond high school. Normal schools were superceded in the 1940s and 1950s with four year teaching degrees and a corresponding increase in salary. Many normal school graduates here in Jefferson county went back to college at that time to get a bachelor's degree.

In another report by Mr. Marshall, dated Sept. 20, 1912, he noted 11 pupils in the senior department, with Silas West possibly an additional teacher. He observed reading, geography and penmanship classes, and commented on the quality of teaching.

Inez Brown and Margaret McHugh were still teaching primary and the above salaries, both TTC. Mr. Marshall measured the two rooms as 25' x 35' x 10', and 18' x 25' x 10', with five windows 2'10" x 5'2". He emphasized the use of a plan book, and discussed improvements with the trustee.

He appeared to suggest the following improvements: slate boards (blackboards), flag, globe, and a library. LeRoy Priest, trustee. Valuation $90, 618.

A picture of school, pupils and teacher in 1920.

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If you have additional information, comments, pictures, or suggestions, please contact:
Nan Dixon Can you remember names of families, students or teachers for any of these schools?

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