Districts

SCHOOLS IN ALEXANDRIA

NUMBER SIX SCHOOL

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By Lillie (Babcock) Herrick, this is part of a series which appeared in The Thousand Islands Sun, used with permission of its editor, Jeanne Snow.

My first term of school was taught in "Number 6." It was a prelude to my later teaching for I was really filling in during a scarcity of teachers. I received $2.50 per week which was the average teacher's pay atthat time. I was sixteen years of age then, and most of my twenty pupils were twelve to fourteen years old. I began this term on May 5, 1872, taught through August and received $31.00 for those four months of service. I enjoyed that teaching and my work proved satisfactory. I remember all of my pupils who went that school. Among them were Jane Helmer Wilbur, mother of Marvin Wilbur and Mrs. Bessie Wheeler of Alexandria Bay; Percis Helmer Van Dresar who was the mother of Mrs. Ula Wiltse of Alexandria Bay, and the grandmother of the present District Attorney of Jefferson County, Milton Wiltse; Annie Helmer Walker who now lives in Dexter; and Elsie Bauter, now Mrs. John Moore of this vicinity.

I boarded at the home of William Lowe and soon was enjoying the cheerful, homelike atmosphere and the companionship of his two lovely daughters, Mary and Nellie. At first I was given the "parlor bedroom" which was always considered the best room in the house. However, it proved to be cold in the winter, and I moved into a fine large room with the two girls, where we had a stove to keep us warm, and enjoyed very cozy times. But the schoolhouse in this district suffered in comparison with any I had known. My equipment consisted of a brown water pail and a cup. There was a small blackboard in the room placed so high on the wall that one needed a step ladder to reach it, and it could be of no use to any of the small children.

There was one long desk for the pupils, built through the middle of the room lengthwise. sThere was no drawer or shelf space for books. On either side of this long table were two benches fastened to the wall. I had a peculiar, small, one drawer desk fastened in a corner. Anyhow, we managed to get arranged and at once settled down for work. But progress was made in spite of these difficulties. I had about twenty-three pupils, varying in ages from ten to twenty-two years. Many of these pupils were older than I, but [I] managed to get on well with them.

The only real disciplinary trouble I ever had in all my years of teaching occurred while in this school. The trustee who engaged me warned that there was one boy who had caused much trouble for the teachers. The trustee was concerned about possible future trouble, and he told his children to come home for help if this boy should get into what he termed "one of his tantrums." For some time I could tell that my unruly pupil was "sizing me up," and "testing me out" to see how much I would endure. I tried to reason with him and to overlook his deliberately disagreeable manners, but whatever came I was determined to handle the situation myself. There came a day when he was especially disorderly. I kept my eye on him, and also a heavy ruler that lay on my desk. As he became more openly brazen I knew he was spoiling for a fight. I didn't relish the prospect. He was fifteen years old and larger than I was.

I believe some of my pupils sensed what was in the air for when the worst came the trustee's daughter immediately arose from her seat to go for her father. Afterward, I remember directing her to remain seated. This was my fight. The "show down" came after this boy had disobeyed an order to stop what he was doing. He stopped and turning around struck me directly in the pit of my stomach with his fist. Then he reached for the watch I was wearing on a long chain. I managed to hand the watch to someone and with my hands free I reached for his collar and tie with the intentions of choking him a bit. This tussle took us across the room and I somehow got my heavy ruler in my other hand. He fought on, and so did I, getting in some good blows with my ruler. I finally got him against a desk and I belabored the muscle in his arm with the ruler and weakened him until he gave up. He was a sorry looking sight as he picked himself up. His arrogance was gone, and so were his collar and tie, which lay on the floor beside him. I told him to apologize at once for the scene he had just caused, and he did so, and returned to his seat completely cowed. People in the district said that no other teacher had ever conquered him before. When the term was finished I returned to my home and never saw this boy again.

I enjoyed my teaching in this school and I have pleasant memories of my school work. Community life flourished in this district and we had social parties, "Professor Hungerford's singing school," and choir rehearsals.
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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� Nan Dixon, 2001