7 comments

  1. Interesting, thanks for sharing.

  2. Minor correction, the story states “I began my teaching with a certificate in 1888” so Olena Harper was teaching after 1888, not in the 1870s.

  3. Wonderful. My father was from that area and his stories about school ring so true with this account. Mrs. McCleskey was still alive when I was in high school; how I wish I had spent time visiting and listening to folks of her generation. Thanks so much for this excerpt.

  4. Loved this article. I didn’t realize it was so difficult even up till the late 1800’s in this area.

  5. Enjoyed it very much..

  6. A very interesting read. My mother taught in rural Mississippi during the late 1910s through early 1920s. She had similar stories.

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