Annie & Laura: Young Teachers of the Past
Back in the 70s we never missed an episode of the “Little House on the Prairie” series during its many years on TV. Even today we often watch the reruns, and they still bring laughs and tears with the lovable characters as they were portrayed. Laura, being the central character, was a favorite.
In real life, Laura Ingalls actually did start teaching at the age of 15. Almonzo Wilder actually did deliver her 12 miles to her school, and delivered her home for the weekend each week. They married when she was 18.
I started thinking of the comparison of Laura Ingalls and my mother-in-law, Annie Norris Larimore, who started teaching when she was 16. She passed the county teaching exam, and taught in a little one-teacher school by the name of Ben Waters. Of course she was Annie Norris at that time, as teachers were not allowed to be married. She later married Elma Jones Larimore at age 20.
Just as Laura did, Annie taught some students who were older than she was. A couple of boys, taller and older, were actually distant cousins of mine... the Foster boys. Annie loved teaching, but after marrying she was no longer allowed to teach.
In the early days, there were small schools all over the county. Most rural families lived within walking distance of a school. Some of the rural schools around Olney were: Ben Waters, Farmer, Shearer, Orth, True, Jean, Bitter Creek, Springcreek, Lone Oak, Inglesides, and Padgett.
There were only 11 grades in Texas schools until the early 40s. My husband, Neil, attended the True school until it closed. He was in 4th grade, but when he transferred to Olney he was promoted to 6th grade, because they were beginning the transition to the 12 grade system that we have today. He said skipping a grade was very difficult, and he barely passed.
In present day, 2021, our Olney schools rank high in academia.
Thank you teachers and administration. You make us proud!
Source: Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. “Laura Ingalls Wilder”. Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 May. 2021, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Laura-Ingalls-Wilder.