In the late 1800’s a school year was only six months. Some schools had seven and eight months. Most of the records we have found for Papinville had eight months. I was always told that the boys had to help with planting the crops and the girls had to help plant to gardens. In 1917 it discussed about going to a nine month school year but it was voted down by the school board.
In 1913 a law was passed providing for a teachers training class to be taught in a approved high school. The school had to be designated by the state superintendent of schools. If student had finished the course in high school they could teach for two years and then they had to go to college to get a teaching degree. They also had to be eighteen years old. A rural teacher salary in 1906 through 1917 was $234.00 to $400.00 a year. My mother taught at Papinville for one year, because she took the teachers training course. When the teacher came to teach (if they lived far away) lived with a family close to school. I remember going to my grandparents (Herman and Mae Steuck) that Evelyn Schooley lived at their house.
There were four schools in the Prairie Township. Papinville was the first school in district 7. Seelinger, Mission Branch and Prairie City followed. The next story will continue about Papinville. We hope when we have the picnic that there will be some students that attended these schools present or family members of a student. When you come to Papinville you will see a beautiful new sigh welcoming you to “the little town with a big history.”
The Papinville Historical and Cemetery Association will be serving fried fish, pulled pork and hot dogs with all the trims. There will be music starting at 1:30, cake walk, silent auction, pie contest plus pie auction, wagon rides and children’s games. A time schedule will be published closer to the event. Papinville History and District 7 School books, hats, T shirts printed with (present school) and many other booklets will be for sale. We are still adding events for our 130th anniversary of the little school. Come help us celebrate. Sat. Sept. 27th in historical Papinville. Until next week.
Submitted By Phyllis Stewart, Activity Director
