Posts
J. Mark Lowe
Since we are in the midst of winter,
it might be interesting to look back at a Summer Teacher Institute held in July
of 1888. The students compiled the letter to report on their activities. The
Robertson County Teachers Normal School was held on the grounds of the Cedar
Hill Methodist Episcopal Church, South, under the oversight of the County
Superintendent, J.E. Ruffin.
Report from Cedar Hill Normal School – Springfield Record, July 5, 1888
Knowing the great interest you feel in the young teachers of
Robertson county, we offer you a few items from our Normal school now in
session at Cedar Hill. And as all young folks like to see their name in the
paper we will, in our jottings, insert the name of every member of the class.
The first two weeks of our term Prof. Hooker gave us a
thorough drill in practical Arithmetic, introducing some work entirely new to
some of us.
Prof. Willett gave us an exhaustive review of practical and
analytical Grammar on a new method, which we like very much, and Prof. Clinard
wrestled with our dull comprehension in the intricate analysis of intellectual
Arithmetic.
This week Prof. Watson has critically ventilated all our pet
authors and theories upon Phonic Elements, Reading and Elocution. His work has
been intensely interesting both for its merit and novelty.
Prof. Empson has been laboring hard to impress upon our
imaginations the graceful forms of his elegant penmanship. Miss Callie Johnson
has been striving, with equal emphasis, to resurrect the little knowledge of
Geography, which we obtained in our childhood days; and out Superintendent has
set us to writing a History of the United States. We think of having it
copyrighted and published under the firm name of Robertson County Teachers
Normal School.
Our class is composed of twenty girls and five boys. A
citizen of Cedar Hill said he thought the women would capture the school of
Robertson County before many years, and Supt. Ruffin flattered us by rejoining,
“they ought to.”
Bud Moore, Nat Kernan, Charlie Payne and John Cook are
domiciled at Rev. F.G. Cobb’s. When Bro. Cobb was asked if the boys had run him
from home yet, he remarked, with a wise look, “I think I will hold the fort.”
Misses Lula and Lee Atkins are boarding at Mrs. Melvin’s;
Attie Rosson and Maggie Morrow at J.F. Ruffin’s; Sudie and Mattie Chambers at
J.C. Ruffin’s; Lattie Holland at Mrs. Wynn’s; Lula Jones and Ida Fry at Dr.
Hawkins’; Prof. and Mrs. Walton and John T. White at W.R. Featherston’s and
Prof. Empson and Clarance Nave at T.J. Ayers.
Our school is opened every morning with religious service.
Misses Jessie Ruffin and Mattie Ayers are our organists. Misses Minnie Henry,
Kittie Connell, Walton Ryan and Mollie Clinard, come regularly from
Springfield. Bud Moore is the champion athlete of the class.
Nat Kernan is the bashful boy in school. He was seen one
evening throwing stones (very softly, of course) at some girls who were
leisurely taking a walk down the railroad. Misses Kittie Connell and Mollie
Clinard could not be convinced that they are not the tallest in the school
until Prof. Willett backed up the standard. Sudie Chambers and Carrie Ruffin
are the baby girls of the class.
The girls have christened Prof. Hooker “Lightening
Calculator.” Prof. Walton is known as “Old Chris,” and Prof. White “Little
Chris.” We are hunting a nick name for Supt. Ruffin but we shan’t talk very
loud till after examination.
Mr. and Mrs. T.J. Ayers entertained Prof. and Mrs. Walton
and a number of students, Thursday night. The most delightful feature of the
evening was Mrs. Walton’s rendition of some find music on the piano. Bro. Reams
and Mr. Ben Mallory of Adams Station, spent one day with us.
We have had quite a number of visitors. The people of Cedar
Hill have manifested some interest in our work and have treated us with marked
courtesy and hospitality. The most delightful entertainment of the season, was
given at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Bascom Batts, in honor of Misses Clardy
and Carlyle, who are visiting there. We, poor, tired Normal students, were out
en masse and all went away thinking our kind entertainers for turning our
thoughts away from formulas and rlues event for an evening. We miss, this year,
some familiar faces of last year’s class.” Virginia Cobb, Nora Richards, Gussie
Owen, Addie Smith, Georgie Atkins and Nannie Atkins, Lucy Felts, Louis P.
Pearson, C.P. Kernan, J.E. Empson, and others. Most of all we miss Prof.
Borthick, one of our best teacher. One of them, Prof. Pearson, has died. A man
whom we all admired – Miss Nannie Atkins has abandoned her profession to became
a farmer.
This 1888 report mentioned Professor Louis P. Pearson. His obituary appeared in the Springfield Record just two months
before the school report was shared.
“On Sunday night,
April 29th, gloom was cast over the entire community by the death of Professor
Louis P. Pearson. No grander, nobler man ever lived. Notwithstanding he had
been sorely afflicted for years, he ever maintained a cheerful and amiable
disposition. He was a candidate for County Court Clerk in the race of 1886. He
leaves a devoted mother and twin sister, and other loving sisters and
brothers.”
Sources: Springfield
Record, 5 July & 10 May 1888.
(JML published in Robertson County Times Mar 15, 2006)
