Ellis County Texas Archives News.....Alma School Building 1912
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Virginia Crilley http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00003.html#0000642 July 24, 2006, 4:51 pm

The Dallas Morning News 1912

Aug 12, 1912
Alma School building 
The first car load of bricks for the new school building here arrived today. 
The building will cost $12,000 and is to be completed December next.

Mar 23, 1913
Alma School Building Progress
The brickwork on the new school building at Alma has been completed. The
building will cost $10,000 and will have four classrooms and a large auditorium.
It is built by money received from a bond issue voted several months ago.
Memories of the School from former students.  Jane Bell and Gene Ferguson
contributed to this information.

Jane remembers the early grades in Alma school, there were 2 or 3 grades in
each classroom.  For example, first grade students would occupy rows 1 and 2.
Second grade students would occupy rows 3, 4 & 5 and Third grade students would
occupy rows 6 & 7 with extra space dividing each grade.  The teacher would
teach one grade at a time, while the other grades would be doing assignments in
workbooks, studying spelling or math, etc.  Each grade was given equal time,
with homework given and graded, work at chalkboard, answering questions about
math problems, stories read and handwriting practiced.  It was a very
structured situation and test grades, class work and homework determined if you
were passed into the next grade.  It was possible to learn material the other
classes were taught if you finished your work and listened to the teacher work
with the other classes.

The upper classes probably 9th - 11th met on the second floor and the
auditorium was there as well. 


In later years, the cafeteria would be added on the first floor with good home
cooked lunches during the last few years, otherwise we took our lunch. 

There were 2 outdoor rest rooms, one for the boys and one for girls.
We had well water drawn up with a metal bucket
and we all drank out of the same bucket and metal dipper.  

There was a large auditorium upstairs in addition to more classrooms.  

We had a play every year that included all students.  One year my sister and I
along with all the other girls had blue gowns and waltzed to Alice Blue Gown.
I still have pictures of the paper gowns.  We were also in a scene as bumble
bees I think as we had scanty black costumes.  The auditorium was a well used
facility with lots of school programs and graduations and special events. 

Gene remembered the May Pole each May 1st....ribbon streaming from a big pole,
and children going around it making a pattern. 


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