Dr. Alma Freeland: Tyler Junior High Schools, Roberts, Hogg & Moore - Smith Co, TX Contributed by Dr. Alma Moore Freeland Submitted by East Texas Genealogical Society P. O. Box 6967, Tyler, TX 75711 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ***************************************************************** Memories of School Days in Tyler and Some Smith County Schools 1898-1951 By Alma Moore Freeland (1904-1991) A copy of this book is in the Tyler Public Library. Permission has been given by Jerry Moore, nephew, to publish articles from this book in the Smith County TXGenWeb Archives. TYLER JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS - ROBERTS AND HOGG Beginning in the fall of 1937 1 worked for several years as supervisor of the Oran M. R6berts and the James S. Hogg Junior High Schools. My father, John R. Moore, was principal of Roberts School and since he saved much material, I have more for Roberts to include in this story than I do for Hogg School. Mr. W. V. Bonne was principal of Hogg. Although the schools were located in two different socioeconomic districts and parental and teacher expectations varied considerably, my overall techniques and procedures of supervision were the same for both schools. My main work was with the teachers; my two main contacts with children were the administering of standardized tests and the periodic observation of regular classroom activities, chapel exercises and special programs. The two principals approached their responsibilities in completely different ways; and since I was better acquainted with my father's philosophy and techniques of administration, I'm sure I tended to work more closely with his faculty. However, Mr. Boone was a close family friend and I enjoyed so much working with him and his teachers. Mae was a member of his faculty, and it was a great source of inspiration to observe in her room. Since she taught art, her regular supervisor was Mrs. Elsie Smothers. I observed just to get inspiration and made no comments, mainly because I wasn't qualified to do so. The two junior high schools were opened in September 1930; Mr. W. V. Boone came to Hogg from his principalship at Bonner School; Mr. J. R. Moore from his fifteen year tenure at Douglas. There was considerable rivalry between the two schools; I'm sure it was friendly as far as. the two principals were concerned; can't say as much for the student body and all teachers! The two principals had been classmates years ago in Troup High School. Both were members of the First Baptist Church in Tyler; Mr. Boone for a long time was teacher of the Men's Bible Class; J. R. Moore served as Superintendent of the Sunday School for thirty-four years. As I have already pointed out, most of the material I'm using in this story came from the boxes of records Papa had kept through the years he spent as principal of Roberts Junior High School. Unfortunately, I do not have similar records about Hogg School. I'm sure there were records for those first days in that school, but the chances are they were considerably less detailed. I was delighted when I came across a copy of the principal's DIRECTIONS FOR THE OPENING DAYS OF ROBERTS SCHOOL in September 1930. In a way it is a rare document; I doubt if there are many such records anywhere today. Thank goodness, Papa was a "pack rat" just as I am. That is the biggest obstacle to my task in compiling and writing about the past. There is so much material I don't know what to do with it; I want to use it all and of course I can't. The DIRECTIONS give a step-by-step proposal as to how teachers are to proceed during those first two and following days. I am including a copy of the document which gives among other things the names of the teachers in grades six, seven and eight; room numbers; locker assignments; lists of textbooks for each subject in each grade level; bell schedule; methods for evaluating student achievement; methods for enrolling students; and what to do in keeping withdrawal records. Frequent reference is made to the HANDBOOK. I find no copy of it. Apparently if a teacher could read--and had the time--she (he) would know exactly what to do during those opening days at the new Roberts Junior High School in September 1930. The materials which I am including apply with few exceptions to the period 1930 through 1950 when J. R. Moore retired. ----------------------------------------------------------------- ROBERTS JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL Oran M. Roberts Junior High School was built in 1929-30. This school is located on Berta and the north end of Broadway. The original building had twelve classrooms, an auditorium, cafetorium, and a shop for industrial arts. The school was named for Oran Milo Roberts, an ex-Governar of Texas. Mr. Roberts was born in South Carolina in 1815. He graduated from the University of Alabama in 1836, studied law and was admitted to the Bar in 1837 and served one term in the Alabama legislature. In 1841, he moved to Texas and opened law practicein San Augustine. He was appointed District Attorney in 1841 and became District Judge in 1846, serving until 1851. He became Associate Justice of the Texas Supreme Court in 1857. Roberts returned to private practice at Tyler and Gilmer from 1866-74. He served as Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court again, from 1874-1878, when he was elected Governor of Texas. Outstanding in his administration was the opening of The University of Texas in 1883, Upon his retirement as governor, Roberts became a professor of law at the University, where he was popularly known as the "Old Alcalde." He devoted much time to writing political history and was an organizer and first president of the Texas State Historical Association. He died at his home in Austin in 1898. ----------------------------------------------------------------- JAMES S. HOGG JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL: 1930 I taught at Hogg School several different time; twice before 1939. I really enjoyed my assignments, general science and art. I discovered I was particularly fond of and adept in working with adolescent age boys. I realize one should not name specific persons without their knowledge, however much time has passed and I feel free to mention some of the students who helped to make my days at Hogg so challenging and memorable. Among them was Earl Clawater, Jr., one of Tyler's most outstanding Urologists. I recall that he came to school one day carrying a little fluffy kitten. I was so surprised that Mamma was willing for me to keep it; she was not fond of cats and certainly not one that climbed the walls and ruined the wallpaper. I was pleased that one of my students for that period was A. C. Gentry who is today one of Texas' best known artists. His lovely rural scenes are a delight to behold and grace countless homes and public buildings. Several other students have distinguished themselves in law, government, music and religion. John Tower, U.S. Sentator; Bill Pace; Eugene Tolbert; Bill Lawrence; Jimmy Finlayson; and Weldon Holcomb come to mind. So does the lovely Mary Pollard who leads my list of girls. ----------------------------------------------------------------- MOORE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL In September, 1955, J. R. Moore Junior High School, located at 1200 South Tipton In SouLlicast Tyler, opened its doors to pupils. The o riginal plant consisted of eighteen classrooms, three multi-purpose rooms, a gymnasium, a band room, a shop, a library, and an administrative suite. The school was named in honor of J. R. Moore, who distinguished himself in educational and religious circles in Tyler over a period of years. J. R. Moore began his teaching careerin the vicinity of Troup in 1902, and after teaching there for several years, (lid further study. He began his educational career in Tyler in 1915, serving as principal of Douglas School until 1930 when he was elected principal or Roberts School. He then served as principal of Roberts Junior High School for twenty yenrs until his retirement in 1950. If "cleanliness is next to Godliness," this adrrinistrator's students were always in an environment that the Master smiled upon, for he never failed to receive the type of cooperation from his students that enabled his school to rate as one of the cleanest In the state, Quietness, too, was a characteristic of the school, and in order that everyone connected with the school understood its importance, "whisporincl days" were conducted several times during the year, when no person talked above a whispcr in the corridors. The school program would moved with precision and purpose under the leadership of Professor Moore. Mr. Moore will be remembered for his ability to stimulate both teachers and students to their maximum performance. Former teachers and students remember him for his deep concern for the individual student, for scholarship, humility, sincerity, loyalty, and his high degree of self discipline. These same charcicteristics were recognized by the leadership of the First Baptist Church, where he served for twenty-five years as Chairman of the Deacon Board and for thirty-five years as Sunday School Superintendent. This beloved leader annually attended the preschool workshop for Tyler teachers and was always greeted with a standing ovation (the 1970-71 orientation marked Mr. Moore's 55th and final consecutive opening of school convocation.) Mr. Moore died in April, 1971 and was buried in Rose Hill Cemetery, Tyler, Texas J. R. MOORE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL Interestingly enough the association of the Moore Family with the Tyler Public Schools did not end with the retirement of John R. Moore as principal of the Roberts school; nor when my sister and I left for greener pastures. In September 1955, the John R. Moore Junior High School opened its doors to pupils. The school "was named in honor of J. R. Moore, who distinguished himself in educational and religious circles in Tyler over a period of years." My father was extremely grateful to the Tyler Board of Education for this deed; he was also proud of the fact that one of his grandsons, Donald Bruce Moore, was a graduate of the school. In his declining years, J. R. Moore became very attached to his namesake. In f act, a real bond seems to have been established between him and the teachers and students of the J. R. Moore Junior High School. They continued to shower attention upon him. He was honored at an open house ceremony; he was the recipient of a beautiful Christmas card one year; a huge card bearing the names of the ninth grade students was brought by a teacher and several students to his hospital room a few days before his death. He may not have been aware of this last gesture, but I'm sure he would have been pleased with the fact they sent him off in great style. So ends the saga of the Moores with schools in Smith County.