THE TROUP SCHOOLS - Smith County, 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
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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.

THE TROOP SCHOOLS 

As long as my parents and several aunts and uncles lived they sang the 
praises of the Troup schools. Apparently, they were more than pleased 
with the teachers, their teaching methods and guidance of their 
"scholars." They seemed unanimous in their agreement that most of the 
credit for the excellent reputation of the Troup school system should 
go to the Superintendent, Professor M. M. Dupre. From what I have 
learned about him, he must have been an outstanding school man. My 
father's regard for him was almost hero worship, and I'm sure his 
lifetime philosophy of education developed from Professor Dupre. 

I never met Professor Dupre, but sometimes thought I had. He seemed so 
real that I sent him an invitation when I graduated from Tyler High 
School. His gracious reply became one of my most cherished possessions. 
In retrospect, I realize that my own teaching concepts were indirectly 
influenced by the Troup educator through my father, my most respected 
teacher. He and my husband taught me more than I ever learned in a 
college or university. 

Professor Dupre possessed many qualifications essential for effective 
community and school leadership. He led an exemplary family life as 
husband and father. His children received fine educations: two became 
teachers, two joined the U. S. Navy. He was active in his church and 
taught a Sunday School class of young men: he contributed greatly to 
the early work of the Texas State Teachers Association. 

There was mutual understanding and respect between him and his school 
patrons, particularly in regard to discipline and daily attendance. 
All the parties understood that a whipping at school was followed 
automatically by an equally severe one at home. But the Troup 
educator's greatest impact was on his students. Ironically, many of 
them held ambivalent feelings for him--great respect and admiration
on one hand but often a certain amount of fear on the other. The 
latter was generally dispelled when a student became aware of his 
intense sincerity, fairness, honesty, impartiality, brilliant 
scholarship and his personal interest in the individual students. 
Then it was that he won the lifelong loyalty and admiration of those 
under his guidance. But it was probably his unusual administrative 
ability that called attention to him and made him in demand in other 
places. With his departure the Troup school system's golden days 
were over. Fortunately, his influence lingered in Troup and 
eventually was spread abroad not only in Lubbock where he became 
superintendent of schools, but in other places such as Tyler. Three 
of his Troup students headed Tyler schools: W. Vester Boone, 
principal of Hogg Junior High School for many years: J. C. Hale, 
principal of Bonner School: and John R. Moore who joined the Tyler 
faculty in 1915 as principal of Douglas School, and in 1930 became 
the first principal of Roberts Junior High School, a position he held 
until retirement in 1951. 

My father remembered well another of his Troup teachers-Professor 
Birdwell. His son, Dr. Alton W. Birdwell, became first President of 
Stephen F. Austin State Teachers College in Nacogdoches. Prior to 
his presidency of SFA Dr. Birdwell was associated with the Tyler and 
Troup school systems. I consider him one of Texas' greatest educators. 

Among the many Troup school day memories, I liked best the story about 
John R. Moore and Lola Hill who were student sweethearts. During that 
time, May 1902, my father graduated and then taught in the Troup 
school. On May 30, 1903 my parents were married at her home, east of 
Troup and a few hundred yards from the groom's home. The Reverend 
E. D. Blankenship who officiated at the ceremoney, had influence in 
the spiritual realm of the Troup Community equal to Professor Dupre's 
in the academic fields. These two unusual men were contemporaries and 
no doubt supplemented each other's contributions toward a better 
community. 

I was born June 2, 1904, and was named for two of Papa's classmates, 
Misses Alma Tarbutton and Leta Schlagle. Years later I accompanied my 
father to Troup to meet Miss Tarbutton. She was not aware of her 
namesake, and too surprised to comment. For my part I was pleased to 
be named for such a lovely lady. 

Of course most of the main characters in my Troup School story are 
gone, but I'm always pleased to reminisce about those days and it's 
with a bit of pride that I write Troup, Texas when required to state 
Place of Birth on an official record. 
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