History of Plantersville School

HISTORY OF P.H.S,

(From the Kampus Whiz published in March of 1944 and courtesy of Roger Moore.)

According to all available information, Plantersville school began about 1860. The site of the original building is now the site of Mr. Booker Towery’s home. It was a small two-room affair constructed from logs and rough hewn planks. It served the purpose as both a schoolhouse and a Hardshell Baptist Church. It was furnished with benches and desks made from long planks against the walls.
The teacher received her salary through subscriptions. That is, at the beginning of a term,each pupil’s parents or guardians pledged to pay a certain amount, either in money or farm produce for the services rendered. The teacher usually boarded around with her students. One of the earliest teachers was Miss Mag Carson.
There were approximately forty pupils enrolled in this school and their ages ranged from five to twenty-one. The Blue Back Speller was the most important book. Others consisted of any books the pupils might own.
At the end of the school term, the teacher proclaimed an Examination and Exhibition Day. This was an all-day festival including oral examinations and a delicious picnic lunch. The Exhibition was held at night and students made speeches, recited poems, and performed amusing dialogues. School terms usually lasted about five months in the Winter session and two months in the summer term. Basketball ws unknown to these pupils, but they had many interesting recreational games.
After this school, a combination schoolhouse and Woodman’s Hall was built on Cemetery Hill in 1910. It was a two-story building containing three rooms. When it was first built, it was not a graded school. It was made a graded school about 1917, and taught from the first through the eighth grade.
The curriculum included arithmetic, reading, English, history, geography, spelling and writing.
In 1917, it was made a consolidated school. This building was used until it could not accommodate the enrollment which at its greatest was about one hundred.
Some of the teachers were: Jim Harris, Miss Maude Murff, Mrs. Shannon, MIss Nora Sly, Miss Vera Temple.
Our present grammar school was built in 1910. It contained an auditorium, three classrooms, and two smaller rooms used for various purposes. Grades ran from the first through the tenth.
The first principals were Mr. Lawhon and Mr. Riggins. Among the first teachers were Mrs. Dixie Deaton and Miss Katherine Rogers.
The school children were especially drilled in the 3 R’s, dramatics, music, and practical studies.
In 1929 our present high school building ws erected and the old grammar school remodeled. The high school contains six classrooms and a large auditorium. In recent years many valuable additions have been made. Among them our gymnasium, stage, indoor bathrooms, recreational equipment and beautification project.
The first graduating exercises were held in 1933. Since then eleven classes have been graduated.
Our school of today is greatly advanced over the first Plantersville school which many of our grandparents attended. We have more advantages and opportunities than they ever dared dream about. Let’s make the most of these opportunities as we fight the battle of education. Let’s take care of what we have and strive for what we need.