Reunion held in 1975
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Reunion held in 1975 |
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| NORMAL SCHOOL STUDENTS REUNITE Written by Virginia Deupree for the Big Rapids Pioneer in 1975 Last Sunday 14 former women students who attended the free County Normal School on Third Avenue in Big Rapids back in 1927 met at the McKinley road home of Mrs. Herbert Olson for their 48th class reunion. And many of today's residents even know such a school even existed. And so that reunion brought to light a part of Big Rapids and Mecosta County educational history that seemingly few people are aware of - except, perhaps, those who attended the one year teacher's school. Apparently a number of those are still residing in the area. The county run and free tuition school was located in one part of the fifth ward elementary school which was located on Third Avenue across from where the Eastwood playground is now. They plied thir practice teaching in the school. Students could attend the county normal in their senior year in high school or after graduation. Upon completion of the studies essentially education courses, such as psychology of teaching and the making of lesson plans, they were granted a three year certificate to teach in county one room schools where they taught all eight grades. The school did not interfere with Ferris according to Vern Larson, another former student, for at that time Ferris emphasized other subject matter. (It did have a kindergarten class.) Many phone calls did not bring out the time the County Normal School started - but Anne Cassidy Scriver of Parkview Village attended in 1912 and believes it started about 1908 or 1909. Her sister in law attended in 1909. The last person to attend that was found by the writer was Eva Main, who attended in 1931. Laura Zetterstedt, knowledgeable aboit much of the educational history in Big Rapids, believes it closed about then because two years of education were beginning to be required. Students came from all over the county, and if they came from as far as Remus or Stanwood, they roomed somewhere near the school. "Those were good days" recalls Mrs. Main, whose sister Vera attended in 1926 and brother Jasper Groves in 1929. Many of the teachers later went to the larger normal schools, such as those at Mt. Pleasant and Kalamazoo to further their education, Mrs. Olson relates. Most counties had county normal schools in that era, it was learned. The Osceola County Normal School was at Evart, and it was learned that the records of the school are in the Evart school now. The Big Rapids Intermediate School District apparently has no record of the Mecosta County Normal School. Larson was a student in 1924 and the only man among 13 girls - a situation which caused him a great amount of teasing. Other men students attended other years. Larson first attended Ferris and then took the state examination for teachers, which gave him a one year certificate which had to be renewed each year. Later he attended what is now Western Michigan University. Mrs. Scriver's story brought a new light on the subject. She went through only the eighth grade and Ferris Institute for several summers and a three month course. She then took an examination from a county school commissioner which gave her a permit to teach one year in the one room school house for $30 a month. "I've never known so much before or since," she laughs, but adds she is proud of the accomplishments of some of her students. She then went to the County Normal School about 1911 and received the three year certificate. She stopped teaching when she was married but during the war years and teacher shortage her license was renewed so she coukd again teach several years. Eva Jacobson of Parkview Village also attended at the same time as Mrs. Scriver. When Mrs. Olson and her classmates attended the free county school Miss Jennie Lawrence was the instructor and Mrs. Edith Collins, a long time teacher in the Big Rapids schools, was the critic. She recalls that the class took trips to places like Lansing and even to a boumbed out school (then) to further their education. Louise Cramer Derby of Paris reports that she attended the County Normal School in 1925. She still has the Third Annual Alumni Banquet Program from 1928. The class of 1927 started having regular reunions only last year when they met with Mrs. Josephine VanGilder. Of the 19 original members, two are deceased and three had problems keeping them from attendance but the 14 who were able to come with their husbands or good friends felt 14 an excellent record for 47 years! Some had not seen each other in all those years. Oddly enough, all live in Michigan. |
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