Attended Lilly Schoolhouse, a one-room school (beginning at 6yrs old), which disappeared with consolidation. Did not have kindergarten. School never had more than 50 students. Venue District School. Description of "reading aloud". After bell they called role. After role call the "primer class" (equivalent to 1st grade class) read aloud after every bell. After student got through primer book then they passed into 1st reader on through 8th reader. Much learning accomplished by standing up and reading a loud. Best reader got a "head mark". "I never could stay at the head." Spelling competition between schools. Went to school until he was 22 to finish 8th grade. Had to quit school at age 15 to help family get by.
FAMILY
Father had 7 children. Had to work in timber because "li'l ole 40 didn't provide enough."
CHILDHOOD WORK
Worked with father and older brother in timber industry making poles, fence slats, etc.
CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
Went back to school (Hazel Green Schoolhouse) at age of 18 to finish 8th grade. The man who taught the school was not much older than Bert. Geometry was the last math course of the 8th grade. Older students studied American History, not younger students. Teacher was studying law who was "a fiend for dates". One room schoolhouse used coal-burning stove. Older boys carried coal & stoked stove. Walked 3.5 miles to Vineyard school. Another brilliant teacher was a "dope fiend". He used the "hickory" not just for discipline, but to enforce learning. This teacher worked through the summer as part of threshing crew.
