Memories of a Comstock School Teacher
I have had the experience of talking with my grandma, Marian Brinkert. Marian taught at several Comstock schools. She started in the early thirties and taught here for many years. I had a wonderful time talking to her about her experiences as a Comstock school teacher.
One school that Marian Brinkert taught at was a one room schoolhouse called Elmrose School on present day Twenty- eighth St. Her responsibilities as a teacher included building and keeping a fire going in a furnace below the main part of the schoolhouse. She also swept the floor with a broom in addition to teaching.The children usually behaved themselves. The nastiest thing she remembers a child doing was slamming a paper on her desk and saying '' Here fatty!'' The child was punished.During this time the Great Depression was happening, but she was still paid the sum of seventy-five dollars a month. The children worked on the basic subjects. While one class recited, the other classes studied and did seat work.At recess the children pumped water for a water container from which they filled their own cups. They played a various assortment of games without much playground equipment.
Typical recess at a one room schoolhouse
Marian also taught at a two room school, Hover School which became part of Comstock. My grandma also taught at Comstock West Elementary School, which is no longer a Comstock school. It was like our present day school. She finished her career at Comstock East Elementary School.
Do you know any of these students from Hoover School in the mid 40's?
By Tom
