A Brand New School In A Brand New Place

The Mr. Morton story in the previous blogs is a fictional account based on a real teacher. Mr. Horton, an inexperienced teacher who could not manage a classroom, was indeed dismissed after a school board hearing. The accusations of sexual improprieties were based on the fantasies of prepubescent starry eyed girls and the resentment of  'you can't tell us what to do' driven boys.

After a lengthy recess from any school an old retired man teacher came to finish the year. The class came under immediate control. His determination to cram a year’s learning into a few months was met with the grateful praise  of parents—belligerent  acceptance of students.

The following year Chestnut Hill’s one room school was closed and students were bused several miles to Dorton Elementary. Dorton by comparison was huge. Each grade had its own teacher and its own classroom. There were sports teams and a chorus.

It was the beginning of a new world for some of us who would go on to high school. It was the beginning of the end for some who would drop out after the 8^th grade, and some before the end of 8^th grade.