Teaching in Washington School

History - Newark

Teaching in Washington School

This article ran in the Courier-Gazette in June 1990 as part of the We Remember series.

by Gertrude Rogers Miller

As I think back to my teaching career in Newark, the Washington School makes up a lot of my memories.

I had come from a one-building system in the Adirondacks to a large system. Newark had three elementary K-6 school buildings and the 7-12 Washington School. To me, the Castle-like building with its campus-like appearance was immense. Outside, the Medina stone and red-brick three-story structure was the gym which housed the Industrial Arts department in the basement. There was also a small white frame house facing East Avenue (present tennis court at AECC) that was home base for teacher "Prof" Leon F. Lee and his Ag Department. The Big building was old with oil-soaked wooden floors and worn spots in the stairs where many feet had trod over the years.

In September 1935, there were three new teachers in the system; namely, Ruth Espenmiller, Franklin Werts and I, Gertrude Rogers. I have a hazy memory of the faculty. I do remember going in the office to see Mr. F. Neff Stroup (Superintendent) at the end of the school day in 1935 only to return to school the next morning to be told he had been stricken. I remember Miss Edith Valmore, the one and only office secretary.

Then there was "Ma" Cowles; who presided over the study hall and who often wrote "words of wisdom" on the blackboard near her desk on the podium at the front of the huge room. There was Miss Edith Tallman (8th grade English) in a room next to the Clothing Room and "Prof" Munson of the science department on the other side. Both teachers had good strong voices. I think I'll never forget "Gramp" Follette and his son, Roy, who in time took Gramp's place as head janitor.

As Home Economics teacher, I must have walked miles in the five years before we moved to West Miller Street School. I'll tell you why. The room for teaching Clothing was on the first floor on the east side. The room for teaching Foods was in the basement on west side. (In that kitchen I was confronted with the use of a gas plate on top of the counter. Even that was better than the oil stove and kitchen range I had used previously in the smaller school system. How times have changed!) Then some years, I had a Homeroom (Room C) on the second floor where I had to be twice a day - at the beginning and close of school.

The Home Economics curriculum has changed considerably over the years. If I remember rightly, when started teaching Home Ec, courses were known by numbers 1 thru 8, then they became Home-making A, B, C, D and now in 1990 they are entirely different. Originally, Home Ec was just for girls. Now boys are involved. Maybe that trend started in the 30s and 40s as we used to exchange classes for a short time during the year with Ag and Industrial Arts. When I taught a unit on Child Care, we would have a group of pre-school youngsters come to school. Could that have been the precursor of the move for pre-kindergarten?

I remember a Domecon Club (Domestic Economy). I can't remember what we did at regular meetings but I do remember closing the year with a dinner at some restaurant or eating place. We also had an annual party with the Ag Department. "Prof" Lee always invited some older former ag students to make a sizable party. (That's where I got acquainted with my future husband, Kenneth Miller, NHS Class of 1927).

Basketball seemed to be the major sport. One year there were four Georges on the team - George Farrell, George Nevin, George Pfifer and George ? (I've forgotten the last name, perhaps a "sub")

Miss E. Virginia Helious (became Mrs. Frank Munson) was hired in 1937 as a second Home Ec teacher, then we started a school lunch project by serving hot cocoa to the country kids who were the only ones allowed to carry their lunches. Later on, a hot dish was added and, by the time we moved to the new school on West Miller Street, we had a cafeteria. We purchased our groceries from two independent local groceries - Farnsworth in North Ward, Bumpus People's Store on West Union and from Loblaw's chain store on South Main.

I had the pleasure (and responsibility) to help plan the homemaking department of the new school which was built and opened in September 1940. It was a Junior-Senior High, grades 7-12 and is presently named the Middle School. I had some ideas of my own which did not please the architect and/or the state department in Albany. I remember the three beautiful large homes that were razed to make room for the new building. What a heartbreak it must have been for the families involved and also for the interested in the history of our village.

Note from Helen Taylor Armitage Walker: Our "Miss Rogers" remains most enthusiastic in her many interests. I sent her a note and she replied, "It made my day!" A visit to her cozy farm home on the Mil-Ben-Ski (Miller-Benedict-Bialaszewski) Farm on Miller Road reveals an open sewing machine, a chair in the process of being caned, a desk with the monthly farm accounts that she keeps, books and mementos. If this widow of farmer Kenneth Miller does not answer her phone, the Benedicts may relate that she is visiting her sister, Alice Rogers in her childhood home of Booneville and approximate planned return.

On the other hand, when the four families of Benedicts are away, Gertrude picks up the eggs. When Rev. Dan and wife Edith, who live in the rear wing of the Miller Homestead, do not answer the phone, Mrs. Miller may impart requested information on their common phone number. For exercises, our versatile lady of 83 years becomes the mailman for the five households, visiting the rural mailboxes and depositing designated mail in appointed locations. Her church, Home Demonstration Unit and her neighborhood benefit by her presence and talents.

Whether on the phone, in her home, at the NHS Class reunions, wherever, "Miss Rogers" has a smile and upbeat message that serves a good example and pervades each contact one is so fortunate of experience.

I'll bet that new dress she is making for the Washington School Reunion, and the Class of 1940 50th dinner will "do her proud!"

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