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Ms. Jean Robertson
East Gate Memory Lane - Early Education, Location of School, Teachers, etc.
Jean Rasprin Robertson
In 1935, I started to school on the A&M campus, in a three story stucco building, by the dorms
near Duncan Hall. Later called the Music Hall (Now torn down). We had swings, slides and a
Merry go Round, where we played at recess. We had two - one in the morning and one mid
afternoon. We were taught the three R's, and music. In the first grade we built a playhouse in
our classroom and furnished it. We also had field trips to the A&M Creamery, the hog barn,
poultry farm, meat center and library. We also had four classroom parties - on Hallow n,
Christmas, Valentine's and Easter with a picnic at the end of school.
My teachers were:
(I st) Mrs. Lyle
(2nd) Mrs. Brownlee
(3rd) Mrs. Holzmann
(4th) ? ? ??
(5th) Mrs. Bright
(6th) Mrs. Heaton and Mrs. Stone - two 6th grade rooms
(7th) Mrs Stanglite and Mr. Sims - two 7th grade rooms
Mr. Sims was also the elementary school principal. Mr. Paul Edge, Jr. was the superintendent of
the high school and Mr. Ferguson was the principal.
In 1941 we moved to our new school on Jersey Street, now renamed George Bush Drive.1
We called the buildings "chicken shacks" because there were separate buildings for grades - four
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or five buildings. In 1943 I went to High School. About 100 yards from the grade school. At
that time only 16 credits were needed to graduate. Required were:
4 in English - 2 in Grammar and 2 in Literature
2 in Math - 1 in Algebra and 1 in Plane Geometry
2 in History - 1/2 Texas History, 1/2 American History, 1/2 World History, 1/2 Civics
2 in Science - 1 in General Science and 1 in Biology
2 in P.E.
4 Electives - choice of typing, shop, home economics, or P.E.
We had our graduation at Guion Hall on the A &M campus. It was used for movies, plays
and other entertainment. The teaching system was not as advanced as it is now, but most of us
have faired pretty good. And we had respect for our parents, teachers and elders, which seems to
be lacking in this day and time.
Our classes were small and the High School had around 150 - 180 students - so we knew
most people in the school.
W.D. Bunting became superintendent in 1942 or 1943. I believe he is still alive and lives
in Bryan. We only had eight teachers:
1943:
Miss Batson - Typing and Short hand
Mr. Harold Cowly - Coach
Mrs. Thompson - English
Mrs. Fikes - Home Economics
Mrs. Anderson - Music
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Mrs. Walling - Math
Mrs. Ferguson - Social Sciences, English & Spanish
Mrs. Matthews - Science
1944:
Mrs. Thompson - English
Mrs. Battson - Commercial Business
Mrs. Ferguson - Social Science
Mrs. Georgia Belle Landiss - Home Economics
Mr. Sweet - Bible
Cecil Nabors - Coach
W.D. Bunting - Superintendent
1946:
Miss Batson - Commercial
Mrs. Landiss - Home Economics
Mr. Hielscher - Shop and Drawing
Mrs. Craghead - English, History & Government
Mrs. Fleming - Science & Biology - She still lives in College Station
Mrs. Orr - Math and Latin
Mrs. Thompson - English, Spanish and History
Rev. Anderson - Bible
Mr. Riddle - Coach
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We only had 11 grades at that time. I don't remember what year they went to 12 grades.
I hope this will be a little help in remembering the early years at A &M Consolidated
School System.
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