I want to write about the Johnston School District #82 that I graduated from in 1909, was a rather large building for those days. There was a small library but few books. There was a large old pot belly stove in the middle of the school room that we all gathered around in cold weather.

The first subject in the morning was history for the older ones and reading for the little ones. Grammar was always my hardest subject.

I think the highest attendance at one time was eighty-one and only for a short time in about 1907. What a job for a teacher in a one room school. We had a bell that could be heard for miles around. When the bell rant at eight-thirty, I knew that it was time to hustle off to school as I had about two miles to walk to school.

I remember an incident that happened along about 1906 when the big boys became unhappy with the teacher and refused to be disciplined and spent most of their time on the school ground playing Base, Leap Frog, Broad Jumping and the like. Things suddenly got worse and the teacher locked the door to keep the boys out and that was when things began to happen. Some of the big boys came in thru the windows to unlock the door to let the older boys in and one came swinging his knife and threatening the t4eacher and the teacher made a wild swing at him with the big stove poker and hit the upper door facing leaving the imprint in the wood over the door and about that time some of the big boys managed to calm the fellow with the knife and the teacher retired to the middle of the room so after awhile the boys quieted down and went outside. We smaller kids, still excited, were told to continue with our regular studies.

The next morning the school directors were there and a new teacher. The directors departed and the big bell told all to come inside. I remember that all was quiet as the new teacher began to explain that he had been hired to teach the school for the remainder of the term. He addressed the smaller ones first, saying, "You all look cheerful and eager to learn. I will help you all I can. Then he spoke to the big boys and said with a big smile, "Now you big boys can do as you please. After a long pause, as if he was searching their thoughts, he said, "As long as you please to do what is right." Then in a stern voice he said, "I have been hired to teach this school and let there be no mistake, I am going to teach it." And with those words he walked to the library and produced a big hickory about three and a half feet long and he talked and looked at each one and I am sure they felt he was talking to each one personally. HE assured them that he would help them in any way he could.

He finished his talk as he walked back to the library and placed the big hickory on the top shelf. Then with a smile and a glance around the school room he said, "Those are my remarks for the day." He tapped the bell for study period and the entire school began the day.

If my memory is correct all went well and we had a good school with no trouble of any kind. After graduation from the eighth grade I went on to finish my education at the Iberia Academy. In my store room of memories there will always be a Johnston School.