Education in Sylvan Grove 

The original high school in Sylvan, I believe the sign says it was built in 1910 but it is difficult to read

From chapter: "Education: Pathway To The Future" from "Honoring Our Heritage," by Marge Lawson. Pg. 30. Used with Permission. Transcribed by Tonya Peck.

As soon as enough people had settled near the milldam to make it feasible, a school was organized. On June 3, 1878, Miss Leila Pease, began her duties as teacher of the first school in Sylvan Grove. The school was a little one-room school house located near the place where Sally Kohler lives. For the 1927 anniversary issue of the "Sylvan Grove News," Miss Pease, then Mrs. Frank Shank, wrote a letter to the editor describing the first school.

"Dear Miss Shreck:

Your letter just received and I hasten to comply with your request. As to the school, there were just the number of children in the district, and with two children to send to school, insisted that I take the examination. I passed, receiving a second grade certificate, and taught the term of three months in a small school house standing on the western side of town.
The scholars were as follows: Nanna Merriman, Jimmy Merriman, Ida Creighton, Chester Creighton, Rose Richards, Jimmy Shannon, Ida Shannon, and one boy of the Creighton family whose name I cannot recall. All the children were bright and pleasant. The parents too, were pleasing and my stay among them is a pleasant picture on memories' wall, and the western hospitality was exemplified in their several homes.
It has been many years since I have seen Sylvan Grove, but I remember it was a very pretty town. My small brothers did not go to Sylvan Grove school, as it was determined that my fathers' home was in the other district, and Miss Viola Denboice taught the three months school as the same time that I taught No. 28. My salary was fifteen dollars a school month, and board myself. I am sending the teacher's contract, and hope that you will excuse my lines for running uphill, and I believe you will when you add the years that have gone since 1878."

Mrs. Shank's contract was signed by W.F. Morgan, director and J.R. Creighton, clerk. It is believed that Miss Eula Harmon (later Mrs. Eula Morgan), was employed as the second teacher.
During the years from the time Sylvan Grove had its first school on through the 1930's, in order to become a teacher it was necessary to obtain a county certificate. For many years it was required to attend Normal or Teaching Institute for four weeks. An examining board consisting of the county superintendent and two other teachers from the county would then give an examination. Certificates were 1st, 2nd, or 3rd grade and determined how long a teacher could teach without being reexamined. Many students graduated from the eighth grade and then took the training and an examination.
Later it was necessary to graduate from high school and then gradually college requirements were added.
Edith Peck, currently one of the eldest citizens of Sylvan Grove, who was for many years a teacher and then County Superintendent, describes what the examination for a county certificate was like, "You'd study your head off. It was in July or August and it was always so hot. If you failed you could take it again the next time it was given."

Some of the first teachers in Sylvan Grove were:
Florence Baker, 1882
Soretta Waterman, 1883
Anna Farnsworth, 1884
Ella Fenney, 1885
M.E. Lewis, 1886
J.P. Grim, 1891
A. Ford, 1888
Parmelia Ford, 1889
E. Berger, 1890
E.D. Smith, 1890
J.P. Grim, 1891
J.W. Stalions, 1892
S.D. Brumbaugh, 1893
Orpheus Spencer, 1894
J.P. Grim, 1894
H. V. Jeffers, 1895
Etta Kistler, 1895
Arthur Artman, 1896
J.P. Grim, 1896
F. P. Fouts, 1897
O. Spencer, 1897
W.E. Peck, 1898
Ola Thompson, 1898
H.C. Smith, 1899
Mella Nulton, 1899
Nettie Stone, 1901
H.C. Smith, 1901
Mella Nulton, 1901

In 1905, five teachers were on the payroll at Sylvan Grove, District No. 28:
John A. Henning
Lula Roach
Lulu Porter
Anna Biggs
Mella Nulton

During the term of 1892 to 1893 when J.W. Stalions taught, there were fifty-seven pupils in school. In the Grammar grades were:
May Berkley
Minnie Stine
Arthur Bell

The Intermediate grades consisted of:
Emil Wohler
Fred Kohler
Daisy Richardson
Lizzie Botlz
Albert Hillmer
Lee Smith
Lex Morgan
Ivy Morgan
Maud Bowen
Maud Richardson
Willie Bowen
Lewis Gilipin
Henry Buzick
Mildred Bell
Bernace Bell
Mary Bowen
Willie Kohler
Frank Kohler
Ollie Berger
Ernest Holway
Jay Morgan
Ada Seirer
Sam Seirer
Willie Sigley
Alvina Thrun
Willie Thrun
Harry Pilcher
Ray Norris
Fay Norris
Hugh Botlz

In the Primary grades:
Clarence Stine
Bennie Sellman
Guzzie Sellman
Hattie Sigley
Malla Sigley
Pearl Bell
Henry Osterfund
Maud Frazier
Willie Botlz
Charlie Botlz
Dora Blythe
Charlie Sellman
Gladys Richardson
Albert Thrun
Lida Osterfund
Eddie Decker
Charlie Bowen
Clyde Norris
Ella Sigley
Henry Thrun
Ernest Osterfund
Herley Kistler
Kattie Botlz
Otto Botlz

Sylvan Grove High School History

Excerpts from "Honoring Our Heritage" by Marge Lawson. Used with permission of the author.

The first students to graduate from Sylvan Grove High School were Ivy Morgan and John F. Morgan in 1902. At this time there were only three years of high school prior to graduation.

The Freshmen that year were Pearl Bell, George H. Hower, Nella M. Thompson and Frank Wilbur Lee. The following was written about them in the "Souvenir of the First Annual Commencement, 1902," a miniature yearbook. "There were five in this class at the commencement exercises at 1901 (eighth grade commencement). Robert Cartwright moved to Leavenworth, and Miss Clara Ellis took up review work preparatory to securing a teacher's certificate in August. This class has proven themselves very apt in this advanced work and have been equal to the tasks put upon them. Miss Thompson is expecting to teach in the coming year. We are confident if the spirit of investigation continues to lead this class as it has this year, that they will place our high school in the character representation they will give us."
Of that class Pearl Bell, Frank Wilbur Lee and George H. Hower graduated in 1904. In 1903 Marietta Lawson. Eugene Cross and Fred Cross graduated. In 1905 Robert Cross was the lone graduate. No one graduated in 1906.
Graduates in 1907 were Rhea Dehler, Ray Berger, W. Lee Morgan, Leona Calene, and Sidney Lawson. In 1908 Dagmar Peterson, Lon Buzick, Jr., and Harlan Baughn were the graduates. 1909 saw Crystal Baughn, Stanley Raffety, Blanche Berger, Glenn Calene, Antoinette Lawson, William Buzick, John Bracken and Hazel Willhite. There were not graduates until 1912 when eight students graduated. Three graduated in 1913.
As for sports in those days, a description of athletics in 1904 was written in the "A Souvenir" for that year.
"This school year has been remarkable for the spirit shown in the line of athletics. At the beginning of the school year it had supported a basket ball, a foot ball, a base ball and a track team. The foot ball team would have shown somebody a merry race if they had only received a chance, but owing to the scarcity of teams at other places and the roughness of the game foot ball was dispensed with and the time and effort was expanded on basket ball. The school supported one of the best school teams in Central Kansas. The team played some of the best high school teams in the Solomon, Republican, Smoky Hill and Saline and Spillman valleys having played three games with Lincoln and Glasco; two with Denmark and one with Delphos, Concordia, Marquette and K.W.U. The team did credit to itself every time played, always maintaining a low score when defeated and when victorious, always won fairly."