Document text
February 14, 1939
Junius Allison (white)
420 Law Building,
College Street,
Asheville, N. C.
Public -school teacher.
Anne Winn Stevens, writer.
:Douglas Carters reviser.
PUBLIC SCHOOL TLACHERS
OriAinal Names
Junius Allison
Knoxville
Kress and Co.
Riceville
?annuities
Sevannanoe
Mr. Ponder
op.
Changed Name
George Anderson
Hittsville
Raft Co.
ehmatville
"Parson.' Wheat
Riverdale
Mr. Parker
PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS
wodlen I was graduated from colle4;e in 19U," said
George Anderson as he leaned back in his office chair,
"I was not planning to teach."
"what were your plans at tilat time?" I inquired.
"Well, that's somewhat of a story. Law would have
been my choice if I had had.the means to continue my
studies. Indeed, I had chosen the prelaw course at
college, was president of the Prelaw Club in my senior
year, and debated whenever I had the opportunity. But
you may remember that money was scarce in 1932.0.
"Only too well," I murmured(,
"Such being the case, I decided to go into business.
I was one of two students chosen from tie senior class to
be trained in Hittsville as future managers in the stores
of Raft Co."
On the strength of that prospect, George immediately
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on his graduation, ems married in Hittsville to the dark,
slim, capable girl who as a senior in the same college
had edited the college newspaper, for which George, than
a junior, was a contributor. During George's senior year,
she taught in a small mountain school nearby.
"Modern" in their attitude toward marriage, they
planned for separate careers until George should receive
a, salary that they considered adequate for building a home
and raising a family. Accordingly, after a brief honeymoon,
the bride returned to her mountain school, for her position
continued during the summer, while George embarked on his
job at Raft's.
He had contracted to receive $20 a week, and was set
to work in the warehouse.
"I was paid $20 at the end of the first week," said
George, "but never again during the summer. The second
week I received $18."
"'Were you told why?" I asked.
"Employees were not allowed to ask questions," he
replied.
"My work at Raft's," continued George, "began at
seven olcitock in the morning and lasted until 10 or 11
at night. There was much heavy lifting to do. The shelves
in the warehouse had to be kept in perfect order. Baskets
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had to be loaded until late at night and sent to the several
departments for the girls to unload and put into place,
either at night or early in the morning."
George lost weight steadily. From 156 pounds, he went
down to 146, and continued to loses with his heavy schedule,
his weekend reunions with his wife were necessarily brief.
Sunday was their only free day. Thus the summer wore on.
Then came the field inspector from headquarters.
"The inspector was brisk, suave, but hard as nails,"
said George. "The employees were in deadly fear of him,.
When he had examined all of the departments, he invited
the employees to make sugbestions aud offer criticisms.
They, tridoead of losing their jobs, expressed themselves
as well pleased with the system as it was."
But not so George. "At that time," he declares, "I
was in sympathy with labor. I told the inspector that I
thought the working hours were entirely too long."
After the inspector had gone, the manager sent for
George. "The inspectL,r told me to tell you," he said
briskly, "that if you wish to remain in the Raft system
you must change your views."
When George conveyed this information to his wife, she
was indignant with the system, but maintained that their
plans were merely deferred. She had been offered a school
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.8044.
for the fall.
Vim George had no intention of changing his viewegeAt
the end of three months," be declares, "I quit that warehouse
job, and came home to my father and stepmother for a needed
rest."
About that time an aunt in the North urged him to come
there with a prospect of obtaining a scholarship in a law
school. "I don't, know why she thought I could get it,"
he said. "Anyhow, I didn't get it, and found myself dead
broke."
Again he sought a job at haft's, and was given a ware-
house job there. He was careful not to mention his experience
in Hitteville. In his new job he found the working hours
somewhat fewer, and the work in the warehouse less arduous.
He was allowed, too, to spend part of his time dressing
windows. "But I didn't want to spend my life at that kind
of work," he remarked, "so at the end of three weeks, having
saved up money enough to get home on, I quit."
When George announced his decision, the manager said
to him, "You've worked at Raft's before?"
"How did you know?" asked George.
"Oh, by a phrase you used when off guard. fou know,
of course, that it's against our rules to employ any worker
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who has been dismissed from any one of the Raft stores?"
"I suppose," said George, "that the manager of the
store did not enforce the rule at once because he was
from another southern state. Up there, southerners
usually stand by one another."
When George returned home, a friend told him, "There's
a vacancy in the seventh grade of the consolidated school.
Why don't you apply for it?"
George applied. Being a graduate of the same high
school, and somewhat of a fovorite there, he was elected
at ones. His salary was $72 a month for eight months.
An attack of appendicitis and a consequent operation
interfered with his first year's teaching, and practically
ate up his salary. But he was re-elected.
To secure a teacher's certificate, and so hold his
position, it was stipulated that he must spend the summer
at a summer school to acquire the necessary credits in
education, a subject that had not intrigued him when he
was in college. These credits he got near home in the
summer school of the nearby normal college.
After teaching three years in the seventh grade, George
was transferred to the department of social sciences in the
high school. After seven years' teaching, his ssisrY is
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now $113 a month for eight moths. Having been reared in
an environment similar to that of his pupils and their
parents, he understands their prejudices and taboos, avoids
offending them, and is quite popular as a teacher, and quite
thorough.
Meanwhile, his wife secured a position as teacher of
French and English in the high school of a consolidated
school in another part of the county. As their respective
positions are only 20 miles apart, they could at lioa4tlive
together during the school year, as well as during the
summer vacations. They took, therefore, a small apartment
at the county seat, and set up light housekeeping.
"I got breakfast," said George. "It was chiefly toast
and coffee. Mrs. Anderson prepared dinner, except when
she had to stay late at school directing extracurricular
activities. At such times we went to dinner at a neigh-
boring boardinghouse or at a cafeteria."
After their seven o'clock breakfast, George rattled
off in his ancient Ford coupe eastward to his school, and
his wife joined some of the other teachers who motored
westward to hers. Their brief luncheons they snatched
at the school cafeterias.
"Mrs. Anderson makes a better salary than I do,"
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George admitted sheepishly* "She gets $6 more a month*
Her salary is now $118."
George's early life was spent at the little settlement
of Wheatville, near his school* Due to the efforts of
"Parson" wheat, an Episcopal clergyman from a mountain
family, a man of native intellionce, 'ft fair education, and
some culture, Wheatville was somewnat better than the average
mountain settlement of the early 20th century. George's
mother numbered "Parson" Wheat among her friends, and was
a member of the Wheatville Episcopal Church* She was a,
chronic invalid, and died when George was fifteen* "My
brother and I," said George, "did most of the housekeeping*"
Their father was a carpenter and a small farmer, but
after the establishment of the large hospital nearby, bs
secured work there as a warehouse keeper, a job ha still
holds*
George's wily education was obtained in a two -teacher
school at Wheatvillos The school building was erude, the
term six months, and the teachers mere high-school graduates,
or less* One teacher had completed only the ninth grade!
The year that George completed the seventh grade, the
school was consolidated with the public school at Riverdale*
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There George completed his high school course, his outstanding
achievement being that of becoming business manager of the
school newspaper.
Meanwhile, his family at Wheatvillt was being held
together by his paternal grandmother, whom George calls
"The Matriarch." He has written a story about her and
her activities, but so far has not been able to market
it. "She was truly a remarkable woman," he says, "ruling
my father and my uncles who lived on neighboring farms.
The whole family revolved about her. She did the bossing,
and she did it well. In sickness, she was more in demand
than the country doctor, treating the sick with old-
fashioned remedies, delivering babies, and diagnosing
diseases. After her death, the house ran down and fell
apart."
The main recreations of the Vtheatville communitqy in
his boyhood consisted of "church socials, corn shuckings,
and bean stringings." The bean stringing& were conducted
as follows: The young people were invited to some house
in the neighborhood. When they arrived, they found the
beans piled in heaps on clean sheets on the floor. They
then snapped the beans into appropriate lengths amid
jokes, laughter, and refreshments. Later the beans were
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strung on cords and hung to dry on the outer walls of the
house. When dried, they were put away for winter use.
George says, "They were delicious when they were properly
cooked. The local name for them was 'leather britches.'"
His high school course completed in 1928, George
attended a Junior college, then located near the county
seat. As there was no boarding department, he, in a Ford
car of ancient model, rattled back and forth from day to
day. He became business manager of the college newspaper,
editor of the literary magazine, and a leader in debating
clubs. "In fact," he said, "I did everything but study."
Having graduated from this Junior college two years later,
he entered the Junior class of a standard college in an
adjoining State.
During his course at the Junior college, he spent
his vacations working at a grocery store at 84.60 a week.
"Work began at eight in the morning," declared George,
"and ended whenever Mr. Parker, the owner of the grocery,
saw fit to close. he frequently kept the store open until
11 o'clock at night. I had to stand so long that my feet
swelled until I found it almost impossible to remove my
shoes. That was at first. Later I got used to standing
for long hours."
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Today, as high-school teachers, both of the Anderson/
find that their working hours frequently outlast the customary
closing time of 3:15.
"Ws. Anderson's extra hours," said George, "seem limit-
less. She teaches znglish and French, has charge of the
school library, coaches class plays and pageants, arranges
class socials, receptions, and banquets; directs a literary
society, coaches the girls' basketball team, and accompanies
the team as chaperone when they take part in athletic
contests at other schools. This is all in the day's work.
She receives no extra compensation." Also, she manages to
keep her trim, chic appearance, always dressing stylishly,
though simply and inexpensively.
George, in addition to his regular school duties, is
business manager of the athletic association, coaches debates,
and belongs to and takes part in various local organizations.
When the hih school gives entertainments in the evenings,
he frequently must return to take tickets at the door, or
to take part in the program.
As state chairman of tile legislative committee of the
Classroom Teachers Association, he has been active in urging
its four -point program, namely, (1) restoration of teachers'
salaries to pre -depression levels, (2) a retirement fund
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for teachers. (3) addition of a 12th grade to the public
schools, and (4) tenure of teachers.
He now has an office near the courthouse, and keeps
office hours on afternoons, Saturdays, and during summer
vacations, having taken and passed the bar examinations
some two years ago. He took his law course at a night
school during the previous two years, and paid the tuition
fees by acting as correspondent for local newspapers.
"So far," he admitted, "I have handled only civil
eases: damage suits and the like. What I have made in ,my
law practice berely pays my office rent and incidental
expenses."
Recently the Anderson& found it neces.iary to give up
their apartment. "With all the extra work Mrs. Anderson
has to do at school," said George, "the trips back and
forth were too much of a strain on her physicially. Besides,
neither of us had the time necessary for efficient house-
keeping. So we found a pleasant boarding house near Mrs.
Anderson's school. Boarding, we find, is less expensive
than keeping house."
So, after seven years of teaching, the Andersons are
no nearer the realization of their early hopes of main-
taining their own home. Their pleasures are few and
simple: attending a motion picture occasionally, a game
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of cards with friends, a group discussion of recent books,
a concert when some especially fine masician visits the
city.
George, however, hopes to establish himself in his
law practice* and dreams of a diplomatic position in South
America. "But if the trustees of the school knew of
that," he grinned, "they would probably disapprove."
"You find your students, I presume, eager and thirst..
jug for knowledge?" I asked, remembering sundry articles
I had read in magazines that publish stories of mountain
life.
"Here is your answer," he laughed, pulling from a
drawer an object the size and shape of a baseball. It was
made up of scores of rubber bands, tightly wound. "I have
another, equally large, at school."
"What onfarth?" I queried.
"These," he said impressively, "I have collected during
study periods. The high school students use them to shoot
paper wads, peas, pins, matches, and the like, particularly
when they are supposed to be reading in the library."
"What remedy would you sug_est to stimulate their
interest in school work," I continued.
"More vocational subjects," he repined, "in all public
schools: agriculture, commerce, mechanics, and, of course,
home economics for the girls. Perhaps, if the schools add
a 12th grade, this would be the next step."