College Elementary School

In September, 2000, Robert Wardrop sent a letter, which is transcribed below.  Mr. Wardrop does not say when he was in sixth grade; it must have been around 1937...

Sept. 14, 2000

Bob,
Please excuse my scribbling but typing would most likely be even worse--so…

Your history searching sounds like fun.  Enclosed ar some contributions and given time I can collect other things if you'd like me to.

My five siblings and I attended The Training School for a combined total of 55 years (I spent ten years [K thru 8th, repeating K]), having started when I was only 4 yrs old.  The Training School had a school district to draw from plus profs' 'brats' and then filled in with others.  The District included some rural land east, south, and west of Mt. Pl. so it was not just city kids.  Also included were profs kids.  If a grade was not filled then the waiting list filled the grade.  It turned out that there were usually 1/3 profs' kinds, 1/3 school district, 1/3 others.
 I made a list of the teachers--all female, and very small number of changes (one change in the years I attended).
 K:  Miss Emmons
 1:  Miss Engleson
 2:  ??
 3:  Miss Adams
 4:  Miss Prager
 5:  Miss Campbell (pronounced "camel")
 6:  Miss Heilbron
 7:  Miss Gibson
 8:  Miss Lighter (sp.?)
 9:  Miss Koopman
 Music: Mrs. Theirs
 Phys Ed: Miss Hood

 When The Training School burned down (not sure of the year, but I can find out si vous le voulez) the grades scattered:
 K: basement of Ronan Dorm
 4:  Science Bdg--Wheeler
 5 & 6:  temporary wooden bldgs in the middle of campus
 7, 8 & 9:  in the Adm. Bld (westend)

 I have some names, mostly of the kids in my grade.  If you want more nfo let me know and I will dig a little deeper.   When I went there the teachers were very devoted to their jobs and to giving their students a broad education.  We saw how all kinds of lives there were, we grew peanuts, raised all kinds of vegetables, plants, and trees.  We visited farms and factories.
 I'll stop rambling and get this in the mail to you.

   Bye for now,

   s/R. Wardrop