August 13, 1913 - A Fake Little Red School House

As Illinois moved toward consolidation of rural schools, the news articles continued to keep pace.    An article by Miss Edna M. Hill, a country school teacher in Wisconsin was published on page 6 of the August 13, 1913 edition of The True Republican.

Photographs of rural schools are rare or nonexistent, particularly the interior of the schools, including the Browne school.   The essay by Miss Hill presents a graphic description of the condition of rural schools, including the lack of cleaning, 'out buildings' (what we would refer to as outhouses), drinking cups, landscaping, lighting and even ergonomics.