Then & Now
by Highlands Historian Stella Bailey
Another school session is in full swing. Students are meeting with friends. Lots of interaction with sports, trips, and, oh yes, lots of classes for learning about everything, with new and ever-changing teachers.
I, for one, enjoyed school. It was the best of times with many good friends.
At a recent high school reunion a gentleman stopped in at the Historical Society and he was most eager to attend the different reunion functions and do some catch up with his former classmates. We both agreed that our school years were a great time in our lives and I only hope that today’s students feel the same way. We who live locally can be very thankful we live in a good school district and do not have to face as many challenges that other school districts have had to face.
Union Free School was once located on Mountain Ave. where the vacant elementary school now sits. A young lady who is the granddaughter of well-known coach Waldo Wood recently donated a 1905-06 booklet regarding the ‘Highland Falls Union Free School – High School Department and Grades’.
It states: “Non-resident pupils will be charged tuition as follows. In the academic (high school) department, see note below. Eighth grade, $8 per term of 20 weeks. Seventh grade, $7 per term of 20 weeks. Sixth grade, $6 per term of 20 weeks. Note- Stop payment of tuition on non-resident pupils. The tuition of high school pupils, i.e. pupils holding preliminary certificates or equivalents, not residents of the district, will be paid by the state, provided such pupils come from districts in which no high school departments are maintained. A uniform sum of $20 per year for each student is allowed.”
This little 15-page booklet is quite interesting in that it explains the duties of the principal, teachers and gives a complete rundown of what students (and parents) in all classes could expect. I can just visualize a parent scolding a student with “you are not keeping up with what it says in the book!”
There was even a SLOYD Department. It went on to reveal that ‘SLOYD is a tool-work, so arranged and employed to promote vigorous, intelligent, self activity for a purpose which the workers recognize as good’. SLOYD had its origin in Sweden and through a private source was introduced in Highland Falls in September 1903. The system first started with 130 boys and later, of course, girls were admitted. Sounds like what we called ‘shop.’
A final word which can be directly fitted in for today’s students: the pupil learns by doing – he learns to think before he acts.
This informative booklet is at the Historical Society for anyone who cares to look it over. We’re open Monday-Wednesday, 8 to 11:30 a.m., and located in Village Hall. Our phone number is 446-0400.
