by Juan Wilson
(C) 1999 The Gobbler
reprinted from The Gobbler, Summer Bounty 95
The Brocton School near the turn of the last century. My maternal grandfather, William J. Howes, attended this school from 1893 to 1900. In 1906 he returned to teach in this one room schoolhouse.
Here are images of schooling from another time. All these images relate to my maternal grandparents who lived in Panama much of their lives. My grandfather, William Howes, grew up and went to school in Brocton and became a teacher there in 1906.
The Brocton School on May 5th 1897. William J. Howes (later of Panama), is the third from the left. Ten years later he taught there. Notice that two of the boys in the front row are barefoot.
My maternal grandmother, Grace Anderson, was from Panama and was in the Academic Program at Panama Union School starting in 1903. Schools were smaller and more intimate in those days. It may be something we need to get back to today.
My maternal grandmother Grace Anderson (Howes), on the right, and her best friend Bernice Bailey
Grace Anderson (Howes) is on the right, with her
best friend Bernice Bailey. They were fifteen years old when this
photo was taken in 1904. They both attended Panama Union
School. Above is a photo of the girls driving
around Panama in a carriage, probably on their way to church. As it
turned out Grace married the preacher's son, William House, after he
changed is name to Howes. Roy and John House, William's younger
brothers, were still attending Panama School while Grace and her
sister Augusta were there. The material below is an excerpt from the
1903-04 Annual Catalog of Panama Union School listing the students at
the school. The Andersons, Houses and Baily names are in bold. Many
of the family names of students back then are still found in the
current Panama Central school, almost a century later.
Graduating for the coming year 1903-1904
Primary Department
CHART
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FIRST GRADE
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SECOND GRADE
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THIRD GRADE
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Intermeddiate Department
FOURTH GRADE
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FIFTH GRADE
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SIXTH GRADE
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Preparatory Department
SEVENTH GRADE
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EIGHTH GRADE
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Academic
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48 count Academic Diploma
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60 count Academic Diploma
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72 count Academic Diploma
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The asterisk after a name indicates conditional promotion.