The Teply boys attended Willowdale School, and then Eagle School.
And a gutsy fact about Frank Teply.
Willowdale School, District No. 102
The Teply family moved to the northwest part of Little Blue Township by 1900. They rented a farm in Section 7. It’s probably the Truhlicka or Jandera farm.
Their school district was Willowdale School District No. 102.
Willowdale School doesn’t exist today, but luckily we have a student’s rendition.
Teplys in School Report
We first find Benny and Johnny Teply at Willowdale in a newspaper School Report in 1903. Benny would have been age 10, so probably attended in earlier years. Johnny would have been age 8, so maybe attending for the first time. Albert was 6 and Will was 4, so not of school age yet.
School Term
The school year was six months, from early September through the end of March.
Around 1900, Kansas children between 8 and 14 must attend 12 weeks school per year.
Today the number of school days is generally 180.
While state requirements vary on the number of instructional days and hours in the year, the majority of states set the school year at 180 days (30 states). Eleven states set the minimum number of instructional days between 160 and 179 days, and two states set the minimum above 180 days (Kansas and Ohio).
https://www.ecs.org › clearinghouse
Social Life
There was a school every two or three miles apart. Each district included 10 to 20 families. The schoolhouses were the center of neighborhood social life. There were often box suppers, dances, revivals, business meetings, etc.
Eagle School, District No. 3
The Teply family moved in 1906, and then again in 1909. Both of these farms were in the Eagle School District No. 3.
Eagle School was built in 1894. Fortunately, it exists today, and is quite impressive.
Teplys in School Report
The earliest annual school report kept at the courthouse is 1911. Each year thereafter the school district reported a census of eligible students that lived in the district. We can see the Teply boys in the Eagle annual reports from 1911 through 1918.
The census listed all children of eligible age. But not all those children attended school. Albert was 14 and Willie 13 in 1911, so they probably attended.
Nibbles Extra Credit
The Eagle School District Annual Report for 1911 has some interesting tidbits:
- 12 of 17 boys in the district attended school
- 7 of 12 girls in the district attended school
- John Alexa, the Teply’s neighbor, is the school district clerk
- Anna Alexa, John’s daughter, is the teacher
- Anna Alexa’s monthly salary was $45
Anna Alexa was the schoolteacher for many years at the three districts that closely surrounded their farm.
Anna Alexa taught at these schools from 1883 to 1915, 32 years.
We’ll hear more about the Alexa family in future posts.
More Nibbles Extra Credit
Did Frank Teply attend school?
Recall Alice Teply Karr’s letter…
Grandpa was almost grown when he went to school. Mother said he kept good farm records from books he has…
Alice Teply Karr letter to Arthur Teply, 2000 – then to Nick Teply, 2003
Here are two corroborating citations that support Alice’s letter.
In 1881, the school report for Herynk School District No. 100 lists Frank Machal as a student. Herynk School was across the road from the Machal farm.
Frank was 16 years old. Note his attendance and average (and that of most other students). Probably didn’t learn as much as he should.
Ten years later, in 1891, the Herynk school report lists Frank Teply as a fifth grade student. Frank was age 26!
Frank must have attended school in his younger years, perhaps without much success. He attended again as an adult. That’s grit. He must have been very motivated.
- Benjamin Joseph (1G) – Sep 10, 1893
- John Frank – May 21, 1895
- Albert Charles – Mar 20, 1897
- William Henry – May 27, 1898
Sources
- Drawing of Willowdale School – Larry Trumble –
- Willowdale School Report – The Hanover Democrat – November 20, 1903
- Willowdale School Year Closes – The Hanover Democrat – March 11, 1904
- Historic Public Schools of Kansas – Brenda R. Spencer – 2005 – https://www.kshs.org/resource/national_register/MPS/Historic_Public_Schools_Kansas_mps.pdf
- Number of school days – https://www.ecs.org › clearinghouse
- Willowdale Box Supper – The Washington Register – February 9, 1905
- New Eagle Schoolhouse – The Hanover Democrat – April 26, 1895
- Eagle School Report – Washington County Kansas Courthouse
- Old Photos – Teply family memorabilia
- Teacher history – Washington County Historical Society, Washington, Kansas
- Eagle School Photos – Mark Jarvis – October and November 2015
- Alice Teply Karr letter to Arthur Teply, 2000 – then to Nick Teply, 2003
- Herynk School Report – 1881 – The Hanover Democrat – December 20, 1881
- Herynk School Report – 1891 – Washington Republican – January 20, 1891
Family Nibbles 