creating beautiful
and Voices T
his book is a celebration of rural Montana and her people and the richness of their spirit and heritage, as captured and symbolized through one-room schoolhouses. As many of these schoolhouses are now threatened by age and the ravages of weather and neglect, I hope to promote a sense of preservation and ap- preciation for these endangered rural treasures.
A SENSE OF PLACE The story of Montana's one-room schoolhouses, as recollected and recounted by those most intimately connected to those places, is the story of the American frontier and the high value placed on educa- tion by those who came to homestead, mine, or work the railroads. It is a story of the Western spirit and of a culture marked by tenacity and endurance. These stories — told by students and teachers, many of whom are now in their 80s or 90s — tell of adventures traveling to and from school, the school day, recess games, family life, daily chores, and above all, the sense of community, as defined by these iconic humble schoolhouses.
My quest to find and capture these historic one-room schools and the stories held within led me to a back-road exploration of all 56 counties in Montana. The stories and experi- ences about education in a one-room school are simple, yet profoundly enlightening about a rural life of cohesion and connectedness.
Terri Kinnee, DDS
Frances Schisler taught at the Polaris school in Beaverhead County. She was the first recipient of the Rural Teacher of the Year Award.
www.distinctlymontana.com
Larchmont Bldg, 3020 South Reserve, Suite B Missoula, MT 59801 Phone: 406-541-3585
www.missoulageneraldentistry.com email:Drkinnee@missoulageneraldentistry.com
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smiles Schoolhouses BY CHARLOTTE CALDWELL
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