SCHOOL TRUSTEES:  SKULL CREEK SCHOOL

   

The following list contains the names of some of the men known in the Skull Creek Community who served as school district trustees:

 

Fritz Ehlers	Wilhelm Ehrigson	Heinrich Eixmann
Johann Fiesler	Oscar Fiesler	Albert Helwig
Dytrich Meischen	Louis Meischen	Robert Mertz
Louis Mueller	Wilhelm Piehl	Herman Roski
Heinrich Rudloff	Monroe Rudloff	Edwin Schlabach
Victor Schmid	Belty Schulz	Willie Stamann
Edward Stickler	Paul Sulzmann	Frank Ullrich
	Fritz Wiemann

 

Each community established it’s own local school under the Public School Law. More and more Common School Districts came into existence as the rural population grew.  In 1912, the State Superintendent of Schools made it manda- tory that schools be classified.  Consequently, the President of Austin County School Board of Education issued a proclamation which is quoted below:

   

AUSTIN COUNTY SCHOOLS CLASSIFIED  Bellville, Texas,   October 12, 1912

 

Below we submit a list of the schools of the common school districts of Austin County showing the classification given each school by the county board of edu- cation at a meeting held at Bellville, July 12, 1912.

 

State Superintendent, F. M. Brally holds that it is mandatory upon the teachers of the various schools of the county which are classified to conform to the classi- fication made by the county board of education and that is it is the duty of the county superintendent to see that the classification is adhered to:

 
 

New Wehdem	Intermediate	7	Grades
Kentucky Ridge	"	"	"
Germania	"	"	"
Travis	"	"	"
Kenney	"	"	"
Piney	"	6	"
Roach Prairie	"	7	"
Coshatte	"	"	"
Oak Ridge	"	"	"
Buckhorn	"	9	"
Cochran	"	7	"
Mittanck	"	"	"
Harmsville	"	"	"
Bradberry	"	"	"
Hartsville	"	8	"
San Felipe	"	10	"
Frydek	"	9	"
Mixville	"	6	"
Rexville	"	7	"
Peters	"	"	"
Millheim	"	"	"
Cleveland	"	"	"
Hacienda	"	"	"
Cat Spring	"	9	"
New Bremen	"	7	"
New Burg	"	"	"
Post Oak Point	"	"	"
New Ulm Prairie	"	"	"
Star Hill	"	"	"
Rock House	"	"	"
Schoenau	"	"	"
Shelby	"	"	"
Skull Creek	"	"	"
Lebannon	"	"	"
Victoria	"	"	"
Concordia	"	"	"
Salem	"	"	"
Nelsonville	"	8	"
Oak Hill	"	"	"
Scranton Grove	"	7	"
Santa Anna	"	"	"
County Line	"	"	"

 

Since there are pupils in a number of communities in the county who are advan- ced beyond the highest grade maintained in their school, we advise that the par- ents or guardians make application to the county superintendent for the transfer of such scholastics, if it is their bona fide intention to send such children to school, to districts which maintain schools of higher classification.  Since all  independent districts of the county maintain high school departments all the scholastics in higher grades than the seventh can be accommodated by these schools.

 

Transfers must be made before August 1st.  If you have a child to transfer, please make application, in writing, for such transfer at once.

 

Since the State Superintendent holds that it is mandatory on the part of the teacher to conform to the classification and that it is the duty of the county superintendent to see that the classification is adhered to, we hold that it is unlawful for any teacher to contract to teach a school in Austin County who knowingly and willingly ignores this classification and that the contracts of  such teacher or teachers should not be approved by the county superintendent.

 

Whereas, we find that the attendance in a large number of schools is such as to render effective work impossible, we urge the patrons of these schools to make an effort to send their children to school more regularly.  As an incentive for the children, we have resolved to issue awards of honor to all pupils who are absent not more than five days in one term.  Furthermore, each teacher will be supplied with monthly report cards which we hope will create greater interest in school work.

 

Respectfully submitted  L. A. MACHEMEHL,  President  Austin County Board of Education  L. H. BARON,  Co. Superintendent and Secretary  Austin County Board of Education

   

Other Common Schools that came into existence after the 1912 listing were:

 

Center Hill	Intermediate  grades
County Line	"
El Pleasant	"
Henkhaus	"
Ives Creek	"
Macedonia	"
Sempronius	"
Welcome	"
Wesley	"

 

At that time in 1912, in addition to the Common School Districts listed in the  proclamation, there were also the Independent School Districts known as the City Schools.  Those were the Independent Schools referred to in the proclama- tion as ones that maintained high school departments.  Those Independent School Districts were”

 

Bellville Independent School District

Industry Independent School District

New Ulm Independent School District

Sealy Independent School District

Wallis Independent School District

 

Then as education became more important and school attendance was made  compulsory, school districts merged to achieve higher grade education in the rural areas.  The 9 grade schools became more popular.  Some of these schools were:

 

Peters - Hacienda School

Piney - Burleigh School

Rockhouse - Schoenau School

Santa Anna - Scranton Grove School

 

Finally, the Consolidated High School System of today replaced both the  Common School Districts and the Independent School Districts.  Today  school buses carry students to centrally located education centers with 12  grade systems, and the office of County School Superintendent no longer  exists.

   

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