White Oak School 1938-1948

This photo in the newspaper was dated “1939-40 White Oak School”. This is incorrect, and is, in fact, a photo of the combined schools of Westpoint, Buckhorn and White Oak. Brad Schrader, Ed McVickar, and Mary White, teachers of West Point, Buckhorn and White Oak respectively during this year, are all in this photo.  In addition, the 25 students in this photo don’t correspond with the records of the following year when Mary White had only 18 students and 6 were in the first grade and would not have been in this photo. Buckhorn had only 7 students this year. West Point had about the same.  

Additionally, the three schools were known to meet every Friday afternoon to sing, march, square dance, compete in spelling and ciphering matches, perform plays, and play ball. Schrader taught marching, calisthenics, and coached softball and basketball. Mary White played the piano and taught singing and musical games. Thus the students received training and experiences that were not possible in such small schools.  

Front row L to R: Max Jones, Bob Brunson, Marvin Wright, Earl Inyart, Roger Storckman.Second row: ? Barker, Don Lewis, Cora Wright, Thelma Fyffe, Maxine Jones, Norma Fyffe, Mary Bell.Third row:  Stanley Fyffe, Billy Brian, Don Cunningham, Merle Holsen, Ross Moore, John White, Jr. Inyart, Lucille Young, Dorothy Bell, Lucretia Holsen. Fourth row: Lavern Young, Abby Garrett, ? Barker, Mary White Sivert, Teacher.Fifth row: Brad Schrader, teacher, Ed McVickar, Teacher.

With the Ross Daily era ending, a new teacher for White Oak school was required for the 1938-39 year. School board President Fred Bell and Clerk K. N. Cunningham hired Mary White, daughter of school board member Sabine White, at a salary of $100 a month for the eight- month school year.  A recent graduate from the junior college course, Eastern Illinois State Teachers College, Charleston, IL she had some of the finest recommendations from her professors that one would want, with special training in music.  The college mailed a letter to her parents, stating that she received honors in scholarship for the winter quarter.  There were 730 students in the college of whom 31 received high honors and 51 received honors.  The letter was signed by Robert Guy Buzzard, president of the institution and a native of Lawrence County himself.   County Superintendent Cunningham recorded that state taxes equal to $638.47 were sent to the White Oak school district with the remainder, $161.53, of her salary being paid by local taxation. (Some of you may remember Miss White as Mrs. Mary Sivert) 

Miss White attacked her first teaching job with energy and enthusiasm. Bringing scraps of wood and cloth from her father’s workshop and her mother’s sewing basket, she helped the students make Christmas presents for their families. Often a pot of soup would appear around lunchtime to make sure no student went hungry. On May 18, 1939, she closed her first successful school term with a big dinner and program.  In the latter part of the day the pupils were taken by automobile on a trip to Olney, Newton, Oblong, Robinson, Palestine, and Vincennes.  The newspaper reported that they enjoyed seeing the monkeys at the park in Palestine perhaps more than any other thing they saw.  Few of them had ever been that far from home, and none had ever been to all the cities visited. Graduates that year were Anna Bell Worstell, Esther Cunningham, Patty Barker, and Bernard Brunson. 

Mary White’s class in 1940-41 had 9 boys and 9 girls.  Six were in the first grade and 5 were in the 8th grade with remainder being spread out across the grades.  The Superintendent noted that there were only 50 books in the school library. 

Miss Mildred McKelfresh, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hugh McKelfresh, taught two years beginning in 1941. She graduated from Sumner High School with the class of 1939, and then attended Eastern Illinois College for two years.  To follow a well-loved teacher can be hard for any teacher but particularly a brand new one. To start the term off right, a wiener roast was held and it must have won over the 15 students because there were seven who had perfect attendance for that month. They were: Betty Cunningham, Wilma H. Vangilder, Robert Brunson, Roger Storckman, Mary Bell, Donald Lewis and Donald Cunningham. The school was closed the first week of April 1943 because her brother, Albert McKelfresh, was seriously ill at the Great Lakes Naval Army Camp and Miss McKelfresh left to visit him. The next year when she rang the bell on the first day of school there were only 7 students. 

The following year 1943, Inez Daily, wife of Ross Daily, began teaching an 8-month term at White Oak for $110 monthly.  She had taught two years at another school, but because her husband had taught at White Oak for 12 years, she was well- known in the community. Her salary was $880 for an 8-month term. The student population fluctuated from 8-12 students. The school had been repapered and painted since the previous school term but Glen Fiscus, County Superintendent of Schools noted the building needed 2 new windows. 

The Historical Society possesses the school register for the years 1943-1948.  Names, attendance and grades are all recorded.  Students in 1943-1944 were Barbara Ann White,6; Shirley Vangilder,7; Wilma Jean Vangilder,9; Betty Cunningham,9; Roger Storckman,10; Robert Brunson,11; Donald Lewis,11; Mary Bell,12; Harry Burrell,10; John Burrell,12; Darold Aubert,11; and Caralee Aubert 13.

The nine students in the 1944-45 were Barbara Ann White, Shirley Vangilder, Wilma Jean Vangilder, Betty Cunningham, Roger Storckman, Robert Brunson, and Donald Lewis.  New to the school were Cora Jane Wright,11 and Marvin Wright, 13. At the end of that year, Donald Lewis and Marvin Wright graduated from the 8th grade. Donald was 13 and Marvin was 15. 

In the winter of 1944, White Oak and West Point students met once a month and practiced singing and learned to read music.  Two more schools were eventually invited to the group, Buckhorn and Prairie.  After several numbers were sung, “moving pictures such as Victory Gardens, Alaska’s silver millions, Why Willie was Willing to Wash, and About Faces” were shown.  Several of the parents also attended. 

Students in Inez Daily’s class for 1945-46 were Barbara Ann White, Shirley Vangilder; Wilma Jean Vangilder, Betty Cunningham, Roger Storckman, Robert Brunson, and Cora Jane Wright. New students were Eddie (Buckie) Bass,5; Ruth Ann (Ruthie) Bass,6; Lavina Earnst,6; Raymond Thomas,6; and Charles Thomas,6.  Roger Storckman graduated at the end of that year. School board consisted of Hugh White, president and K. N. Cunningham, clerk.

The citizens of Sumner in an attempt to enlarge the high school district to acquire enough taxable territory to justify the construction of a suitable high school building proposed annexing some independent rural schools.  In July 1946, they submitted the proposition to the voters but lost. White Oak was strongly against being annexed. According to a newspaper reporter, parents felt that because the youngsters had to be bused or driven to a high school anyway, it was just as well to let the parents choose between Bridgeport, Lawrenceville, or Sumner.  

For the 8-month school year of 1946-47, Mrs. Daily was paid $1200 annually and taught twelve students. Returning students were Barbara Ann White, Betty Cunningham, Cora Jane Wright, Eddie (Buckie) Bass, Ruth Ann (Ruthie) Bass, Lavina Earnst, and Raymond Thomas.  New students were Mary Ann Earnst,5; Sharon Hutchings,6; Shirley Corbet,10; Hershel Corbet, 12; and Lavionia Young, 14.

There were thirteen students, in the first through the fifth grades enrolled for the 1947-48 school year. Returning were Barbara Ann White, Eddie (Buckie) Bass, Ruth Ann (Ruthie) Bass, Lavina Earnst, Mary Ann Earnst, and Sharon Hutchings.  New students were Theron Hutchings,5; Jay Dee White,5; Freddie Moore,6; Jeanie Foss,7; Arthur Moore,7; Nancy Young,7; and Joan Foss 9.

Despite the school library of 80 books being increased to 175 and Mrs. Inez Daily trying to provide extra learning opportunities such as taking her pupils to Prairie School to see the fire prevention program, there just weren’t enough students to justify keeping the school open under state standards. In September of 1948, White Oak closed its doors, and the students began attending Lukin Community Consolidated School District #2.  

The following September a notice of sale appeared in the newspaper stating that White Oak Schoolbuilding and the ground upon which it was situated would be sold.  The building was used for revivals in the community for a while and then in June 1958, the building and 1/2 acre of ground was for sale by French Fiscus.