During the fall of the 1956-57 school year, I did my student-practice teaching at R. R. Moton School. I was a senior at AM&N College with a major in sociology and a minor in secondary education. Located in Lee County, Marianna had a population of 4, 560. The principal of Moton School was the highly respected and legendary Mrs. Anna P. Strong. The school was named in honor of Robert Russa Moton, president of Tuskegee Institute. I taught American History and World History.
Table 1. Total Enrollment of Moton School Students, Marianna, Ark by Grade Level and Sex:
1956-57
Grade Level Total Male Female
804 384 420
12th 46 13 33
11 62 26 36
10 86 49 37
9 115 49 66
8 34 20 14
7 38 13 25
6 47 19 28
5 54 29 25
4 79 38 41
3 66 34 32
2 95 55 40
1st 82 39 43
World History Class Roll
Allison, Overt Love, Claudia
Baker, Otis Mobley, Clinton
Barnes, Mildred Mosley, Leotis
Brown, Willie Nabors, Faye
Brooks, Arthur Rice, Flossie
Buford, William Robinson, William
Burnett, Harold Shepherd, Kennith
Burse, Claude Smith, Gladys
Burse, Joyce Smith, Novel
Bursey, Barbara Tillman, Carol
Chaney, Ewen Walker, Robert
Crenshaw, Maxine West, Marie
Davis, Loretta Williams, Garland
Edwards, Theodore Williams, Audie
Douglas, Willie Wilson, Precious
Gates, Doris Yarbrough. James
Hope, Julius Smith, John C.
Houston, Dorothy Wilson, O. T.
Huddleston, Ivory Sauls, Percy
Johnson, Elgre Saunders, Charles
Lloyd, Holmes Harvey, Jamie
My father drove me to Marianna carrying a supply of my favorite foods to begin my practice teaching. I was a 21 year old senior at AM&N College with a major in sociology and a minor in secondary education. I had heard of Marianna and its principal from students at AM&N but had never visited.The first two night I stayed in the home of the principal, Mrs. Anna M. P. Strong until she found me housing with a family. I was awed by her presence but nervous.
I could discern from my early observations that Moton High School was orderly and well-run. I did not have any significant student disciplinary problems. Mrs. Strong knew the students, their parents and grandparents because of her long tenure at Moton and residence in the community. I was initially surprised by the young male students opening doors and assisting me down the stairs. Mrs. Strong respected the students, the students respected her and their teachers. Mrs. Strong walked the hallways. I could sense when she was observing from the rear of the classroom from the extreme stillness and silence.
Expectations of Teachers: Teachers at Moton were expected to live in the community, attend church services, participate in the activities/events of the school, arrive a half hour before the students arrived and remain a half hour after students departure, eat lunch with their students and model table etiquette. I complied with all expectations, had a valuable and successful teaching experience. My supervising teacher in history was outstanding, a young male teacher whose name I no longer remember. He helped sharpen my skills in lesson planning.
While at Moton a female teacher took leave to marry. Mrs. Strong hired me as substitute teacher for her, reportedly at the same rate. I was pleasantly surprised. I returned to AM&N having completed the requirements for my degree and unexpected money in my pockets. I received my BA degree in May of 1957. Mrs. Strong retired in May of 1957 after thirty-one years as principal at Moton High School following a long and illustrious career as an educator with many well-deserved honors. Mrs. Strong died in 1966.
American History- 1st Section Class Roll
Rosie M. Moore
Maggie Smith
Olly Neal
Mildred Smith
George Crawford
Ora Murdock
Sallie Ramsey
Bernice Roberts
Louise Talbert
Arlene Dupree
Virgil Wyatt
Connor Little
William Lee Walker
Elizabeth Nickerson
Annie L, Veasley
Curtis Taylor
Elbert Tate
Fred Mobley
Henry Smith
John Walker
Gemojar Rovale Cornelius Owens
James Parker
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