Chapter Twenty-Five

Education and Schools 1930-1976

By: Mary Martin

Page 436-441

In 1942 the county still had 41 school districts. The highest millage voted at any place was 18 mills. Turnbo was the lowest with 3 mills. The copy obtained from the courthouse gives a report of the schools at that time. This shows the name of each district, its area, assessed valuation, millage and enrolment as follows:

Oakland has never consolidated with any other school because of its isolation from the rest of the county. This isolation was caused by the building of the Bull Shoals Dam.

The first school in the Pyatt area was called Old Powell. It was located where Claude Melton's field lies now. It was then moved to the Rual Keeter place.

The first school known as Pyatt was located where the Community Building now stands. It was a one-room, wooden building until it was blown down in a tornado in 1928.

Early teachers at that place were: Addie Ownes, Fred Williams, Jewell Stanley, J. 0. Ledbetter, Lonnie Briggs and Leonard Phillips.

The first building on the hill was built and ready for the 1924 term of school. The school stayed there until consolidation with Bruno in 1974 and moved to the new building at Eros.

Some of the principals at the Pyatt school have been: Leonard Phillips, Thurman Lancaster, Levy Briggs, Athel Sullivan, Mrs. John Wilson, John F. (Jay) Treadway, and Larsh Johnson. Larsh was principal and math teacher for over 20 years and is presently (1976) teaching at the newly-consolidated school.

Teachers who have taught in the Pyatt schools include: Bernice Treadway, Mrs. Eula Cantrell, Mrs. Etta Janes, Olaf Johnson, Hester Johnson Lee, Mary Young Swafford, Pauline Young, Mabel D. Young, J. N. Bryan, T. L. Hendrix, Jr., Bill Niven, and Sid Ragland.

Pyatt has honored Marion County twice with the senior boys winning State Championship in basketball. The first was won in 1959 with Bill Niven as coach. Then in 1968 the senior boys were Champs with Sid Ragland as coach. Mr. Ragland is presently (1976) coaching at the Bruno-Pyatt School.

Bruno school, like all other parts of the county, suffered somewhat during the 1930's but carried on its school with pride. They had people leave the area because of economic conditions. However, through the years they have kept early family names among the leaders.

One of Brunos natives, Hoyte R. Pyle, worked many years in the State Department of Education. He then served as Executive Director of the Teacher Retirement System. He has retired from that but still works with educational programs.

Long-time educators in Bruno schools from the 1930's to the 1960's include: As principals-Travis Yarbrough, E. G. Martin, L. C. Burns, G. T. Sims, Harry Morrow, and Edgar Loftin.

Teachers who have taught there for several years are: Jimmy Joe Sasser, Louie Pannell, Etta Janes, Aileen Daniels, Mrs. Cooper, Mrs. Lela Stanford, Dale Crunkleton, Janice Davis, Faye King Elam (deceased), Farl King (deceased). J. B. Ewart, who taught Vocational Agriculture there for many years, was a leader in making Bruno recognized throughout the state as a leading school.

In the northern part of the county, a few small schools consolidated and formed one larger one. This school was located near Pace's Ferry on White River and was called Midway. The people in that section of the county were a very enthusiastic group.

That little community of Hawkins, Yochams, McCrackens, Billings, Roses, Osborns, Quigleys, Johnsons, Mallonees, Paces, Martins, Jones, Kings, Marshes, etc. has produced some of the finest citizens to be found anywhere. The building of Bull Shoals Dam caused the majority of those people to leave that part of the county. The school was consolidated with Flippin and Yellville.

Oakland school, because of its isolation from other Marion County schools, has its high school students enrolled in the Mountain Home Schools (Baxter County). It has its own modrn little school for grades 1 through 6.

The small schools around the Peel area were consolidated with the Yellville-Summit school several years ago.

An article, found in the files of the MOUNTAIN ECHO, of October 1936, will be of interest to many people in that area. Perhaps, some reader of this will remember it as having been one of the group.

County Superintendent (now called County Supervisor) and The County Board of Education have been kept quite busy through the years. Some of the superintendents we have had include: Fred Boyd, Ralph W. Phillips, P. V. Blankenship, G. B. Keeter, and Travis Yarbrough, who is the Supervisor in 1976.

In 1974 the free textbook for high school students became a realization. Thus, free textbooks are furnished by the state for all children through Grades 1-12.

With good libraries and other modern aids available in schools all over the county, television sets in practically all homes, student loans available for high school graduates, and a vocational school located within daily driving distance, educational advancement should be able to keep a steady growth.

The old eight-pound lard bucket, emptied and used to carry lunches for three, four or five children in a family, has been replaced with hot lunches provided at a nominal fee for those with adequate income and free lunches for others not so fortunate.

The school bus in Marion County goes to or very near the homes of school-age children. Modern buildings with adequate equipment inside these buildings is another asset. With the rapid growth of enrollment in each district more buildings are needed to house these youngsters.

Throughout the years, minor problems have arisen to cause frustration among the parents and school administration. During the 1960's the problem of having enough clothes for school was no longer a problem. However, it was replaced by the problem of mini-skirts and shirt tails. Girls were often sent to the Home Economics department to get their skirts lengthened or even sent home. Boys were asked to wear their long-tailed shirts inside their jeans. Parents would have the skirts and shirts in order when these teen-agers left home. However, the skirts could be rolled up at the tops to shorten them and the shirt tails could be pulled to the outside of those jeans. When this fad, fashion or whatever went out, along came the boys with long hair. Clean, long hair can be beautiful and beautifully worn. Hopefully, it can be kept that way until this fad (or fashion) too becomes a thing of the past.

Sports activities with basketball and baseball have been foremost as entertainment through this 46-year span. Competition among the county's schools and those of surrounding counties or districts has been keen. Each school has had outstanding players with both girls and boys. Flippin's girls have won state championships twice and the Pyatt boys have won twice. Yellville-Summit, Pyatt and Bruno have had outstanding teams.

School activities such as junior-senior banquets, class plays, money-raising events, senior trips-all will be lasting memories to each class through out its life time. Re-unions have been, and are still, held by different classes each year.

As we think of our Marion County schools of the past, let us include the faithful school board members who have served long and tiring hours, "free gratis", for the betterment of the school and the community through the years from 1800's to 1976. Let us, also, pay tribute to the cooks, bus drivers, secretaries, and PTA officers during these years.

Marion County, through its schools and its people who have held a set of standards, has produced many wonderful people who are scattered all over the nation. Hopefully, there will be found a means of eliminating any negative influence that occurs in our public schools and the future will continue to advance and the dreams of our forefathers will be fulfilled.