White County, Arkansas

HISTORY OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS PRESENTED SEPTEMBER 27, 2004

Bill Leach, retired educator and past president of the White County Historical Society, reviewed the history of public education in the county at the September 27, 2004, meeting of the Society.  Information on county schools recently compiled by Lynn Hall, secretary to the White County Board of Education and member of the Society, was presented to explain the formation of the 130 districts that have existed in the county.  Broad themes that were covered include the one-room school, consolidation, controlling influences, the development of high schools, curriculum changes and the role of sports.  Leach's immediate family accumulated more than 150 years of teaching experience.  He was born at Garner, the son of the late W.J. and Ina Leach, who were each involved in education for more than 40 years and also each served as president of the Historical Society.  He began his teaching career at age 21, teaching 4th grade at Volta, California.  His sister Jeanne teaches at a junior college in California and his wife Wilene is a math professor at ASU-Beebe.