A+ The Story of Education in Sturgis
Schools have been part of Sturgis history for 195 years.
That represents a whole lot of teachers, administrators, staff and board members, even more students. Currently in Sturgis Public Schools there are about 3,000 students and 180 certified teachers who are included in the total of 320 teachers and staff. These ballpark statistics have been consistent for quite some time.
Today, classrooms are in Congress, Wenzel, Wall and Eastwood elementary schools. They are in Central Commons, the middle school and high school.
But about 100 years ago there were 17 school buildings around the area with several more in town. A few buildings were larger, but many held just a few children who lived in the vicinity.
School days hold memories for all students. Some are good memories, some not so good.
Memories and names of teachers, students, principals and superintendents over the years have been recorded in newspapers, yearbooks and scrapbooks.
Currently new favorite teachers are taking their place alongside favorite teachers from long ago. Current top Sturgis students are joining the ranks of top students from two centuries ago.
All these stories matter but not all are saved. However, some of the old stories are still alive.
I’ve read about wonderful teachers who went far beyond the call of duty seeking ways for students to succeed. Priscilla Hoopingarner, Robert Snow and Betty Whitelock are some of them.
Teachers at all grade levels are working toward the same end today – student success. Maybe not so relentlessly as Mary Seitz who was feared by all high school math students 60 years ago. In fact, her former students still might quake a bit when her name is mentioned.
Teachers back in the day may have been stricter and more feared as a whole but teachers are very effective at any time in history.
And that’s the thing.
Each generation, decade and century is new and different. Education today does not look like it did in 1830 but students were learning then and students are learning now.
That’s a bit of what Mike Mort covers in his current documentary, “A+ The Story of Education in Sturgis.”
He pulls at the heartstrings of those who attended a one-room-school. He tells of school buildings going up and coming down. In just 50 minutes, Mort tells the story of education in Sturgis, keeping it alive the memory of what began nearly 200 years ago.
“A+ The Story of Education in Sturgis” will premiere at 3 p.m. April 27 at Sturges-Young Center for the Arts. Tickets are $12 at the Sturges-Young box office, or $10 around town – Sturgis Area Chamber of Commerce, Willer’s Shoes, Five Lakes and Sturgis Historical Museum.
