School Days, School Days
Dear olde golden rule days,
Reading and writing and arithmetic
taught to the tune of a hickory stick.

I have had that tune in my head for the last three days. Hopefully by passing it on to you I have ridden my self of that limerick. As you can see this weeks challenge was School Days. Most schools in my area started back this week. “Back in my day” we generally did not start school until after Labor day. Today some start as early as the middle of August. You would think that Arizona would wait until the last possible moment to begin what with the lack of snow days, but no they are one of the early ones to start. I digress this is an Ancestry blog.

My mother was Mrs. Putnam. She began substitute teaching about 1944. At Carrie Barnett school in Visalia California she taught a variety of classes from first grade to eighth grade. In 1952 she began teaching full time as a fourth grade teacher at Carrie Barnett. (Remember to click on photo’s to enlarge.)

Mom started at Mother Lode School in the Diamond Springs Area in 1956.  Once she was hired at Mother Lode School she taught 5th grade and sometimes P.E. (Physical Education).

Mom kept all the class pictures. Many students remembered her in later years and continued to send her their school photo and High School graduation invitation, which she kept.

In 1960 Dorothy Ada Putnam was issued a lifetime teachers certificate shown below as a Life Diploma.

In 1962 through 1964 the class photo’s are designated as Marshal Lode School.

In 1964 due to physical & health reasons my mother had to take a leave of absence. She did so with a heavy heart. Later that fall she was given tenure.

For the school year 1968 & 1969 she has only the staff photo for Herbert C. Green School. That was most likely her last year teaching. From about 1966 until she retired she was on crutches and mostly did team teaching at Charles F. Brown. and/or Herbert C. Green, she also tutored. After retiring she continued to tutor from her home.