Tribute

The Little School Within a School

Dr. Owen Martin Henson was one of three vice-principals at Topeka, Kansas’s “Flag-ship”High School, Topeka High School. 

The Vice-President of the United States, for a time, was a native American, with roots in Kansas, and managed to repurpose an original mast, from the USS Constitution, undergoing renovation in Boston shipyard.

The mizzen-mast has a job different from the other two, it Carries “the colors” or ship’s flags. The nation of originw is not the  only one, but it is the most prominent. 

Red White and Blue are the flag colors of England, France, Russia, as well as the United States. They are most visible from a distance, to another ship sailing on a mostly grey-desert of undrinkable salt water. 

The antique mast was shipped by rail to the yards of the Sante fe, unloaded, to a logging truck, erected to the east of the state’s flagship gothic structure of education.

State law required attendance to grade eight. Many rural parents would become angry with a youngster wasting time in a classroom when they could be 

plowing new ground.

English private colleges of secondary education were the most respected when kansas entered into the union of states 1854, and declared a “free state,”

The location chosen for THS is a stone’s throw from the Capital-Dome and office of the governor. A government “of the people” likes nothing better than to show off, and make their folks feel they are a bit “better,” than the neighbors. Especially, the border-ruffians to the east.

The border-wars between “The Jayhawkers” that burned the town of Lawrence, Ks twice, and the “Freedom Fighters” smuggling rifles under boxes of Bibles has never really disappeared. 

Back to the installation of the famed war-ship relic, preserved under the auspices of Smithsonian expertise. Converting it to petrified wood.

The VP came  to be a part of the festivities, take a bow for his boss,  and fake-blush during the accolades of the mayor and the press. Also, maybe, Kansas would vote for his boss in the next election? Even if they did, his boss was only a one-term president. The mast remains!

Since it is illuminated in the dark hours, there was no need for raising and retiring the colors every day. But once in awhile, there is a ceremony to replace by a color guard of military units, by marines of course, or the national guard if the Marines are too busy sharpening their swords..

In simple words, there is as much history, tradition, and an ingrained pride in Topeka High, as the building itself.

The idea of a constructing a new High School, out on the west edge of the city limits, for an expanding population fleeing from “those people” would generate a backlash.

Alumni and alumnae loudly voiced there support to the 501 school board!

“NEVER!”

Hmm. To get this accomplished is going to take a genius, someone who enjoyed being told, “It can’t be done.” So, then they could go and do it, just to show off a bit…

Some candidates for a doctor of Philosophy, or Ph.D., are required to write a DISSERTATION!

Usually, it’s filled with some inane collection of obscure important sounding vocabulary, a sort of fake elevated version of the king’s english.

It helps the “included” feel they at last have “their club.” Without all the boys club secret recognition rituals.

Also  to demonstrate, occasionally to the unwashed lower certified or people for not understanding the meaning of a simple vocabulary word like “Parameter.”

“Hey FATSO! BETTER LOOSE SOME A THAT THERE PER-AMP-A-TIRE!

returning to our story after Georgia roadside interlude…

Dr Owen-Martin remained a learner his entire career. Sometimes something would happen, and based on prior experiences, his stage of inner-development, and level of understanding at the time, he would make a decision, and later, have second thoughts.

The principal he worked for was a former coach. Not particularly successful as far as winning games. He thought it more important that every kid on his team have a chance to “get in the game,”  than win the contest…

So, he was kicked downstairs to the Principal’s job. A sort of Icon, with memories dating back to the one-room-school, once dotting the prairie grassland. They often multi-tasked.

On Saturday, a place to flirt and fish for a “special” someone. On Sunday, a community church awaiting for a circuit-preacher to show up for a few months, perform marriage rites, memorial services and speak THE WORD on Sunday. 

In the absence of an ordained minister, a Deacon would fill in for “a month of sundays.” (kansas slang fer a long long time)

During the other six days of the  “Rev. Visit.” He might assist a blacksmith, help at the general store, teach some math and hold morning prayers at the school. The school “Marm” could be anybody, but females were the tradition west of the Missouri, River. 

A girl who finished grade six and hadn’t found “the right man” yet, was a prime candidate for the job of “school-marm.” If she made it through her first year, when the sixth grade boys were mostly interested what was below her belt, instead above her chin, she did okay. The next year, she had  a two-year age gap, then three…

By the time her 3rd graders, horrified by the bad example of the sixth grade boys two years ago, were now the sixth-graders, and carried forward high respect,because she earned it.

Also, as any real teacher can tell you, it’s not until the third time through the same material a person has the confidence to handle content. And focus on what the kids really want and need, love and attention. Not goals and objectives. Or a text and materials designed to do all the “drudgery” for you. Grading exams, entering grades in the grade-book, and all the bookkeeping to “earn parents” if their child is in jeopardy of getting a D or F, “flunk slips.”

If a rural community, had a good year, a rare bit of surplus cash in the bank, the city fathers turned the newspapers, full of classified advertising. 

Education: Teacher seeking employment in the west. Certified. Write to the following address:

“Smith College,” was founded by women for young girls to teach them a profession. Not so much the nuts and bolts, but more the confidence to seek an advance study in law, medicine, or politics.

A realm usually set aside for male domination.

There were no smith classified ads!

At commencement, they were challenged to go forth and do something besides “multiply.” (math humor)

SMITH! Expected it’s graduates to serve their nation and the borders beyond to make a difference for all human-kind.

The field of healthcare involves a scientist, education a leader, and most  often, a Business needs some common sense with a dash of intuition. ENTER! SMITH GRADU-WOMAN! 

The typical teacher, in the early 1900s, might go for a 2 year “teacher college” to maybe give the age-gap problem take care of itself. 

Maybe, the preacher would fill-in while the young lady who go away from home, get a certificate, and come back in 2 years, and resume her position at almost double her salary. 

A graduate of a two-year college might place this ad at the cost of 5 pennies:

“Send letter of inquiry or telegram care of this newspaper for possible placement of a qualified teacher in your community.” 

For decades, that was a “normal” way of matching students with a teacher. BUT,  “what’s normal” is really only “temporary.”

Smith, was founded by women with a mission to inspire a young girl away from the tradition of “barefoot and pregnant” (a contemptuous philosophy in the minds of evil-men.”

Smithites taught Literature, the humanities, and a high level of how to “carry oneself” in order to demonstrate against the masculine power structure!

A woman is more than a trophy, around for male  amusement, indulgence, and the occasional pat on the fanny, on her way to the kitchen or supervise, “the help.”.

The Smith girls were different. In the earliest days, overwhelming comprised of lesbians. What today (2020), is “gay” or “CIS-gendered, Comfortable In (their) Skin. Back in the day were referred to as the “Nancy Girls.” Any male associations, “The Nancy” boys.

After the conflict between the states, halted in 1865, a group of “prominent-ladies” assembled in New England in the Northeast corner of today’s United States, and signed a sort of Declaration of Independence for the Feminine mystic. 

Katie Stanton and Susan B Antony were wife & wife. They adopted over a dozen orphans and managed to raise them without molesting a single child. Susan B. Anthony is still with us, etched in metal.

An honor based on her famous defiance of the law of the land. She marched into a polling place in her voter district and cast her vote in an election for president of the united states.

Immediately arrested, then held in jail without bond, awaiting trial. She was found guilty by a jury of 12 men. All the men were unanimous, thundering a loud chorus. “GUILTY!”

The judge let the echo of outrage float out the windows of the small New-england crowded courtroom. 

The rows of open windows were jammed with the overflow of faces to hear what dramatic vile sentence his honour would impose…

A hanging in the public square? Stripped and flogged? Or maybe a boring life sentence of hard labor?

“Would the defendant rise. Young woman, anything you would like to say before I pass sentence?”

Silence.

“Very well, the jury has found you guilty for the crime of voting in an election for president of these United States. You have been prosecuted legally by the laws and the Constitution of this state.”

I therefore sentence you to pay a fine of one dollar. The minimum allowed by statutes.”

“I refuse to pay a dollar.”

“Very well, then I release you on your own recognizance, and either side is welcome to appeal this decision to a higher court than my own.”

Susan never paid the dollar, but the dollar she refused to pay, did finally honor her: 

Susan B. Anthony, a smaller sized useful for laundry and other vending machines requiring dollars for service.

This essay dedicated in honor of:

Dr. Susan Lynn Alexander

Professor Washburn University 

Topeka, Kansas 

by her never humble wise-ass brother!

(For those history bluffs that want to point out any “error” in facts. Do the letters F.U. mean anything to you?

Crawl back in your ivory-tower and rant to some paragon of triva pursuit of facts, preferably a bronze one. At least the LEARNED figure-head won’t interrupt. )