Newspapers / The Transylvania Times (Brevard, … / May 16, 1974, edition 1 / Page 19
Part of The Transylvania Times (Brevard, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
Brevard Teacher Will Retire After 51 Years As An Educator ^It Doesn’t Seem Like 51 Years, The Time Has Just Passed..” By - Cal Carpenter “Give our attention to the immediate pras ent because everything comes to him who waits — if he worketh like heck while he wans!” This is the half humorous but all true phi losophy of a dedicated teacher with a sense of humor, a educator in the Transylvania School System who is retiring after a career of 51 years as teacher, principal, and administrator. She is Mrs. Ethel Mills, who began teach ing in Weavervdle in 1923, came to Transyl vania county to the old Rosenwald School that ■ame year, became Principal of the new Rosenwald in 1949; and will rethe this June 30th after eight years in the county school administration, in the job of organizing and coordinating the materials in all county school libraries Mrs. Mills was feated at the Retirement Banquet at the Old Brevard Country Club Din ner House, by the Transylvania County Asso ciation of Educators and the Transylvania Coun ty Classroom Teachers Association, last Friday evening. Her tribute was delivered by Mrs. Joanne P. Gordon, Transylvania County Schools Director of Media. HISTORY OF A TEACHER Said Mrs. Gordon: “Mrs. Mills was born Ethelwyn Kennedy on February 20, 1902, in Franklin, N. C. As Mrs. Mills states it, she was just behind Lin coln and two jumps ahead of Washington. She learned from her Father at a very early age that much of what you accomplished in life depends on your willingness to make it happen. Her father, an Episcopal minister, built with his own hands Saint Cyprians Epis copal Church in Franklin. He also built the first Black school and was the first teacher ’of Blacks in Franklin. “In 1911, at the age of nine, Mrs. Mills moved to Asheville where her father 'became the minister at St. Matthias Church. In Asheville she attended Catholic Hill School. Catholic Hill burned in 1915. When it was rebuilt it was re named Stephens Lee High School. Mrs. Mills graduated from Stephens Lee at the end of the eleventh grade. “Upon graduation from high school, Mrs. Mills did not have to make a decision about becoming a teacher. She, finding no other way to state it, says that she was forced into it by the Supervisor of Buncombe County Schools. After passing the Buncomb- County test for a teaching certificate, Mrs. Mills be gan her teaching career at Weave rville School. She taught at Weaverville for about two years at a salary of $30.00 to $40.00 per month. PASSED EXAMS “During this period of teaching history “there was no certificate renewal but periodically teachers were required to retake the county ex amination. There was also a State teachers ex amination but Mrs. Mills' supervisor instructed his teachers to take only the county examina tion. He told them the State examination was too difficult and they would hot pass. Mrs. Mills, showing the spunk that is still character istic of her, went to David Millard School, the testing site, and passed both exams. “Mrs. Mills* formal training for teaching cams in the summon after her year’s teaching obligations had boon met. All of her college credits were earned through Winston-Salem Teacheve College. For a time there was an frtwfte center from Winston-Salem located in Asheville. ^Mrs.^Mills attendedjthe eaten sihle. Later she attended classes on campus PERSONAL We Service ALL Brands , MAJOR APPLIANCES Id q ★ Fastest service in town M * No EXTRA labor charge > * You pay for ONE service eaH. tC * Service scheduled at your coavenkd Id _ Come la And See — W Our WHIRLPOOL Appliances SERVICE to fulfill the residency requirement for earn ing a teaching certificate." TO TRANSYLVANIA “In 1923 Mrs. Mills came to Transylvania county to work at the old Rosenwald School. She worked at Rosenwald for one year and then moved to the Everette School on the Everette farm near Little River. For the next six years she ran a one-room, one-teacher school for the twenty or so students who lived on or near the Everette farm. She returned to Rosenwald and taught there until the school burned in 1941. “For the next seven years—during World War II and the slow economic period that fol lowed — the Black students in Transylvania County attended school in the Bethel Church, The Bethel A Annex and the Black Methodist Church, that once stood on Carver Street. During these years Mrs. Mills' salary was $44.00 per month." NEW ROSENWALD “In the late 1930s the Ecusta Paper Corpo ration came to Transylvania County and ope rated free from local taxes for a number of years. _ When the late Harry S. Straus, Ecusta executive, became aware that there was no school for the Blacks he was instrumental in di recting Ecusta tax money toward the building of a new school and the present Rosenwald School, commonly known as the ‘Pentagon,' was built with stone left over from the building of Pisgah Forest School. The new Rosenwald School opened in the Fall of 1948. “Rosenwald School usually contained grades one through nine but occasionally some high school courses were offered. About the year 1950 transportation was provided to take Transylvania County’s Black students to Ninth Avenue School in Hendersonville where they could complete their high school education. PRINCIPAL “At the beginning of the 1949-1950 school term, Mr. J. B. Jones, School Superintendent, asked Mrs. Mills to become principal of Rosen wald until a man could be found for the job. Each time a male teacher came to Rosenwald Mrs. Mills tried, as she states it, to run out from under the job as principal. Each time she tried to run she got “no” for an answer. The princi pal’s job she took on a temporary basis lasted seventeen years. During this time as principal she also taught first or scond grade and some times both if a combination grade was neces sary.” CONSOLIDATION “In the Spring of 1966 the School Board decided to consolidate the schools and Rosen wald was closed as a school. Mrs. Mills 're tired’ to other educational responsibilities. “In the Summer of 1966 she worked in Head Start but Fall found her confronting a new challenge, that of helping to give some organization to the materials found in the school libraries. Many books and teaching materials had been purchased over the years, and, with the availability of Federal funds, they were be ing purchased in greater numbers. If materials were to be used they would have to be cataloged so that their availabilitv would be known. Mrs. Juanita Lavender, an experienced Ohio librar ian, had been hired to coordinate the organiza tional efforts and Mrs. Mills began working with her. LAST EIGHT YEARS “As an outgrowth of this library work, Mrs. Mills began eight years ago to process all the library books that went into our ele mentary schools. Three years later she added the processing of the high school books, and finally the processing of all of the audio visual materials that go into our schools. This valuable service allowed our librarians more time to work with stud—its in helping them to learn from these materials.** 'TIME JUST PASSED” “It doesn’t seem like 51 years . . . Really, the time just passed,” says Mrs. Mills. “I think that came frosn working with people—working together with people. There is no one thing any one can say about the things that have been ac complished except it’s a matter of ’we’, not T.” Says Eugene M. Morris, Chairman of the Transylvania County Board of Education, about Mrs. Mills: "This lady has made one of the most sig nificant contributions to our school system of anyosm I’ve known in my 14 years on the School Board. She has been dedicated, loyal, and extremely competent in every task she’s been asked to undertake. “When I first came to the School Board,” continues Mr. Morris, “she was Principal at the Rosenwald School. It was always a pleasure to visit her school, for it was an example of good school administration. of people to the integration RETIRING AFTER 51 YEARS—Mis. Ethel Mills, second from left, is shown receiving a plaque from Eugene M. Morris, third from left, Chairman of the Transylvania Board of Educa tion, in recognition of her 51 years as an educa tor which will end in retirement on June 30th. Looking on are Harry C. Corbin, Transylvania County Superintendent of Schools, left and Mrs. Joanne P, Gordon, Transylvania County Schools Director of Media, right. (Times Staff Photo)' of schools in Transylvania County/’ Says Harry C. Corbin, Superintendent of county schools: “Mrs. Mills’ positive influence on the young people of Transylvania County will be evidenced in many ways in the years to come. Her dedication, interest, and enthusiasm—her high ability and love for people—will stand as examples for teachers in this county long after we are gone.” RETIREMENT What will Mrs. Mills do in retirement after 51 years of work? “I guess I’ll do the natural thing,” she says laughing, “I’ll clean house. That's what most working women do when they have a little extra time. I think I'll be a fulltime house keeper for a while. “I also like to crochet, knit, and grow Afri can Violets.” But there’ll be some outside activity too. Mrs. Mills says she’ll attend senior citizens' meetings — an organization she’s supported since its organization here, and will continue to do some hospital auxiliary work. Mrs. Mills and her husband, Fred D. Mills, a well-known retired rock mason, will continue to make their home at 303 W. Lane, in BrevartL Just deposit $50 or more to a new or existing First-Citizens savings account. And you receive absolutely FREE this elegant 4-piece pl^ce set ting of Royal Staffordshire Bouquet dinnerware. This exquisite pattern cap tures all the exciting, colorful beauty of the flowers of England. Each time thereafter you add $50 or more to your savings you may acquire an addi tional 4-piece setting for only $3.65 plus tax—a substantial savings. When you have acquired seven place settings, your eighth setting is also FREE with a savings deposit of $50 or more. Royal Staffordshire Bouquet is chip-resistant Ironstone ware. It's hand-decorated under the glaze. Nothing can mar its beauty—not detergents, dishwashers, or hard everyday usage. Additional accessory units are also available. See all the beauty of Staffordshire Bouquet dinnerware at your nearby First-Citizens office. Start collecting your lovely Bouquet dinnerware now—and at the same time earn the highest savings interest permitted by law. GET UP TO TWO ^ A.Dim cerriurc 60-PIECE SERVICE FOR EIGHT Total Savings Deposit Your Cost (Plus tax) $850.00 $57.75 For those who wish to pick up a complete 60 piece dinnerware setting with just one visit to the bank. Eight 4-piece place settings, sugar and creamer. 8 soup bowls, 8 salad plates, 8 bread and butter plates, vegetable bowl and platter. First-Citizens. TheCanDoBanK. Mfnbf Fi»4l.Ci • 11?4 First-G<ti«eo« Bun* B Tru«» Ct***mnr
The Transylvania Times (Brevard, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
May 16, 1974, edition 1
19
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75