Your Artists View of the “one-room poor school” offends me greatly.

In 1940 I had the pleasure of teaching in a one-room school for $23 per week. This included all janitorial services.

The children ranged from first grade through sixth. The district had a sole trustee who hired, fired and purchased the supplies the teachers needed.

The one-room school (Chautauqua County) was truly the center of the community with standing room only for the children's programs at Christmas or the school Halloween party - all ages attended.

Art and music were not neglected, nor were the year-end achievement tests, with results equaling the village school's.

Designer clothing, fancy birthday parties, special dress-up days were unheard of at this time.

However, the teacher was responsible for World War II ration booklets and the parents and children collected 2.5 tons of scrap for the war effort.

That World War II was an important part of rural school life was brought home to me when I once left the school flag out overnight. I was notified of the error many times.

The wonderful sense of equality, being liked, kindness and appreciation for learning made the rural school anything but “poor.”

How many of you have had a pet crow -- in your classroom?

Lois LaBaron

Auburn