Talk about developing a style of teaching...

My grandfather was a teacher. Although he was known to stretch things a bit, he told me much about being a teacher on the frontier in Arizona in 1912. He taught in a one room school house and was hired by a town council who told him that he was required to hang his gun by the peg next to the door of the schoolhouse -- just as his students were required to. It was expected that he would attend church each sunday and never appear in the town saloon. He taught all grades and had several male students who were bigger and taller than he was. Enforcing discipline came down to standing up to the bigger roughians. In a knock down, drag out fist-fight my grandfather was soundly beaten by one of his students. Thereafter, however, the student was no problem. My grandfather, although beaten, had gained the boy's respect.

Grandfather's rules were strict. There was no swearing, no tobacco spittin', and no skipping school. Although his pay was low, he received apples, potatoes, and other offerings -- enough to live well.

Oh and hanging the gun on the peg? My grandfather later confessed that he had to buy a gun just so he could hang it on the peg and maintain his dignity. Seems that all citizens wore guns in Arizona in 1912 -- even the teachers.

Albert Osborne, my grandfather, was never a famous teacher. But he cared for his students and was sensitive to their unique situations and needs. He was a gentle and kind man who probably never owned a single bullet, but still put his gun on that peg outside the door.

Bob Morgan