After a brief vacation from the schools we return again to the Mt. Upton Union School, but before we continue with this history it is necessary to correct an error in the location of District #6 written for The Evening Sun July 21, 2011. To err is only human and upon occasion we have all made mistakes, some good, some not so good. Receiving a call from California, (was informed that the location of District #6 was in error. This school was not located near the High Bridge Road as I had originally written. This school (Herdica Hill) was actually located near the corner of what is now known as the Rockdale Road (between Route 8 and County Road 35) at approximately where it connects to what is know the Creek- Fred Smith Road and additionally High Bridge Road had absolutely nothing to do with the New Berlin branch of the O &W Railroad. The High Bridge was a one lane bridge used for horse and wagon and larger autos. I stand corrected!
To continue with the Mt. Upton Union School, the photo with this segment shows yet a different view of the school with the farm buildings located at the rear. This Union School which as written before was built in 1898, however. District #4 is much earlier than that. On the School District in the Central Unadilla River Valley Corridor 1813-1830 forwarded to this writer by the Town of Butternuts Registered Historian, Leigh Eckmair and adopted from the Burr Atlas Maps of Otsego County (1821-23) District #4 is documented as being in existence. This writer has been led to believe that before the building of the school on the hill, the scholars attended school down in the Village of Mt. Upton. This is a subject for further research which may or may not prove to bear information.
To continue with the information regarding this school from the 1909-10 school catalog, two weeks ago the article was concluded with the “Free Tuition.”
Twelfth - “Teachers’ Academic Certificate” - By taking a one year of post graduate work, the teacher’s academic certificate or an academic diploma may be earned.
Requirements: Academic Diploma, including English History, Adv. U. S. History, Physics, Biology, Psychology and the Principles of Education or History, and Principles of education. Advanced Arithmetic, Drawing; no experience demanded; observation of Elementary work under supervision of Principle forty periods; age eighteen years. Standing must be gained after becoming fifteen years of age.
Students of the Mount Upton Union School desiring to teach will be given every possible opportunity and encouragement to pursue these subjects and enjoy the privilege of observation. Advantage-to teach three years in schools not maintaining an Academic Department.”
Thirteenth - “Music” - Music is taught once each week throughout the grades by a competent teacher. The pupils are taught to read Music independently.”
Fourteenth - “Board” - Good board may be secured in private families at reasonable rates.
Residents of the Village, who desire to take boarders, will kindly give their names to the Principle.

COURSE OF STUDY

“Grade 1” - READING - from script on blackboard. Words, short sentences and simple paragraphs. Read from blackboard and easier parts of First Reader. Phonic exercises. Reading to pupils. SPELLING - Written and oral. Words selected from reading lesson. NUMBER - Begin work second term. Thorough drill on all combinations from 1 to 10. LANGUAGE - Conversation lessons on familiar object or pictures. Oral reproduction of simple stories. GENERAL LESSONS - Talks on familiar subjects. MANNERS and MORALS. Physiology. Parts of the human body. Talks on care of the body. Habits of neatness and cleanliness.”

“Grade 2” - READING - Reading from blackboard, readers, and other books. Sight reading of new combinations of known words and short selections from grade library books. Phonic exercises continued. Reading to pupils. SPELLING - Written and of words from daily lessons. Drill the individual on the words he misspells. NUMBER-Write and read in Arabic Notation Numbers to 1000 in Roman Notation to XX. Addition and subtraction. Multiplication tables to 5x12.. Division within tables as a reverse of Multiplication. Fractions %, 1/3, %. Simple problems involving knowledge already acquired. LANGUAGE - Construction of sentences using words from lessons. Conversation based upon pupil’s observation and knowledge. Oral reproduction of myths, fairy tales and stories told or read by the teacher. Copying sentences from the blackboard and readers. Drill on certain oral and written forms. Memorizing selections from literature. GENERAL LESSONS - Manners and morals. Physiology— care of the body. Bones, muscles and skin. WRITING - Merrill’s Modern Penmanship. Book 1. Careful training in correct forms of letters and figures.”

“Grade 3” - READING - From readers and other books. Sight reading. Phonic exercises and drill. Reading to pupils. Drill on meaning of words, SPELLING - Words from daily lesson and works common to the child’s vocabulary. NUMBER - Write and read in Arabic Notation Numbers to 10, 000 in Roman Notation to M. Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division, Multiplication by two and three figures. Division. The divisor not to exceed 9. Problems involving any two processes. LANGUAGE - Conversation exercises based upon the pupils’ observation, experience and reading. Drill on forms noted in the first and second years should be continued. Oral and written reproduction of stories. Memorizing selections. GEOGRAPHY - Teach what can be easily seen, hill base, valley rivers. Uses of rivers. Study or productive industries. STUDY OF CHENANGO COUNTY. Its towns, villages, rivers, railroads. Map drawing. WRITING - Merrill’s modern penmanship Book 14. PHYSIOLOGY - Cleanliness. Care and use of teeth. Effect of stimulants. Kind of food.

In conclusion of the first three grades taught in the Mount Upton Union School, we will continue again with Part 4 of this educational institution for the year 1909-10.