|
|
|
Mascot - Sun Motto - Rising to the challenge . . . every day, every way.
History: Science Hall blends ‘old and new’ By Mike Blackwell Science Hall Elementary School on September 23 will celebrate both the old and new with dedication ceremonies. The “new” includes a fresh school motto: “Rising to the challenge, every day, every way.” The “old” is rich in history, beginning when the school was born in 1876 and christened “Science Hall” by the school’s first teacher, Mrs. Willie Andrews. J.L. and Whit Andrews purchased 186 acres of rich, black farm land from Edward Burleson in 1871, setting forth a chain of events leading to the opening of the “new” Science Hall. Giving area residents a glimpse into the future, soon after the Andrews’ purchase, more families began to move into the area, and settlers quickly saw a need for a school closer than Mountain City. Science Hall was built on the Andrews’ land, and a few years later another school was built at the location, a girls’ finishing school known as “Home Institute.” This school became well-known throughout the state, with students arriving to study French, music, Greek, Latin and German, as well as commercial and basic subjects. This sort of curriculum, ironically, connects with the current objectives held dearly by officials at the “new” Science Hall. The word “pedagogy” means the art or science of teaching, and refers to the correlation of a teacher’s educational beliefs with the student’s personal background, experience, knowledge and environment. Science Hall Principal Angie Nelson is determined to use this method at the school. “Something that is important to me is that one of our goals is to use 21st Century resources in a pedagogically sound way,” Nelson says. “Another goal is to provide every single student with a science foundation that will be integrated with our reading and math.” New technology and methods will be used in place that holds a very rich, historical legacy. The original school was north of the current school site, where an old cotton gin stood. At its peak, Science Hall maintained a post office, cotton gin, general store and a blacksmith shop. Church services were also held in the school building. The arrival of the railroad in 1881 gave birth to the towns of Kyle and Buda, and the Mountain City and Science Hall communities began to decline in population. Though many families chose to move to the new towns nearby, Science Hall was not closed until the late 1920s. The two-story building that had been built for the boarding school was torn down by J.D. and Gypsie Thompson after they bought the property at the end of World War II. Lumber from the old building was used in their new home. Moe Johnson, longtime superintendent of Kyle ISD and Hays CISD, and his wife, Gene, have helped decorate the front showcase of Science Hall with some historical materials. Johnson’s mother attended the school, giving the longtime administrator a unique and personal historical perspective.
Coming Soon: Pledge
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
contact SHE webmaster | HCISD homepage | (c) 2005-06 HCISD | |
