March 17, 2019 - There were many African American Educators who taught in the early years of Center's schools in the town and in the rural areas. Too many to name all of them. This Salute goes out to them this month of March which has been designated at National Women's History Month.
As the author, Dr. Charles Tatum has written in the 3 volumes of his latest publication, 'Dew Drops on the Pine Needles', it is interesting to hear about, read about, the early school days of many citizens who lived in Center. It was interesting to see that most of the students went to Prairie View A & M, a college in Prairie View, Texas (about 45 miles west of Houston) that was established in 1876 and it is still existing now as a University, with its first African American female president, Dr. Ruth Simmons.
As times changed, students from Center went to Stephen F Austin in Nacogdoches. The teachers at Daniels School were relatives of many of their students back then. It's almost that way now. It is also amazing to see students who go off to college, eventually come back to Center to teach. In the early days one only needed perhaps a year of college to become a teacher until a law was passed that a degree and teacher certification was required. Thus, many of the senior-aged teachers had to go back to College to meet that requirement.
We salute those who did not let that requirement hinder their love of teaching others. We acknowledge them for giving their students the best learning techniques possible. Daniels School, which held grades from 1 - 12 until 1968 will always be remembered and so will the many teachers who taught there. Not only were they educators but they served the community to support culture and the betterment of the society. Several school reunions have occurred in recent years and it is great seeing the teachers attend remembering the students they taught many years ago. The number has declined but their memory lives on --African American Educators.
