tions had been passed, the legality of this special meeting was questioned
by one of
the voters because he claimed that proper notices for a special meeting were
not
posted. All transactions were then called null and void, and another special
meet-
ing was called for August 4, 1909 to consider legally the business to have
been trans-
acted on July 23rd. The opposition at this meeting presented a petition signed
by the
citizens of Collins for a new schoolhouse in that village. After considerable
discussion
a motion was made, seconded, and passed that two separate school buildings
be main-
tained by Rockland district 2- one at the old location and one at Collins.
The
school board was to accept the Collins school if erected per specifications.
In 1912,
the Collins area detached itself from district 2, and became Rockland No.
3.

    The building erected in 1886 and added to in 1898 is in use today. From
time
to time various improvements have been made. In 1921, a porch was built,
while
in 1925 a new board fence was built around the schoolyard. New outbuildings
were
erected in 1926. The interior walls and- ceilfng were covered with sheet
metal and a
new chimney built in 1928. The -old double desks with their carved initials
and etch-
ings were replaced by single chair-type desks the following term. During
P. W. A
days in 1934, a hardwood floqr was laid and electric lights installed . Open
shelved
libraries, a steel filing cabinet, tables, chairs, and a floor furnace complete
the school-
room equipment. The building lacks such modern conveniences as indoor toilets,
running water, basement, and correct window' lighting.
    The enrollment during the first 50 years of this school's existence was
large.
The fact that a graded school set up was considered as late as 1909 shows
that many
pupils were in attendance even at that time. With the withdrawal of the Wells
and
the Collins areas the size of the school was affected considerably. Today
the enroll-
ment averages about 15 out of a school census of 40. The convenience of bus
service
to Reedsville has caused some children to attend the parochial school there.
    The 1860 township assessment roll lists the following pioneers as land
owners in
the original district: Carl Lau, Carl Behnke, John Jahnke, Win. Schwanke,
Gottried
Krueger, Michael Wunsch, Fred Wells, Paul Behnke, Frederick Krueger, and
L.
Klawitter. Some former students who became prominent were Arthur Schroeder,
who begame county clerk and now district supervisor of assessments at Green
Bay,
Benjamin Wunsch, now with the American Telephone and Telegraph Company, Mel-
vin Wunsch with the social security board in the East, and Adolph Valleskey,
a state
dairy and food inspector. The many other graduates have been and are respected
and influential citizens in their communities.
    Records show that the main transactions at annual school meetings were
to de-
termine the length of the term, the languages to be taught, and who should
furnish
the fuel and clean the school. These jobs were usually let to the lowest
bidder. Of
special interest to one reading the records was the amount of money raised
from
generation to generation for school purposes. The yearly taxes from 1880
to 1913
averaged $50 while after 1925 the yearly appropriation was between one and
two
thousand dollars.
    Frequent changes in school officers were made according to records. Win.
Klann
served as clerk for the longest term - 15 years. Other school officers on
record in
the county office as having served prior to 1906 were Fred Pollack, Christ
Krueger,
Carl Lau, F. M. Krueger, Carl Valleskey, Nick Schroeder, Robert Lau, and
Chas.
Wunsch.
    A one year term for teachers was common before the 1900's. Winter and
sum-
mer terms seem to have been held up to about 1880. The term length after
that date
ranged all the way from 3 to 7 months. The superintendent's record book has
this
entry for the winter of 1873: "No winter term". German was taught
each year for
one month until 1918. This German school was in addition to the regular terms.
The
salaries were raised and lowered according to the times, ranging from $20
per
month when Ella Hagenow taught to over $200 per month for the 1947-1948 term.
    The list of teachers teaching this school before 1906 is incomplete.
Those on
record in the county office are J. G. Lemkuhl 1872; Ella Ross 1873; Bridget
Nolan
1874; Annie Carberry 1875; Mary Patnode 1877; Mary Hougen 1878; Emma Gibson
1879, Annie Hill 1880; Henry Strodhoff 1894; Winifred Meany 1895 and 1898;
Anna
Michan 1896; Fred Schwalbe 1897; Jennie Schwartz 1904; and Dora Knutson 1905.
A later teacher, Orrin Meyer, is at present the Calumet County Agent.
    Rockland district No. 2 has no places of scenic or historical interest.
It is now a
community of prosperous farmers who are now studying the best solution to
a more
efficient and economical school system to meet modern trends in rural education.


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