Many of the attendees seemed to be parents of school-aged children. A few older folks were sprinkled about, looking just as interested. She was thrilled at the response to the last minute addition to the meeting’s agenda to discuss the new teacher. At least these people were serious about education, which would make her job that much easier.
“We’re working on the mountain lion situation, Harvey. I think the marshal here is going to get a group together to go out there one night this week.” The mayor addressed another man sitting at the head table. “Isn’t that right, Marshal?”
A man with the star of law enforcement on his chest stood and addressed the entire group. “Yep. Anyone who wants to join up, give me your name after the meeting and we’ll decide on a night.”
Apparently satisfied with the answer, the man named Harvey sat and nodded to the man next to him.
“Next on the agenda is our new teacher.” The mayor smiled in Priscilla’s direction. “She has asked that she be allowed to address the town to lay out her plans for the school.”
Priscilla stood and smoothed out her skirt. She had taken care with her appearance, wanting to look professional, older, and confident. She’d worn a two-piece brown wool suit with a white ruffled blouse. Her hair was pulled back into a very sensible bun. On her nose she wore the clear glass spectacles she only used in the classroom to give herself a more “mature” look.
She walked to the front of the room and turned to address the group. “Good evening. I want to thank all of you for allowing me to address you at your town meeting. I am Miss Priscilla Cochran and very pleased to be here in Dogtown.” Her back stiffened when she heard a light snort behind her, knowing it was that awful Mr. Beaumont.
“I am a graduate of the Central State Normal School of Oklahoma and hold a certification to teach children from first grade all the way through high school.”
“Yeah, but will you stick around?” A tall, slender woman in the third row shouted from where she sat.
The man sitting next to her nodded. “We have five children, and we want them in school. We try to teach them at home, but we’re busy with our chores. The last teacher that came here only lasted two weeks.”
From the corner of her eye, Priscilla saw Mr. Beaumont nodding his head vigorously. She would not let them get away with this. “I have every intention of being here as long as you want me to be. I love teaching and am committed to improving children’s lives through education.”
“Sounds all right to me,” the woman said. Her husband nodded his agreement.
A woman in the back row gingerly raised her hand.
“Yes?” Priscilla smiled at her.
“Miss Cochran, you mentioned going to school in Oklahoma. Are you from Oklahoma?”
“Yes, I am.”
“Are you any relation to Senator Jesse Cochran?”
Priscilla felt all the blood drain from her face. Lord, if Mr. Beaumont learned of her connection to Papa before the town approved her contract, he would surely ship her back. The man was more of a snob than he claimed her to be.
“I am,” she mumbled, looking around. “Are there any more questions before I continue with my plans for the school?”
The woman sat down, appearing a bit puzzled by her vague answer, but Mr. Beaumont, curse his hide, leaned forward and said, “Exactly what is your relation to the United States senator. Miss Cochran?”
She drew herself up and looked him square in the eye. “Senator Jesse Cochran is my father.”
Mitch quelled the desire to slap his hand on the table and shout, “I told you so.” This woman was here for a lark. Nobody with her background and connections would last long in a small, backwoods town. Not that he thought Dogtown would remain a backwoods town for long. If he had his way, the town would grow considerably in this new century and be a thriving, pleasant place to live very shortly.
He had his own aspirations. One day he wanted to be mayor, and then maybe a state senator. In fact, known for his family values and integrity, Senator Cochran had always been one of his favorite public figures. That he hadn’t connected Miss Cochran to that well-known and highly respected man before someone else brought it up annoyed the hell out of him.
His attention was drawn back to the room where Miss Cochran laid out her plans for the school.
“Aside from the usual arithmetic, spelling, reading, writing, history, and geography, I plan to incorporate science into my curriculum for the children. I also have had training in helping students who have difficulty learning. Recent studies have shown children who have a problem with reading and writing are not lower in intelligence, their brains merely process information differently than others.”
Excitement grew on her face, her cheeks grew flushed, and she waved her arms around. “There are so many different ways to teach a child. Some children do well if they are able to touch the letters. Cutting out the alphabet and letting them trace the letters with their fingers helps.”
Mrs. Davis, mother to three children, stood and addressed the group. “My son has always had trouble reading. The last teacher suggested I take him out of school because he’ll never learn.”
“No!” Miss Cochran’s forceful word startled the group. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to shout, but that is the absolute wrong thing to do. I promise you once your son is my student, he will learn to read.”
Mitch slumped in his chair. Miss Cochran had swayed the group in her favor. He glanced at Ray who smiled at him and shrugged. Apparently the mayor was as much mesmerized by the woman’s words as everyone else. The mumbling among the group told him he’d lost. Nods and smiles in Miss Cochran’s direction were all the vote he needed.
Mrs. Gillis, the owner of the boardinghouse who had the care of her granddaughter, stood. “When will school open, Miss Cochran?”