A history of Geneva schools

I taught two years in downstate schools before starting here in Geneva High School in 1958. A very kind superintendent, Mr. Beaudin, explained I was to reside in Geneva and was expected to buy food, clothing and the basic necessities from merchants in Geneva. The high school was new; the classes moved from Coultrap, which became the junior high. I had a degree in chemistry and a master’s in physics from the University of Michigan.

A few of the teachers began to push the administration for a salary schedule, Jim Mayer was the guiding spirit behind this endeavor. a salary schedule was adopted with stipulations as time passed. There were two types of master’s degrees — A and B, with the B degree paying less money. B degrees were earned at any college within 30 miles or less of Geneva, such as Northern Illinois University. Every teacher was required to upgrade his/her training by taking six hours of college credits every four years. New lanes on the salary schedule for 15, 30 and 45 hours of credit above the master’s were incorporated in the schedule.

The school board then decided a second master’s was superior to just taking extra hours. Aurora College was ideal for teachers on that track. For a high school teacher, taking courses in general education instead of courses in the subject matter they were teaching is a mistake.

School board members in the 1950s had been through the Depression and Word War II and were reluctant to commit the community to additional taxes. They were aware that many families had difficulty trying to meet expenses and, therefore, kept educational costs down.

I have often wondered what the current superintendent and school board are trying to accomplish — continued wrath of the voting public — continued admiration of the very well-paid teaching staff.

Bill Cooper

Geneva