Walter Thomas was the son of Alpheus H and Maggie Silver Thomas. Many, quiet heroes have never had the recognition that they deserve. Those who fight unspectacular battles throughout their lives, even when they achieve victory usually fade silently into the past. Walter Thomas was one of those silent heroes. For 42 years he fought an unceasing battle in the schools of Mitchell County to bring the light of knowledge to mountain children. From one-room schoolhouses to the superintendent's office in
Bakersville, he never wavered his struggle.
From his sunlit living room, he remembers the days in 1930
when as a 19-year-old high school graduate he began his
teaching career.
"My first position, was in a "two-teacher school. I taught
fourth, fifth and sixth grades at Wiseman School on Grassy Creek" Thomas said. A faded photograph of the school shows an isolated building near the mountains and surrounded by scraggly bare trees. Steps lead to a small vestibule topped by a cupola for the bell. The wooden frame wears a tin roof from which protrudes a chimney for the stove that warmed the school in the winter". Thomas taught at Wiseman
located on what is now Grassy Creek, for two years. He had
approximately 30 students in his three grades and covered
the entire curriculum of reading, mathematics ("They called it arithmetic In those days."), history and English. In preparation for his beginning teaching, he had his high school diploma and a teacher training course. Later in his career he received a master's degree from Appalachian State University in Boone, in addition to taking advanced courses at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and some at East Tennessee State University, Johnson City. His second job was in a one-teacher school at Rebel's Creek. He taught everyone from grades one to six again having approximately 30 students. "I didn't teach school; I kept school," he said. While he taught from regular, state adopted texts, the students had to buy their own books he said. After six years at Rebel's Creek he spent a year at Hawk, more than one one at Rabbit Hop, and then he moved to Spruce Pine, where he spent the remaining years of his teaching career. Whether teaching the alphabet to beginners or "The Little Red Hen" to early readers,the one at Rabbit Hop was one of his happiest times. The students, were quite interesting and exciting. "For instance, I'd put the words on the board, and the stu-dents who recognized it would have the privilege of erasing the word. Some of the older students helped the younger ones. We dramatized some of the history we studied. "Borrowed microscope to see a specimen of blood, gouged my finger to get a drop. Seems as if I don't have any blood, thought I was going to have to cut my finger off to get a few drops."
"The students brought their own lunch at noon. I brought my own lunch, too, and the students all wanted to sit next to me-we shared our lunches. I was not married at the time, so my mother would fix the lunch." We studied the story of Pocahontas and built wig-wams," Thomas said.
Appointed principal of Harris Elementary in 1950, Thomas
supervised 37 teachers and over 1,200 students. He worked
steadily to ensure that inadequate facilities did not hold
back the students from obtaining the education they deserved.
In Spruce Pine, he taught eighth grade at Harris Elemenary served as principal, and he also taught some high school courses. He threw himself into his work, sometimes shedding blood like a more traditional hero. He wrote in a journal he kept over 50 years ago about a science lesson he prepared for his students. We didn't have needed facilities at the time, but we managed quite well. There are more problems now. Television is mostly to blame. We had no drug problems or drinking problems," he
said. '
In 1960 he became the superintendent of Mitchell County
Schools, appointed by the Board f Education. "I had the whole gamut of problems; We had to keep 30 buses running, as well as supervising the schools. I visited every school, and I hired every teacher, with the concurrence of
the school board. "Today' the situation has changed, as far as the superintendency goes. I was the only person. Now the superintendent has himself and four assistants, I believe. They all have private secretaries. I had two secretaries.
"I had a supervisor who was very helpful. She visited all the schools. Mae Fortner, she retired several years ago," he said. In 1972, Walter Thomas himself retired from his superintendent's job. His 42 years of service to the youth of the county earned him-few-public-laurels, but plenty of personal satisfaction.'He still meets the products of his career, and their successes are the reward for his tireless efforts. "I see former students I have had. They recognize me, but I don't recognize them. They've changed so much. I taught 700 to 800 students over the years. A lot of them have gone on to success. They've made doctors and I don't know what all. "I've taught some brilliant students, too. They just had an innate brilliance. The economics of their situations have played a big part in what has happened to them," he said, thinking of farm children who were denied a college education by their circumstances . Today Thomas lives alone.
His schoolteacher wife; Lela, died in 1989. He cooks for himself, reads voraciously and spends hours a day outside in nature. He looks an unlikely hero, yet he managed a
sustained battle for four decades.
Bakersville, he never wavered his struggle.
From his sunlit living room, he remembers the days in 1930
when as a 19-year-old high school graduate he began his
teaching career.
"My first position, was in a "two-teacher school. I taught
fourth, fifth and sixth grades at Wiseman School on Grassy Creek" Thomas said. A faded photograph of the school shows an isolated building near the mountains and surrounded by scraggly bare trees. Steps lead to a small vestibule topped by a cupola for the bell. The wooden frame wears a tin roof from which protrudes a chimney for the stove that warmed the school in the winter". Thomas taught at Wiseman
located on what is now Grassy Creek, for two years. He had
approximately 30 students in his three grades and covered
the entire curriculum of reading, mathematics ("They called it arithmetic In those days."), history and English. In preparation for his beginning teaching, he had his high school diploma and a teacher training course. Later in his career he received a master's degree from Appalachian State University in Boone, in addition to taking advanced courses at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and some at East Tennessee State University, Johnson City. His second job was in a one-teacher school at Rebel's Creek. He taught everyone from grades one to six again having approximately 30 students. "I didn't teach school; I kept school," he said. While he taught from regular, state adopted texts, the students had to buy their own books he said. After six years at Rebel's Creek he spent a year at Hawk, more than one one at Rabbit Hop, and then he moved to Spruce Pine, where he spent the remaining years of his teaching career. Whether teaching the alphabet to beginners or "The Little Red Hen" to early readers,the one at Rabbit Hop was one of his happiest times. The students, were quite interesting and exciting. "For instance, I'd put the words on the board, and the stu-dents who recognized it would have the privilege of erasing the word. Some of the older students helped the younger ones. We dramatized some of the history we studied. "Borrowed microscope to see a specimen of blood, gouged my finger to get a drop. Seems as if I don't have any blood, thought I was going to have to cut my finger off to get a few drops."
"The students brought their own lunch at noon. I brought my own lunch, too, and the students all wanted to sit next to me-we shared our lunches. I was not married at the time, so my mother would fix the lunch." We studied the story of Pocahontas and built wig-wams," Thomas said.
Appointed principal of Harris Elementary in 1950, Thomas
supervised 37 teachers and over 1,200 students. He worked
steadily to ensure that inadequate facilities did not hold
back the students from obtaining the education they deserved.
In Spruce Pine, he taught eighth grade at Harris Elemenary served as principal, and he also taught some high school courses. He threw himself into his work, sometimes shedding blood like a more traditional hero. He wrote in a journal he kept over 50 years ago about a science lesson he prepared for his students. We didn't have needed facilities at the time, but we managed quite well. There are more problems now. Television is mostly to blame. We had no drug problems or drinking problems," he
said. '
In 1960 he became the superintendent of Mitchell County
Schools, appointed by the Board f Education. "I had the whole gamut of problems; We had to keep 30 buses running, as well as supervising the schools. I visited every school, and I hired every teacher, with the concurrence of
the school board. "Today' the situation has changed, as far as the superintendency goes. I was the only person. Now the superintendent has himself and four assistants, I believe. They all have private secretaries. I had two secretaries.
"I had a supervisor who was very helpful. She visited all the schools. Mae Fortner, she retired several years ago," he said. In 1972, Walter Thomas himself retired from his superintendent's job. His 42 years of service to the youth of the county earned him-few-public-laurels, but plenty of personal satisfaction.'He still meets the products of his career, and their successes are the reward for his tireless efforts. "I see former students I have had. They recognize me, but I don't recognize them. They've changed so much. I taught 700 to 800 students over the years. A lot of them have gone on to success. They've made doctors and I don't know what all. "I've taught some brilliant students, too. They just had an innate brilliance. The economics of their situations have played a big part in what has happened to them," he said, thinking of farm children who were denied a college education by their circumstances . Today Thomas lives alone.
His schoolteacher wife; Lela, died in 1989. He cooks for himself, reads voraciously and spends hours a day outside in nature. He looks an unlikely hero, yet he managed a
sustained battle for four decades.
Walter Thomas was the son of Alpheus H and Maggie Silver Thomas. Many, quiet heroes have never had the recognition that they deserve. Those who fight unspectacular battles throughout their lives, even when they achieve victory usually fade silently into the past. Walter Thomas was one of those silent heroes. For 42 years he fought an unceasing battle in the schools of Mitchell County to bring the light of knowledge to mountain children. From one-room schoolhouses to the superintendent's office in
Bakersville, he never wavered his struggle.
From his sunlit living room, he remembers the days in 1930
when as a 19-year-old high school graduate he began his
teaching career.
"My first position, was in a "two-teacher school. I taught
fourth, fifth and sixth grades at Wiseman School on Grassy Creek" Thomas said. A faded photograph of the school shows an isolated building near the mountains and surrounded by scraggly bare trees. Steps lead to a small vestibule topped by a cupola for the bell. The wooden frame wears a tin roof from which protrudes a chimney for the stove that warmed the school in the winter". Thomas taught at Wiseman
located on what is now Grassy Creek, for two years. He had
approximately 30 students in his three grades and covered
the entire curriculum of reading, mathematics ("They called it arithmetic In those days."), history and English. In preparation for his beginning teaching, he had his high school diploma and a teacher training course. Later in his career he received a master's degree from Appalachian State University in Boone, in addition to taking advanced courses at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and some at East Tennessee State University, Johnson City. His second job was in a one-teacher school at Rebel's Creek. He taught everyone from grades one to six again having approximately 30 students. "I didn't teach school; I kept school," he said. While he taught from regular, state adopted texts, the students had to buy their own books he said. After six years at Rebel's Creek he spent a year at Hawk, more than one one at Rabbit Hop, and then he moved to Spruce Pine, where he spent the remaining years of his teaching career. Whether teaching the alphabet to beginners or "The Little Red Hen" to early readers,the one at Rabbit Hop was one of his happiest times. The students, were quite interesting and exciting. "For instance, I'd put the words on the board, and the stu-dents who recognized it would have the privilege of erasing the word. Some of the older students helped the younger ones. We dramatized some of the history we studied. "Borrowed microscope to see a specimen of blood, gouged my finger to get a drop. Seems as if I don't have any blood, thought I was going to have to cut my finger off to get a few drops."
"The students brought their own lunch at noon. I brought my own lunch, too, and the students all wanted to sit next to me-we shared our lunches. I was not married at the time, so my mother would fix the lunch." We studied the story of Pocahontas and built wig-wams," Thomas said.
Appointed principal of Harris Elementary in 1950, Thomas
supervised 37 teachers and over 1,200 students. He worked
steadily to ensure that inadequate facilities did not hold
back the students from obtaining the education they deserved.
In Spruce Pine, he taught eighth grade at Harris Elemenary served as principal, and he also taught some high school courses. He threw himself into his work, sometimes shedding blood like a more traditional hero. He wrote in a journal he kept over 50 years ago about a science lesson he prepared for his students. We didn't have needed facilities at the time, but we managed quite well. There are more problems now. Television is mostly to blame. We had no drug problems or drinking problems," he
said. '
In 1960 he became the superintendent of Mitchell County
Schools, appointed by the Board f Education. "I had the whole gamut of problems; We had to keep 30 buses running, as well as supervising the schools. I visited every school, and I hired every teacher, with the concurrence of
the school board. "Today' the situation has changed, as far as the superintendency goes. I was the only person. Now the superintendent has himself and four assistants, I believe. They all have private secretaries. I had two secretaries.
"I had a supervisor who was very helpful. She visited all the schools. Mae Fortner, she retired several years ago," he said. In 1972, Walter Thomas himself retired from his superintendent's job. His 42 years of service to the youth of the county earned him-few-public-laurels, but plenty of personal satisfaction.'He still meets the products of his career, and their successes are the reward for his tireless efforts. "I see former students I have had. They recognize me, but I don't recognize them. They've changed so much. I taught 700 to 800 students over the years. A lot of them have gone on to success. They've made doctors and I don't know what all. "I've taught some brilliant students, too. They just had an innate brilliance. The economics of their situations have played a big part in what has happened to them," he said, thinking of farm children who were denied a college education by their circumstances . Today Thomas lives alone.
His schoolteacher wife; Lela, died in 1989. He cooks for himself, reads voraciously and spends hours a day outside in nature. He looks an unlikely hero, yet he managed a
sustained battle for four decades.
Bakersville, he never wavered his struggle.
From his sunlit living room, he remembers the days in 1930
when as a 19-year-old high school graduate he began his
teaching career.
"My first position, was in a "two-teacher school. I taught
fourth, fifth and sixth grades at Wiseman School on Grassy Creek" Thomas said. A faded photograph of the school shows an isolated building near the mountains and surrounded by scraggly bare trees. Steps lead to a small vestibule topped by a cupola for the bell. The wooden frame wears a tin roof from which protrudes a chimney for the stove that warmed the school in the winter". Thomas taught at Wiseman
located on what is now Grassy Creek, for two years. He had
approximately 30 students in his three grades and covered
the entire curriculum of reading, mathematics ("They called it arithmetic In those days."), history and English. In preparation for his beginning teaching, he had his high school diploma and a teacher training course. Later in his career he received a master's degree from Appalachian State University in Boone, in addition to taking advanced courses at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and some at East Tennessee State University, Johnson City. His second job was in a one-teacher school at Rebel's Creek. He taught everyone from grades one to six again having approximately 30 students. "I didn't teach school; I kept school," he said. While he taught from regular, state adopted texts, the students had to buy their own books he said. After six years at Rebel's Creek he spent a year at Hawk, more than one one at Rabbit Hop, and then he moved to Spruce Pine, where he spent the remaining years of his teaching career. Whether teaching the alphabet to beginners or "The Little Red Hen" to early readers,the one at Rabbit Hop was one of his happiest times. The students, were quite interesting and exciting. "For instance, I'd put the words on the board, and the stu-dents who recognized it would have the privilege of erasing the word. Some of the older students helped the younger ones. We dramatized some of the history we studied. "Borrowed microscope to see a specimen of blood, gouged my finger to get a drop. Seems as if I don't have any blood, thought I was going to have to cut my finger off to get a few drops."
"The students brought their own lunch at noon. I brought my own lunch, too, and the students all wanted to sit next to me-we shared our lunches. I was not married at the time, so my mother would fix the lunch." We studied the story of Pocahontas and built wig-wams," Thomas said.
Appointed principal of Harris Elementary in 1950, Thomas
supervised 37 teachers and over 1,200 students. He worked
steadily to ensure that inadequate facilities did not hold
back the students from obtaining the education they deserved.
In Spruce Pine, he taught eighth grade at Harris Elemenary served as principal, and he also taught some high school courses. He threw himself into his work, sometimes shedding blood like a more traditional hero. He wrote in a journal he kept over 50 years ago about a science lesson he prepared for his students. We didn't have needed facilities at the time, but we managed quite well. There are more problems now. Television is mostly to blame. We had no drug problems or drinking problems," he
said. '
In 1960 he became the superintendent of Mitchell County
Schools, appointed by the Board f Education. "I had the whole gamut of problems; We had to keep 30 buses running, as well as supervising the schools. I visited every school, and I hired every teacher, with the concurrence of
the school board. "Today' the situation has changed, as far as the superintendency goes. I was the only person. Now the superintendent has himself and four assistants, I believe. They all have private secretaries. I had two secretaries.
"I had a supervisor who was very helpful. She visited all the schools. Mae Fortner, she retired several years ago," he said. In 1972, Walter Thomas himself retired from his superintendent's job. His 42 years of service to the youth of the county earned him-few-public-laurels, but plenty of personal satisfaction.'He still meets the products of his career, and their successes are the reward for his tireless efforts. "I see former students I have had. They recognize me, but I don't recognize them. They've changed so much. I taught 700 to 800 students over the years. A lot of them have gone on to success. They've made doctors and I don't know what all. "I've taught some brilliant students, too. They just had an innate brilliance. The economics of their situations have played a big part in what has happened to them," he said, thinking of farm children who were denied a college education by their circumstances . Today Thomas lives alone.
His schoolteacher wife; Lela, died in 1989. He cooks for himself, reads voraciously and spends hours a day outside in nature. He looks an unlikely hero, yet he managed a
sustained battle for four decades.
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