Interview with Mrs. Ernestine Brown Johnson
Written interview sent in by Mr. James Brown
Mrs. Ernestine Johnson was born on January 27, 1918. She attended Carrollton School and Isle of Wight Training School.
Q. Area of Isle of Wight where you grew up?
A. Carrollton, VA.
Q. Number of sisters and brothers?
A. Six sisters and three brothers.
Q. Schools they attended?
A. Carrollton, Isle of Wight Training, Thyne Institute, Chase City, VA.
Q. What county school(s) did you attend?
A. Carrollton and Isle of Wight Training.
Q. What grades were taught there?
A. One thru Seven.
Q. How many classrooms?
A. Two classrooms.
Q. How many teachers?
A. Two.
Q. What grades did you attend there?
A. One thru Seven.
Q. What years?
A. 1924-1931.
Q. Who were some of your teachers?
A. Mrs. Came Jordon Bowman.
Q. Do you have information about the history of your school; when it opened or closed? The number of rooms? County owned or private?
A. Two rooms; County owned.
Q. How did you get to and from school?
A. Walked and rode in father’s truck.
Q. What jobs did you do before and after school?
A. After school brought in wood for heating and cooking.
Q. What chores were done at school?
A. Mark calendars, pass out papers.
Q. How did the school day start?
A. Sang songs, prayed, and pledged allegiance to flag.
Q. What subjects did you cover?
A. Reading, spelling, math, geography, history, science, music.
Q. Any specific textbooks or readers? Where were they kept?
A. Baby Ray, kept in cabinets.
Q. How long was the school day?
A. Nine until 3:30.
Q. How long was the school year?
A. September thru May.
Q. Where did you eat lunch and how long did you stop for lunch?
A. In the room, one hour.
Q. When did you have recess and what did you do?
A. Ten o’clock (20 minutes for physical education); lunch (1 hour), 2 p.m. (10 minutes)
Q. How would you describe your school’s classroom?
A. Very nice, clean, had towels to wash hands, closets for girls and boys.
Q. How was the school heated in winter?
A. Big iron stove (wood).
Q. Were there restrooms?
A. Outside toilets with three seats (separate for boys and girls).
Q. Where was your water supply?
A. In a cooler in vestibule.
Q. How would you describe the teacher’s desk?
A. Four legs, wooden with drawers.
Q. Describe the students’ desks.
A. Two sat at same desk.
Q. Were chalkboards used?
A. Yes.
Q. What school supplies were used?
A. Erasers, pencils, tablets, composition books.
Q. Were teaching aids on the wall?
A. Maps, charts, multiplication tables.
Q. Lighting?
A. Large windows.
Q. Window treatment?
A. Shades.
Q. Was there a cloakroom and/or wall hooks for coats?
A. Cloakroom for boys and girls.
Q. Describe what discipline and punishment were used in the classroom.
A. Sit bad children in corner, spank hands with ruler, gave reports to parents.
Q. What were your positive memories of your school days, teachers, and students?
A. Teachers were patient and very thorough in instruction. Some were disorderly.
Q. What are your negative memories/impressions of your school days, teachers, and students?
A. Had to buy books, rooms stuffy at times, didn’t have cafeteria.
Q. Are there any additional school experiences you would lik to tell us about?
A. Had nice school plays (Babe in Woods), spelling bees, exhibit days to display projects you were working on (sewing).
Q. Are there other early childhood memories you recall that weren’t connected with school?
A. 4-H Clubs.
Q. After attending school, what jobs, changes, or other experiences do you recall in the county?
A. Going to Petersburg to sing in chorus (Virginia State College) in competition with other school throughout the state.
Q. Give us a short autobiographical sketch of the highlights of your life.
A. Proms third and fourth year high school. High school graduation and college at St. Paul’s in 1939. Working in Washington, DC in 1944 and 1945. Married February 1948. First child born in 1949, second born January 1951, and third born July 1952. Lived in Newport News, VA, Baltimore, MD, and Columbia, MD. Work as librarian for three years in Enoch Pratt Library in Baltimore, MD.