Thanks, Teachers!

Education transforms lives. Where did your education start?

Tomorrow, October 5th, is World Teacher’s Day. It celebrates the right to education and the value of teachers who do start most everyone’s education..

In the United States, the Boston Latin School was begun in 1635 and funded by public funds. The school still exists today. Georgia did not have publicly funded schools until 1817 according to the Georgia Historical Quarterly when the “Poor School Act” was passed. This act sparked free public education in Georgia. In 1817 there were 17 chartered schools state-wide and in 10 years the total increased to 107 schools.

Just as schools have evolved so has the teaching profession. Once well-off families hired personal teachers for their children. Then families paid for community schools as homes were built closer to each other. Public education in Georgia, funded by counties, state and federal money evolved into our systems today.

Hillsboro School built in 1917 is an example of an early school in Jasper County. The two story, white-washed, clapboard-sided exterior has an interior made of hundreds of tongue and groove pine boards used for floors, walls, and ceiling. According to local citizens, there was two to four teachers for all grades.

Thank you to all our teachers for their dedication.