Mildred (Becker) Schnarre

taught at Cappeln 1931-32, Richmond 1932-34, Enterprise 1934-36

    Mildred Becker attended Vine Hill School for 8 years. She attended Augusta High School for three years. She then went to Central Wesleyan College for one year.
    Mildred & her roommate stayed in a one room apartment in Warrenton while attending Central Wesleyan College. The bathroom was shared with three other apartments. One of those apartments was rented by the college president at that time.
    One credit from Central Wesleyan went to her high school allowing her qualify as an Augusta High School graduate in 1931.
    After one year at Central Wesleyan, Mildred received her 30 hour certificate. This qualified her to teach, she never took a teachers exam.
    Mildred taught in Cappeln in 1931-32 for $45/month. She remembers walking over 2 miles from her parents home to Cappeln School every day. After walking to the school she would have to light the fire before the students came. The 15 to 20 students would begin the day with songs. There was a recess, lunch, and recess in the afternoon. Each class would have 10 minutes on a subject. Everyday Math, Spelling, Reading, and Grammer was covered. Geography and History would be alternate days per week. Writing was taught to all, not printing.
    Once a year a play was presented with a box dinner auction afterwards. That night, in 1932, as a fundraiser snacks were sold, Mildred remembers that was the first time she ever tasted chili.
    Rural schools lasted 8 months, ending in April. This allowed teachers to start summer school in early May.
    The next 2 years Mildred taught at Richmond School. She stayed with a local family, and had a shorter walk each day.
    Mildred went to summer school at Warrensburg for 2 summers, earning her 60 hour certificate. With a 60 hour certificate she could teach at the Francis Howell Consolidated School District. She was proud to make $65 per month. Those that had taught a long time would make as make as much $85 per month. That was a lot of money. She taught at Enterprise in that district for two years.
    She stayed with a local family, having to walk about a mile to Enterprise school. The family had chickens and a cow. She remembers cottage cheese was served every breakfast and supper. For her sack lunch, she would have an egg sandwich every day. During her Enterprise years was a month of 20 below. First graders would not come to school when it was that cold.
    On weekends her parents would pick her up and bring her back. At times her future husband, Ora Schnarre, would bring her back.
    At Enterprise the young people of the area got to together and presented a 3 act play. They used planks to build a stage & sheets for curtains. The Post Dispatch came and took pictures and had a big write up about the play at Enterprise School.
    The next year she married Ora Schnarre and became a farmer’s wife.
    After raising her family she worked at the Wentzville Branch of the St. Charles County Library. She was there for about 10 years before she had to retire at age 65. She later volunteered maintaining a library at the Emmaus Home.
    At age 96, when asked, Mildred knew the names of the students in her class photos from over 70 years ago. Instantly she knew their family name, where they lived, or who they lived with, and how they were related. With a little more thought she remembered their first names.


Ruth Busdieker, Sept 2009