Washington Standard Olympia, W.T., December 10, 1861

To the Honorable the Legislature of the Territory of Washington
The act to create the office of Public Instruction makes it the duty of the Superintendent to collect all such information as may be deemed important in reference to common schools, especially the number of children; the number and quality [...]

Introduction: The westernmost limit of the modern Yelm school district borders that of North Thurston along the Yelm Highway near Pattison’s Lake. Along the Yelm highway, just east of Eaton Creek stands a white, two story family residence sitting among some trees on the south side of that road. This building was the last of [...]

Pioneer Teachers
by Ed Bergh

“Our calling creeps low and hath pain for a companion, still thrust to the wall, though still confessed good. Our comfort perforce is that these things be good things, which want no praising, though they go a-cold for want of happing. [covering].”
Anonymous Teacher Quoted in Notestein, Wallace. The English People on the [...]

Teacher: Dillis B. Ward by Ed Bergh

On April 24, 1863, Dillis B. Ward sat down and wrote a letter to his “Dearest One,” Belle Byles of Grand Mound. In that letter, filled with the affection and vows of a man in love for the first time, he noted that “I have just been out to [...]

Teachers’ Convention at Salem

Washington Standard September 7, 1861
A convention of teachers of Oregon and Washington Territory was held at Salem, Oregon, commencing July 31st, for the purpose of forming a Teachers’ Institute, and determining on a uniform course of instruction for district schools and academics. The convention was unable to determine upon a series of [...]

Signed by Superintendent of Public Instruction

Washington Standard January 1, 1862
1. Number of Children:
From the most reliable information at our command, we find that the number of children over the age of four and under twenty-one years is 2,141.
2. Number of School-Houses:
We have about fifty-three school-houses in the Territory, and some of them are not worth [...]

Office of Public Instruction

Washington Standard Olympia, W.T., December 10, 1861
To the Honorable the Legislature of the Territory of Washington
The act to create the office of Public Instruction makes it the duty of the Superintendent to collect all such information as may be deemed important in reference to common schools, especially the number of children; the [...]

Discipline

Washington Standard August 18, 1863
No student will be allowed to retain connection with the school whose habits are such as to gender him an unfit comparison, or who will not gender a ready compliance with the regulation of the School. Frequenting of saloon, and attendance upon theaters and balls, are not allowed, but students are [...]

Overview:  History of Yelm Schools (1949)
Introduction:  The following history of Yelm Schools was written in 1949.   
The first school in the Yelm District was a private school taught by one teacher in a one-room school owned by James Longmire.
The first public school was a frame building, located opposite the Seventh Day Adventist Church and the furniture [...]

The History of Yelm Schools  (From:  The Story of Yelm)
At least 22 schools have served the people of this community in the cause of education, and all have at this date been incorporated into the Yelm or Rainier schools. Oldest of all was the Yelm school, which was started as a private school in the [...]