Continuing the discussion of schooling in 1895, which was started here last month, here's a response letter:

• From "Dracimas": "One-Hundred five years ago? I feel lucky to have passed it 16 years ago. That does sound amazingly similiar to my eighth grade class here in Tahlequah. While I admit that my tests then may not have been quite as tough as the one here, I do remember having much more information and, for that matter, more help from the teacher in that small rural school than I did once I got to Jr. High in town. The classes were smaller, and the teacher had more interaction with the individual. There was more to process, but there was a lot more help in doing so. I don't necessarily remember the answers, but I do remember classes teaching most of the items on the test. Apparently I didn't do a very good job learning them, as I could not pass the test today, but it was taught.

  "I guess that was key to my learning. I remember being able to go up to Mrs. Moore's desk and ask anything that I didn't understand and get a straight-forward, uncomplicated answer that I could apply to what was being taught and not feel ashamed for not understanding the material to begin with. That was not always true once I hit the bigger schools in town. I had teachers there who did not want students to approach the desk at all. If someone had a question, they had to ask it from their seat. And so, many questions went unasked simply to save the embarrassment that young people can feel when it seems they are the only one who does not understand.

  "Then there were the teachers who tried to embarrass their students into learning. I have even had this into the college level. A student asks a question and the teacher makes a big deal out of that person not grasping the material. 'Well, you're the only one here who doesn't understand. Class, what is the answer to Mr. Stacy's question?' 'Four, Mr. TerdBall.' 'Thanks class. Pay closer attention next time Mr. Stacy.'

  I guess my point for all of this is that, in my experience, a smaller school not only has a smaller class size with better teacher interaction but is more likely to draw teachers who are there to teach and genuinely help the students and not just draw a pay check. Now I know that both types can be found in any school, regardless of class size or school location. But it has been my experience that I had more class content, better teacher participation, and a higher learning tolerence when I was in a smaller school in a rural area."

Do you have something to add? 55% of the RinkWorks readership are students, and the vast majority of the rest of you have jobs that would have required that you to go to school -- drop me an email and let me know what you think.