If anyone is tired of reading the history of the numerous districts of Greene rest assured, this article is the final chapter of Greene District School history, that is to say unless new information surfaces, at which time the pages of this book will be reopened.

The text books of this modern day and age, additionally with the many electronic devices used in education differ very much from the instruments used in bygone days. As a final tribute to all the teachers (they were numerous) who taught in these one-room schools the text books that were used were at time scant, other times, as the years progressed they became numerous. As a reminder in the beginning years of education the family Bible was the only learning tool that was available, today that would be unheard of as the intermingling of education and religion is somewhat frowned upon by certain religious denominations.

In the years beginning with 1830 the books that were most commonly used, not only in the Greene schools, but elsewhere were: Webster’s Spelling Book, Cobb’s and Crandall’s Spelling Book, Murray’s English Reader, Murray’s and Kirkham’s Grammar, Prouth’s, OIney’s Willard’s & Woodbridge’s Geography, Pikes, Dobell’s, Root’s & Starkweather’s Arithmetic along with Hazen’s Speller & Definer. By the year 1835 Hales’ History Book and Colbum’s Mental Arithmetic has been added. In 1838 would see the addition of Collum’s and Day’s Algebra and in the year 1839 Town’s Analysis and Mrs. Sigourney’s Girls’ Reading Book would be added.

A special note of interest is that in 1843 High School Books were started and there were no pictures in school books in the early days to “distract” the children. How times have changed!

Mrs. Mildred English Folsom in her never ending “exhausting” documentation of school history listed early teachers in Greene, having taken facts from obituaries that appeared in the local papers. As a tribute to these teachers they are listed exactly as she wrote them.

“Charles Henry Wheeler (1824-1905) - taught 9 years in his home district in the brown schoolhouse in Oxford, 12 years (The Upper and Lower Schools near East Greene (Brisben). Also taught singing in Greene and other places in the County 27 years!

Margaret Ketchum (1825-1911) - daughter of Daniel and Hester Ketchum. Taught school here until 1865!

Juliet Gray (born 1828) - no further information found

Helen TenBroeck (Race) (1833-1922) - About 1850 she taught school near Greene (Harbor District?) and among her pupils was Indian children who lived in the encampment near the village during their hunting season. In appreciation the Indians gave her a basket they had made, which was treasured in the family for many years.

Maria Aldrich (Harrington) (1933-1912) taught here before her marriage to Ralph Harrington’s father, George H. Harrington.

Maria S. Wheeler (1839-1918) taught school on Turnpike (#15) and in Brisben before her marriage to Jerry T. Loomis in 1859.

Merritt W. Betts (1847-1926) taught 27 terms in Brisben

Dr. Jesse E. Bartoo (1847-1932) was teaching school in 1871 before attending medical school.

J. Harvey lenderson (1838-1929) taught several years.

Elsie Lansing (1847-1926) taught from 1867 until her marriage to Truman Jackson in 1879.

Maria Harris (Watson) (1853-1936) taught many years

Edwin J. Barr (1849-1940) taught in Norwich and Greene before turning to farming. Was teaching in the Foster Hill District in 1882.

Lillis Preston (1858-1954) taught until her marriage to Andrew O. Jackson.

Libby A. Smith (1859-1943) taught from 1886 until her marriage to Chauncey Hill in 1889

James Kinnier (1860-1919) taught school many years and died while teaching, in the country schoolhouse.

Katherine J. Lumbard (1861-1908) taught several years before her marriage to J. F. Dennison in 1903

William B. Webb (1865-1950) no further information

Phebe Whitten (1883-1947) taught district schools here over 55 years (about 1883 to 1938)

Mary McMoran Abbuhl (1868-1935) teacher for many years

Obv J. Hoag (1873-1940) taught school after 1890

Cora Beach Gross (1874-1946) no further information

Francis landers (King) (1876-1964) taught from 1894 to 1904 in District school and Brisben

Clara Smith (Ctine) (1884-1969) taught school sometime after 1900

Bert Northrup was teaching in 1899 in the Jones District

Emogene Marcy - taught school after 1870

Charles N. King - was teaching about 1899