Sarah Gillespie Huftalen: The Educator

"Someone had said that to be educated meant to bring forth and train up all the faculties and powers of the mind and body to their highest possible use.  To accomplish this makes it mandatory to live in such manner of thought and activity as will make the whole world better for our having lived in it."  Undated essay, "Why a Teacher", Huftalen collection.

Sarah Gillespie Huftalen began her teaching career in the McGee Brick School in Coffins Grove Township at age sixteen.  Her professional career as an educator spanned fifty-two years. When Sarah left this world on February 11, 1955, she had indeed made "the whole world better for having lived in it."

Resume for Sarah Gillespie Huftalen - 1865-1955

Prepared by Ann Baumgarn for Nomination to Iowa Women's Hall of Fame, April, 2004.

Education:

State University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, Doctorate courses

1921-1923  State University of Iowa, , Iowa City, Iowa, M.A., January, 1924

Upper Iowa University, Fayette, Iowa , B.A. August, 1920

Normal Training Summer Schools in Manchester Iowa

1879- 1881 Normal College and Commercial Institute (AKA "The Academy"),    

                   Manchester, Iowa

1869-1879 Coffins Grove Country School

Employment:

1942-1935    Methods and Critic teacher of the Normal Department of Muscatine

High School, Muscatine Iowa, disseminated teaching strategies developed

over many years of teaching experience, trained normal training students in

making seat work for children for a year: lessons (36) in each of the Primary

Grades I, II, & III in "Plants, animals, insects, birds, land, sea and sky with

poems, quotations, and Talks, etc."

1918-1923    Instructor at Upper Iowa University Rural Education Program, summer supervisor of demonstration school representing a one-room school, made

beautification of the college classroom part of the teacher preparation for

rural teachers to have hands-on experience of strategy of making beautiful

Surroundings a motivation for learning and feeling of self-worth.

1917-1918    Instructor at Iowa State Teachers College Teacher Methods Department,

Supervise nine rural schools in Bennington Township in Black Hawk County, salary $105/month which included the $20/mo. for horse care.

1917-1919     Instructor at Iowa State Teachers College Teacher Methods Department,

        Cedar Falls, Iowa , under the leadership of College President Homer Seerley

         and Dr.Chauncey P. Colgrove, chair of the Department of Education,

         was integral part of ongoing effort to upgrade rural schools.

1913-1915      Page County Superintendent of Schools, visited 110 schools two or three

times a year traveling by buggy, automobile and train to reach, guide, and

help teachers throughout the county.

1909-1913   Teacher - Tarkio Township School, Page County, Norwich, Iowa.

1904-1909    Arbor Vitae Summit School, Oneida Township, developed award winning

concepts of what is today called "Service Learning" teaching math and science with hands-on work projects beautifying the school and community.

1892-           Secretary, Mutual Insurance Company, Des Moines, Iowa

1891-1892  Teacher West Union Grammar School, West Union, Iowa.

1885 -1886 Teacher in No. 2 Honey Creek Township School, Delaware, Co., Iowa

1883-1884  Teacher in No. 1 York Township School.

11/26/1883  Began first teaching position at No. 1 Coffins Grove Township in McGees

                     District

Accomplishments of Note

1913-life      Building on the work of Jessie Field (Shambaugh), "mother of 4-H" and

                    Huftalen's predecessor as Page County Superintendent, worked with the

                    Farm Boys' and Girls' Clubs at summer camp sessions at Chautauqua

                    Meetings and organized 4-H Clubs in Page County to a total of 350

                    members.  Individually mentored youth with agricultural fair projects.

1908-1927  Conceived of concept of a Rural Section of the Iowa State Teachers

Association, planned, organized and served as first president of the group.

09/06/1934 Read mother's diary and began task of compiling and typing family history 

                    documents and seven family line genealogies for State Archives in Iowa and

                    Michigan.

1908-life      Won medals for her championship corn at the Omaha Exposition and went

                    on to organize the annual Farmers' Institute and Exhibition, served as

secretary of the Exhibition and helped improve the lot of farm families      and upgrade the self-esteem and reputation of Farmers for generations to come.

September, 1954 - Invested in future of Iowa agriculture through the sale of the Gillespie

Farm to one of her mentorees, fourteen-year-old Wilbur Kehrli, State 4-H prize-winner and the current world-renowned pork producer who made Delaware County the pork capital of the World.

September 6, 1934  Sarah wrote in her diary:

  "I worked hard at the farm, my hands are stiff, swollen, & lame yet.  I mended the board gate that the calves broke.  Had Reba keep me 3 or 4 days, to can fruit, clean the cellar of many pails of plaster, dirt that had washed in, old rubbish, rotted cupboards, which I broke into kindling, old cans, etc., etc., a hard job, & Reba cleaned the kitchen walls.  I, alone, took bbls. & seed corn, tool chests, bags of mineral feed, all to the store house.  It helps if I go every summer.  The screen doors which I repaired & put wire on; the window glass (many) I puttied in, etc. & the 2 w. rooms are pretty good shape, & the linoleum on their floors.  I got a large piece to put on top of other in parlor to save it.  My! My!  When I think of what I have done there it does not seem possible hardly.  It is hard.  I lost 9 lbs. This summer.  I picked up & split all the fuel used it is hard on one's back.  But I like the out-of-doors, air & freedom to breathe, etc. & the ozone of the meadow and wood lot.

  Am working on the genealogy which is interesting & fascinating.  Will be glad when finished.  Want to do other things.  I read Ma's diary 1858-1888.  It sorrows my heart & once again go with her though the trials & sorrows that were so heavy to bear.  It was not right.  I had never read it before.  Many articles & possible a story could be written."

Life-long learners in the twenty-first century are still educated by the articles and stories written by and about Sarah Gillespie Huftalen, hands-on historical restoration work, and historical reenactments by the  Coffins Grove Guys and Gals 4-H Troop.