The Polk family has a proud and long history working in the field of education. Going through family mementos, I decided this history should be documented somewhere accessible to the family, and decided to post it on this blog. I hope the family will enjoy the information posted here.
Penn School: District 43 in western Nebraska is where this history begins.
Great Grandpa Jensen, Christ Jensen was on the school board of Penn School for a number of years. In fact my Grandpa Oscar Jensen, met his future wife, when she was hired to teach at the school and was boarded in the Jensen home. Below you will find some mementos of the Penn School. The Penn School was founded in 1891. In that year a sod school house was built 1/2 mile north of what is now Highway 26. School was held in 1892 with Grace Spillman as teacher. Her wages were $35.00 a month and school was held for three months. In 1904 a new frame
school house was built in the same location, and later became the home of a local family.
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| Christ Jensen |
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| Penn School: Grandpa Jensen (Oscar) is the fifth one from the left. He is the boy in a vest. Grandpa's brother, Dewey, is the first one from the left, (holding his hands together.) |
this page is a summary of the school year. Each subject is documented with the page number they started on, and the page number on which they ended the year.
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| Expense ledger, (notice the dates) |
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| Expense Ledger enlarged |
This is a check stub from the school account.
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| Grandmother Jensen, (Miss Pearl Zorn) |
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| Teaching partner and Grandma Jensen |
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| Grandma Jensen's class at Big Springs, Nebraska |
Grandma's Senior Picture
Grandma Jensen with another class
Grandma Jensen's younger sister was also in education, and was an advocate from children her entire life.
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| Elizabeth Zorn |
Mom, Margie Polk, posed outside one of the schools at which she taught.
