Mrs. Sallie Amelia Phillips Smith taught in the rural schools of eastern North Carolina for more than forty-four years. She was born in Edgecombe County in 1877. Educated at Bricks School (named for Joseph Keasbey Brick) in Edgecombe Co., N.C., Mrs. Phillips taught in Nash, Pitt, and Martin County schools before retiring in 1954 (?).
Mrs. Smith discusses her parents' lives as freed persons and as formerly enslaved persons. Particular topics of interest include the circumstances surrounding the sale of her mother from Hyde to Edgecombe County owners. Also two fables are recited, "The Lark and the Young Ones," and "One Simple John Proctor," originally told to her by her father.
Some material in the interview concerns Mrs. Smith's years as a student at Bricks School. She describes how the school was established and recalls student life and her own experiences there.
An educator for at least forty-four years, Mrs. Smith taught in several elementary schools, including a one-teacher schoolhouse. She describes her teaching methods, problems with attendance, tuberculosis among children and its treatment, student-teacher relationships, and general reminiscences of her career.
Mrs. Smith briefly discusses her retirement years. Accompanying the twenty-six page transcript is her newspaper obituary dated May 15, 1978.
Gift of Sallie Phillips Smith
Processed by C. Carter, April 1984
Encoded by Apex Data Services
Descriptions updated by Ashlyn Racine, May 2023
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1895-1954