The Legacy of District 22 is a historical narrative of a German Immigrant farming family that sent three generations of children to the same one room school in the grasslands of northeastern Nebraska.  The story chronicles the birth and death of the school in the larger context of the life, struggles and tragedies of the 20th Century Farming community.

Our story is based on hundreds of hours of living history anchored in fact with 65 years of detailed school records written by teachers and administrators at the time of the events.  We believe that our work based on these resources provides a unique addition to the knowledge on the subject of 20th Century elementary education.

Since the early colonial period our children received their elementary school education in a single room with a single teacher—grades one through eight.  It was the norm for nearly three centuries.  In 50 quick years following WW I, the one room schools were destroyed and the system of education was changed with dubious results.  In 1918 there were 200,000 one room schools dotting the prairies and hills of America.  Today 1,200 remain—in remote areas of our country and in “Old Order” religious communities.  The subject matter is modern, but the teaching techniques are from another time—and they work.

A half dozen generations of American Presidents—including Abraham Lincoln—other government leaders, religious leaders, educators, scientists, doctors, business leaders and mothers and fathers came from those schools.  We think the schools did something right.  And we would like to tell you about it.

For more information on Bill or this book check out the web site:  Legacy of District 22