Historical Stuff

Isaac Fluker Homeplace (grandfather of W.T. Fluker, Jr.)

Sisters Miki & Terri Fluker; brothers Edward & Stephen Fluker; cousins: David Fluker, Sr & Jim Fluker (& wife Blanche)

 

MY ONE-ROOM SCHOOL HOUSE
By David Thornton Fluker, Sr.
 

In 1935, at the age of five, I would travel to school with my aunt Annie Fluker of Washington, Georgia, who was the school teacher in the rural community of Ficklin Georgia. Ficklin was just past Little River, in Wilkes County, midway between Washington and Crawfordville, Georgia. Miss Fluker (Aunt Annie) taught six grades in this school house. I attended the school during the years of 1935 - 1938. The bell was used to signal school starting across the fields and to end recess periods during the day. Later, the bell was given to Miss Emily Fluker, Annie's sister, who taught school for forty years in Washington, Georgia, retiring in 1966. She also used the bell in her sixth grade class at Washington High School.

In the years I attended Ficklin School, there were 18 students. There were six rows of desks, one for each grade. Sometimes, one row would be empty because there were no students for that grade.

The bell was given to me by my brother, Edward Fluker, Jr., who was taught in the sixth grade at Washingon School by my Aunt Emily Fluker.

As of this date, May 1984, the old school is still standing. Since the building was made of century old Georgia yellow/heart pine, it will probably stand until it is torn down.

Although the classes were small, it is still remarkable that one teacher could educate six grades at once. It was an experience I will never forget.