In 1944 we started school in a discarded CCC shack with the children sitting on the dirt floor trying to learn to write on old magazines held in their laps. For a month we had two or three different sets of peoples in one day. They rode in on galloping horses, rode in with their spurs jangling. We had four generations of one family in school at the same time. When the Utah public schools asked us to come under their assistance it was a great help and under a time these supervisions become superintendents. We tried to get as near as possible to public school curriculum. There was no English known in this area in 42, so it’s been really hard work. We try to teach the beginner’s vocabulary and arithmetic in both languages.Our present [1959] stone building is attractive and adequate. Thanks to the Church periodical club and many other friends we’ve gotten many books, furniture, and supplies.—Helen Sturges, Tape 45

Education Photographs

"A Different Sort of School" from A River in the Desert
(a 30-minute documentary produced using the archival film and audio from the collection)
160 x 120 version (2.8 MB)
320 x 240 version (6.3 MB)

"Helen Sturges tells about the Mission School" from A River in the Desert
160 x 120 version (2.9 MB)
320 x 240 version (5.8 MB)