Still Teaching

Still Teaching. . This small log structure, built in 1882, housed the Little Greenbrier School. Children from nearby families attended classes here for more than 50 years. Though formal classes ended in 1935, teaching and learning did not. The school still serves local children and park visitors., A longtime park volunteer, "Miss Elsie" Burrell, symbolized the spirit of the Little Greenbrier School. Miss Elsie came to Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 1969 at age 65 - after 35 years as a teacher and school administrator - to teach children about the Smoky Mountains. She became the "schoolmarm" of Little Greenbrier School, serving here until age 95. , Miss Elsie is gone now, but her excitement for learning remains. She once described the Smoky Mountains as, "God's beauty spot out of doors, open for you and full of opportunities to learn". We can all learn from what Miss Elsie and the Little Greenbrier School still teach., Captions , (Photo #1) Miss Elsie instructs a group of park visitors circa 1970., (Photo #2) Above: The 1909 Little Greenbrier School photograph included several members of the Walker family, whose house is preserved about one mile from here. The photograph illustrates the students wide age range. Can you find the teacher? (see below for answer.), (Photo #3) Left: This group probably met on a Sunday. For years the school building was also used as a church. Note the bell on the roof - it probably served both church and school., (Photo #4) Right: Little Greenbrier pupils with their teacher, circa 1930. Some came from as far as nine miles away., In the top photograph, the teacher is at the far left.