Impact of Rural Schools

A PowerPoint presentation by Dennis Patton.  Monroe County had 60 rural schools prior to 1950.  This program highlights the impact these educational institutions had on a developing nation beginning soon after the conclusion of the War of 1812. Mr. Patton purchased a dilapidated Sand Bank School house and refurbished it creating a community volunteer project which gained Columbia an Illinois Governor’s Hometown Award.  In 2012 the Sand Bank School was named a National Landmark School house.  Mr. Patton is a retired high school principal and author of his first book, School Days, Columbia, Illinois First Schools.