"Never saw a parent, the only time you saw a parent, was if there was an emergency," (Larry Shortt, student). "The parents didn't visit the school..." (Thelma Wimmer Henderson, teacher).
"Parents were very supportive of the teacher. There was a lot of respect in the community for the teacher. Parents didn't visit the school. They were interested in the report card, but they didn't come to school. Students went to school to learn, not to socialize." (Phyllis Wallace, student).
That does not mean that parents were not interested in education. Parents were very supportive. They made sure that students attended, walking long distances even in rain or snow. When there was an occasion at school to which parents were invited, the whole community responded in attendance. Almost every student and teacher interviewed remembered the annual Christmas play as a highlight of the year.
"I don't remember any activities at the school except Thanksgiving and Christmas plays. The whole community turned out for these events." (Judy Rife, student)
Some communities would have fundraisers for the school once a year. These were also well supported as remembered by James Street:
Parents never came to the school except when the students had plays. But, there was one event that everyone in the community came out for. Once a year the school would have a fund raiser. That was so the teacher did not have to buy her own supplies. The money was for the school. The school would have cake walks. Everyone would come out. They would try to have a band, too. I remember Bill Monroe coming to the school to play. You know they would have people like that. That was a big community event. Everyone enjoyed the night. But, those were the only times parents came to the school."
The community showed support in other ways also. Most schools did not have a source of running water. Neighbors would supply the drinking water. In other communities neighbors would help cut the wood for heating the building in the winter. Dawn Meade, a student, recalls: "Every fall everybody, including the teachers, would haul branches into the wood shed. The fathers would come with axes and power saws and cut up the wood."
In some communities the property was donated or leased to the county for the school. Parents were very concerned and supportive of the school, but there was little parental comment on curriculum, and parents left control of the school essentially to the teacher.
A story that illustrated the interaction between parents and teachers was told by student Estelle Price:
"I don't remember any parents coming to the school. I did hear my mom tell of a man who came to talk to Mr. Anderson, our teacher, about a problem. Mr. Anderson was an old man. He told the parent, Mr. Price, he was having class and could not be disrupted. If he would step outside,they would go out back of the building and discuss their differences, not in the classroom in front of the children. He was not taking time out from his lessons. Well, the parent went out, but by the time Mr. Anderson had finished his lessons the parent had gotten tired and left. Mr. Anderson was not about to take time away from the class to talk. That was the only time I heard of a parent coming to school."