Characters #1
14-year old girl who just wants to take her exit exams so that she can go to high school
Ida Bidson
he helped his sister "drive" to school every day
Felix Bidson
The month and year the story begins
April 1925
Why are Tom and Ida upset about the school closing?
They won't be able to graduate and then go to high school.
The real reason that Mr. Jordan didn't want to find a replacement for Miss Fletcher was because...
it would cost too much money to do so.
School board member who doesn't think that girls should go to school. He also was against the students having a secret school
Tom Kohl
The month and year the story ends
June 1925
Mr. Jordan said he didn't want to replace Miss Fletcher because...
he claimed that it was too late in the year to find a substitute
Ida had Susie sing on the first day of class because
it gave her time to calm down and get her thoughts together.
student who is the trouble-maker, his main problem is his father
Herbert Bixler
she was very supportive of her daughter and the plan the children had for having a secret school
Mrs. Bidson
this is described as being run down, with outside bathrooms, furniture older than the building, chipped paint and no electricity
the schoolhouse
Ida pinned up her hair on the first day because
it made her look older
Why does Ida decide to take recess just like the other students?
She needs a break from being the teacher; she just wants to he 14-year old Ida again.
the name of the teacher that needs to leave to go home to take care of her mother
Miss Fletcher
was very against schooling, especially for his son, who he was afraid would become smarter than him and leave him
Mr. Bixler
This is where the story takes place
Elk Valley, Colorado
Why are Ida's parents worried about her?
What is one thing that the students are doing that shows they are serious about their exams?
1. They skip recess.
2. They eat lunch quickly and indoors.
3. They are helping/quizzing each other.
4. They are asking Ida for help.
the name of the county education office representative who allows the students to keep the secret school open as long as all the students take an exit exam
Miss Sedgewick
the youngest student, she would often fall asleep at her desk
Mary Kohl
this is described as run down, with a broken barn door and rusty machinery in the yard
the Bixler's farm
How does Mr. Jordan let Ida know that she has done a good job?
He invites her to come back to Elk Valley when she is a real teacher and teach at the school.
Why doesn't Ida want Tom to think of her as just a teacher?
Tom likes Ida, and Ida likes (a little) Tom. If he thinks of her as just the teacher, he won't think of her as the friend that she has always been.