SWOEA - Over 125 Years of Professional Progress

The Southwestern Ohio Education Association was established in 1874 and is the fourth oldest of the District Associations in the state. Originally, these “Sectional Associations” were largely autonomous of the state structure until 1913, when the then existent “sectionals” met, proposed amendments to the Ohio State Teachers Association, and each “sectional” adopted the name “district” in its title.

For many years, what we know as SWOEA was made up of both teachers and administers, with the latter taking many leadership roles. Especially strong was the presence of Cincinnati, so to ensure that an equal voice for suburban and rural locals, a President from Cincinnati would be elected one year and the next year a President from another local would be elected.

One of the major events of SWOEA in its first century was its annual assembly, during which local boards of education would close school on an autumn day so that teachers and administrators could “come together for instruction, inspiration, and the transaction of a modest amount of business.” Through the years, these grand events were held at the Masonic Temple, the Cincinnati Gardens, Miami University, and the Cincinnati Convention Center. Each “topic” area was presented by an informed specialist in the given area. Many vendors and distributors would also be present to exhibit their products. Most of the annual budgets of SWOEA went to the assembly and dues for most of the period remained $.50 per member. Another feature of these assemblies was the election of the Southwestern Ohio Representative to the Ohio Teachers and Pupils Reading Circle Board of Control. These large conferences were ended by 1970 and from that time the Representative Assemblies have met to conduct the annual business of the Association.

As the internal structure of SWOEA changed from administrator led to teacher led, there was also a change in the way the business of SWOEA was conducted. The first SWOEA Representative Assembly was held October 16, 1965 at Loveland High School with SWOEA President Eleanor Knoechel presiding. Of interest in that meeting was the Adoption of Resolutions including one for members to support the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. Also, the budget adopted that year proposed spending of $11,250. In the Spring of 1999, the delegates to the Representative Assembly took important positions on OEA matters and approved a proposed budget of $186,200. There has been a change in service to members from one all day professional development session in the fall to workshops and trainings held throughout the year.

SWOEA has always been a strong voice in the Ohio Education Association and the National Association - in recent decades there has been an increasing presence of SWOEA in both organizations. A number of SWOEA leaders have held elected positions in the OEA, including Don Glass who served as Secretary-Treasurer and Lou Koenig and Nancy Luddeke, who each have served as OEA President. The number of SWOEA Unit Representatives on the OEA Executive Committee has grown from one in 1965 to five in 2002. SWOEA continues to be a constant presence on OEA Committees and Commissions. Furthermore, SWOEA continues to increase its visibility on the national level with increasing attendance at the NEA Mid-Atlantic Regional Leadership Conference and the NEA Representative Assembly. Currently, two SWOEA members are on the NEA Resolutions Committee.

As the members and leaders of SWOEA face the next 125 years, we also recognize the past leaders of our professional progress. The past presidents of SWOEA are:

Richard Packert 2008-Present
Bob Beers 2004-2008
Bill Sears 2002-2004
Keith Armour 1998-2002
Lillie Wilson 1994-1998
Marianne Bailey 1990-1994
Emily Brown 1986-1990
Patricia Horsley 1981-1986
Betty Coates 1979-1981
F. Jay Barkley 1977-1979
Jerry Argabrite 1975-1977
Jackson Kimball 1974
Mary Lou Smith 1973
Chester Greene 1972
Robert Robertson 1971
Margaret Lunsford 1970
John Bagot 1969
Gertrude Chandler 1968
Marvimil Nankovitch 1967
Louise Brand 1966
Eleanor Knoechel 1965
R.F. Hatfield 1964
Carl Richery 1963
Velma Frye 1962
Frances Raschig 1961
Svet Nankovitch 1960
Ray Young 1959
Helen Walter 1958
H.W. Sanders 1957
Herschel West 1956
Donald Drake 1955
Roy Holmes 1954
John Smith 1953
Miriam Hatten 1952
R.E. Augsburger 1951
Ethel McDonough 1950
Paul Upp 1949
Z.M. Walter 1948
Walter Peoples 1947
Claude Courter 1946
Carl Shanks 1945
Fannie Ragland 1944
H.F. Vallance 1943
H.H. Drunot 1942
Anne Sutherland 1941
C.H. Williams 1940
Wade Miller 1939
Georgia Aiken 1938
Elsi Rowe 1937
E.J. Ashbaugh 1936
Clayton Howe 1935
Joseph Ficher 1934
Mary Waite 1933
O.H. Bennet 1932
Esther Schroeder 1931
James Stover 1930
Edward Roberts 1929
Francis Jenkins 1928
H.W. Hodson 1927
J.B. McMillan 1926
R.W. Solomon 1925
E.V. Stephen 1924

Finally, this glimpse is by no way meant to be a complete history of our Association, but rather a starting point for you, the member, to reflect on where we have been, where we are, and to think about how, working together, we will take the lead for another 125 years of professional progress.

In 1874, teachers had to follow these rules:
1. Teachers each day will fill lamps, clean chimneys.
2. Each teacher will bring a bucket of water and a scuttle of coal for the day’s session.
3. Make your pens carefully. You may whittle nibs to the individual taste of the pupils.
4. Men teachers may take one evening each week for courting purposes, or two evenings a week if they go to church.
5. After ten hours in school, the teachers may spend the remaining time reading the Bible or other good books.
6. Women teachers who marry or engage in unseemly conduct will be dismissed.
7. Every teacher should lay aside from each day’s pay a goodly sum of his earnings for his retirement.
8. Any teacher who smokes, uses liquor in any form, frequents pool or public halls will be dismissed.
9. Any teacher who gets shaved in a barber shop will give good reason to suspect his integrity and honesty.
10. The teacher who performs his labor faithfully and without fault for five years will be given an increase of 25 cents.