Mabel Rich – MCHS teacher and author
Miss Rich Leaves Missoula High After Teaching Here 23 Years
By Margaret Dunstan
“I came to Missoula in the fall of 1912 from Kalispell, where I was head of the English department, the position to which I was appointed at M. H. S. Previous to my teaching in Kalispell, I taught in the high schools at St. Cloud and Owatonna, Minn.,” said Miss Mabel I. Rich.
Miss Rich will terminate this year 23 consecutive years of service at the head of the Missoula County High School English department. Through her efforts our English department has received nation-wide recognition.
Miss Rich has written two text-books, “A Study of the Types of Literature,” which she uses in her classes; and “Classified Types of Literature.” “I first wrote ‘Study of the Types’ and it was published in 1921. I worked the plans out in my own classes first. ‘Classified Types’ was published in 1926. Both books are widely used throughout the United States and Canada.”
Each year the senior English classes write original one-act plays. The outstanding of which are entered in the Scholastic Awards contest. This year Phil Payne and Tom Koch won third and fourth place respectively.
“I think Missoula was a pioneer in that field. We wrote quite a while before the Scholastic contest was organized, and have had recognition quite a number of times for the fine student-written plays.”
When asked about her plans for the future, Miss Rich replied, “This coming year I am going to be very busy revising my textbooks. I also intend to travel, going first to Minneapolis, and later to Southern California, but not to remain there permanently.”
The school will feel keenly Miss Rich’s absence. Her ability in acting as head of the English department has developed many outstanding students in that course.
The above article appeared in a special 20-page section of the Missoulian on May 31, 1935 – The Missoulian-Sentinel Graduation Section, 1935.
https://www.newspapers.com/image/352224255