The eighth-grade class at Lamar County Middle School took part in a unique venture to the Johnstonville community on Tuesday, May 20, learning a little history and making a little history of their own.
When Lauren Watkins’ and Grant Turner’s Georgia Studies students entered the Johnstonville Community Clubhouse, they had a mission: making the facility “a school again for a day.”
The historic structure, originally built in 1915 as Johnstonville School, once served as a two-room schoolhouse. Though it has not operated as a school since 1945, these students became some of its first students in 80 years.
Inside, students were greeted by members of the Johnstonville community, Ivey Booker, Monica Walters, and Betty Esco. The warm welcome included a presentation of artifacts and stories passed down from the school’s pupils from many years ago.
Students rotated through four stations that explored topics directly related to items in their class curriculum.
From agriculture and the boll weevil infestation to the land lotteries and the cession of Creek land, each station connected Lamar County’s past to key moments in the state’s history. Students also explored the formation of the county’s local government, how segregation shaped education, and how civic responsibility plays a role in rural life today.
“This helps students to see how the things we learned this year made a real impact on where they live,” said Watkins. “It all happened right here in our county,” Turner added.
Throughout the day, Watkins and Turner brought each class to the Johnstonville Community Clubhouse, timing each trip precisely. Students left LCMS at the beginning of the period and loaded back onto the bus just in time to beat the bell so the next group could participate. This was thanks to Tim Jones, Johnstonville School’s first-ever bus driver. “This is one of my favorite days of the year,” Watkins said. “It makes for a long day with all the back-and-forth trips, but it is worth it.”
One student commented, “It was cool seeing where kids used to go to school and seeing how things were different back then. I cannot believe they walked miles to get there, and there was no air conditioning!”
Another student was very excited to get to go to the clubhouse because her family belongs to the Johnstonville community and takes part in their regularly scheduled community gatherings for food and fellowship.
The trip was more than a history lesson. It was a celebration of the end of the curriculum that taught students that they have a part to play in their local community. Thanks to the efforts of the hardworking students at LCMS, the old schoolhouse stood once again as a space for learning. For the eighth-grade students who walked its worn wooden floors, Georgia’s history wasn’t just something to study, but something to experience.
Grant Turner is the editor of the Barnesville Buzz and an educator, coach, and writer based in Barnesville, Georgia. He shares stories that bridge community, faith, and personal growth. In addition to teaching and coaching, Grant is Director of Musical Worship and a Sunday School teacher at New Hope Baptist Church in Zebulon, Georgia. He lives in Barnesville with his wife, Haley.
