 The Big Pine school of today (top) does not look too much different than it did in 1923, a year after it was built. Big Pine High School and District were founded in 1909 and a centennial celebration was held Thursday. Photos submitted By Mike Bodine
Register Staff
5-16-2009 Despite all the sour, financial news about schools lately, one Inyo County district has reason to celebrate.
Big Pine High School and District are celebrating 100 years of public education. To commemorate the centennial, the school held a party with a barbecue and music on Thursday that included more than 40 years of past yearbooks on display.
Superintendent Pamela Jones said Friday that at least 300 people were at the party, with some very special guests and recognitions.
One recognition was given to the memory of Alice Piper. Piper, a 15-year-old Native American living in Big Pine in 1924, wanted to attend Big Pine school, but was denied on her ethnicity.
Piper, the daughter of Pike and Annie Piper, sued the district claiming the state law establishing separate schools for “Indian children” and other children of Asian parentage was unconstitutional.
The State Supreme Court ruled that, indeed the law was in violation of the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, and Piper was invited as a pupil.
Because of this, the Big Pine School District is memorialized as a major player in the constitutional battle over the rights of Native Americans to attend public schools segregated for “whites only.”
The Piper case has gone on to became a landmark case and viewed as the legal authority guaranteeing Native American children the right to attend public schools, and has been used as precedence in other cases such as Brown v. Board of Education.
Musician Sage Romero and his dancers performed in honor of Piper at the centennial celebration.
Jones explained that because of Piper’s work, the students of today have come up with a maxim to describe their school in the 21st century, “Now everyone is equal with the same opportunities. We can all go to school and learn, play sports, snowboard or ski, participate in ASB (Associated Student Body), attend pep rallies and assemblies as well as other opportunities and events. Every child deserves the right to attend school and receive an education. Let’s continue to celebrate the history of Big Pine. We are very lucky to live in such a beautiful town.”
There were some other lucky local residents and former graduates in attendance. The oldest alum there was Don Nikolaus, Class of 1941. Connie Hildebrand, Class of 1946, also joined the festivities.
Jones said there was also a very special call from a 100-year-old Big Pine resident, Ruth Marie (Elkhorn) Reprise, who had attended and graduated from Big Pine.
One-hundred years ago, The Inyo Register followed the developments of the district formation very closely. In that year, the town of Big Pine had more taxable property than Bishop.
According to the March 3, 1909 edition of the paper, Big Pine and Fish Springs residents first contemplated the official formation of a school district in February. At the same time, the Register reported that “construction of the road to the lakes west of town” was beginning.
Ironically, many of the major news stories of the day, like roads and the City of Los Angeles and water, are similar to the top news of today.
The infamous William Mulholland was in court with Inyo County and local municipalities on an almost monthly basis regarding water and property rights.
Some things have changed dramatically, though. A four-bedroom house on 80 acres in West Bishop was going for $2,500. There was also an advertisement for transportation from Lone Pine to Mojave in one of three autos, for only $15. And the trip only took 10.5 hours, with a planned dinner at Indian Wells.
The state also decided in 1909 that children under the age of 16 should not be forced to work between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., except for farm labor.
The Register reported on May 27, 1909 that the formation of a district was progressing with the school having the legal number of students needed to form a district and the decision would ultimately be up to voters.
“We heard in Big Pine there appeared to be a wholly favorable sentiment,” William Chalfant reported.
The election was held on Aug. 27, and the formation of the district was approved by a wide margin of votes; in Big Pine there were 76 in favor and 28 against, and all 16 votes in Fish Springs were for the district.
Those first teachers at the newly formed district were R.J. Custer, Ida Sabin and Kate Bartels, while G.A. Harlin taught classes in Fish Springs.
The high school was to be held in the second story of the grammar school. In 1921, the current Big Pine school building was constructed.
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