The Secret School by Avi True and False

Ida Bidson was driving a Model T Ford in Elk Valley, Colorado.

Ida Bidson was fifteen years old.

Felix, Ida's brother, was nine years old.

Ida and Tom Kohl were best friends.

Ida's mother's illness may prevent her from attending high school.

Miss Fletcher discourages Ida from pursuing her dream of becoming a teacher.

Ida wants to become a teacher to escape a life of farming.

Tom suggests that Ida become their teacher when Miss Fletcher leaves.

Ida dismisses Tom's suggestion immediately.

Ida's ability to drive the family car demonstrates her resourcefulness and determination.

Ida reflects on her future and considers Tom's suggestion seriously.

Ida returns home to her family's log cabin, determined to keep her school struggles a secret from her parents.

The cabin was built by Ida's father during the gold rush in the surrounding mountains.

Ida's brother, Felix, supports her and accepts her unconventional approach to handling their situation.

The story portrays a young girl's struggle to overcome obstacles and achieve her dreams in the face of adversity.

Ida's ambition to become a teacher is not a central theme in the story.

Ida's worry intensifies because the potential closure of the school would mean she and her friend Tom can't take the final exam, which is crucial for their high school education.

Ida's mother encourages her, expressing that being a teacher would be unusual but could be a positive experience for her.

Ida's father is aware of her decision to become a teacher.

The potential closure of the school is due to Miss Fletcher's decision to leave.

Ida shares Tom's idea of her becoming the teacher to keep the school going, and she is confident about it.

Miss Fletcher is leaving due to her own illness.

Ida's concern about her absence impacting the family's farm work reflects the family's focus on education.

The dialogue illustrates the support and concerns within the family as they navigate the possibility of Ida becoming a teacher to continue her education.

Ida's internal conflict and her determination to pursue her education reflect the challenges and aspirations of young individuals in urban settings.

Ida is unsure about the possibility of becoming a teacher.

Ida discusses the possibility of being a teacher with her mother, who raises concerns about her workload and the children's acceptance.

Ida's mother is hesitant about Ida becoming a teacher.

Miss Fletcher's departure led to the closure of the school until the winter term.

Mr. Jordan, head of the local school board, suggested that the children will have an extended summer vacation.

Ida and Tom expressed concern about not being able to take their exit exams before moving on to high school in Steamboat Springs.

Mr. Jordan dismissed Ida and Tom's concerns and questioned the necessity of a high school education for girls.

Miss Fletcher expressed regret and inability to influence the decision, leaving Ida and Tom uncertain about their future.

During recess, Ida and Tom discussed the impact of not being able to attend high school.

Ida revealed Miss Fletcher's monthly earnings of forty dollars and expressed her desire to teach in a big city with financial stability.

Tom suggested that Ida should learn from a correspondence course.

Ida decided it's time to have fun despite the uncertain future.

The story's setting in Elk Valley adds depth to the narrative.

The text portrays the challenges faced by Ida and Tom due to the sudden closure of the school and the impact on their educational and career aspirations.

The story does not highlight the disparity in opportunities and aspirations for education and career between the characters.

Ida and Felix arrive at Elk Valley's schoolhouse in an old car with no windows.

The schoolhouse is situated in a large valley with hills, woods, and mountains surrounding it.

Ida narrowly avoids crashing into a car parked in their spot, which is revealed to belong to Mr. Jordan, the owner of the local feed and grocery store.

The children, including Ida and Felix, enter the two-room schoolhouse and take their regular seats at their desks.

The school is furnished with old benches, desks, a wood-burning stove, kerosene lamps, and educational materials like maps and charts.

Miss Fletcher, the teacher, appears distressed and calls the children inside, hinting at grave news.

Mr. Jordan, a member of the school board, is present and going through Miss Fletcher's school account book.

The children, ranging from first to eighth graders, are seated according to their ages, with Ida and Tom being the only eighth graders.

The school has a small library with fifteen tattered books and a few old magazines.

The children notice Miss Fletcher's usual demeanor and her regular greetings.

The children speculate about the reason for Mr. Jordan's presence and Miss Fletcher's behavior.

The scene is set in a rural, mid-20th-century setting, with details about the school's surroundings and the characters' appearances and actions.

Ida's unconventional approach to entering the school demonstrates her resourcefulness and determination

Ida's decision to become a teacher is met with immediate support from her family

The children's laughter at Ida's announcement about the school closure indicates their disbelief in her authority

Ida's transformation into a teacher-like figure represents her ability to take charge of the situation

Ida's family learns about her new position during breakfast

Ida's father readily approves of her decision to become a teacher

Ida starts her day by doing farm chores before going to school

Ida finds it easy to maintain authority over her classmates

The students are more disciplined without their previous teacher

Ida feels confident about her abilities as a teacher

Ida's struggle with her new responsibilities is portrayed in the text

The text highlights Ida's anxiety as she navigates her new role

Ida's internal struggle and anxiety is not a central theme in the story

Ida feels overwhelmed and anxious about her new role as a teacher

Ida feels uncertain about how to start the school day

Ida's family supports her decision to become a teacher

Ida uses physical discipline to control her classroom

Herbert's demeanor changes when he is threatened with expulsion

Ida's emotional turmoil is not evident as she handles the situation with ease

Tom offers support and encouragement to Ida

Ida's effort to maintain order and teach the students is unsuccessful

The text portrays the challenges and emotional toll of being a teacher

The students respond negatively to Ida's efforts to restore order in the classroom

Ida receives encouragement from a student, reaffirming her identity and the importance of her role as a teacher

The story takes place in a modern urban setting

Ida's ambition to become a teacher is a central theme in the story

Ida's father is unaware of her decision to become a teacher

The students, including Ida and Tom, are the only eighth graders in the school

Ida's father gifted her a clock to help her keep track of time during school hours

Ida successfully managed her class, dealing with a disruptive student named Herbert

Ida followed a structured teaching plan, including reading, memorization, and practical exercises

Weekly contests were held in spelling and mathematics, with Natasha and Tom winning

Ida learned to relax and allow students to work at their own pace, fostering discussions in class

Ida observed her students closely, noticing their behaviors and learning styles

Tom introduced a homemade crystal radio to the class, sparking excitement and curiosity

The class cheered as Herbert rang the bell, signaling the end of the school day

Ida and her students returned to the classroom to listen to the crystal radio in a quiet environment

Felix asked a question about radio reception, showing interest and engagement in the lesson

Ida's ability to drive the family car demonstrates her resourcefulness and determination

Ida wants to become a teacher to escape a life of farming

Tom learned to make the crystal radio by reading Popular Mechanics and obtaining the parts through mail.

Miss Sedgewick addressed Ida as the new teacher and expressed surprise at her young age, while also noting that she would oversee the eighth-grade exit exams.

Miss Sedgewick asked for Ida's full name and reminded the students to mind their new teacher before leaving.

The crystal radio demonstrated by Tom symbolizes the students' resourcefulness and curiosity, while Miss Sedgewick's visit highlights the socio-economic disparities between the students and the visitor.

The exchange between Miss Sedgewick and the students, particularly Ida and Tom, sets the stage for potential future interactions and challenges in the story.

The story portrays a contrast between the students' humble backgrounds and the formal visit of Miss Sedgewick, emphasizing the rural and educational aspects of the setting.

Miss Sedgewick's visit is significant for the students and the new teacher, Ida.

The crystal radio demonstrated by Tom was used to communicate with people from other places.

Miss Sedgewick's visit to the school was expected by the students.

The students, including Ida, were confident and relaxed about their appearance in front of Miss Sedgewick.

The crystal radio demonstrated by Tom represented the students' lack of interest in traditional education.

Miss Sedgewick's visit served no significant purpose in the story.

Ida's meeting with Miss Sedgewick was pleasant and uneventful.

Miss Sedgewick's visit had no significant impact on Ida and the students.

Ida showed confidence and ease in handling the challenges of being a teacher.

Ida's father expressed concern about her decision to become a teacher.

Ida is overwhelmed by her daily routine of teaching, grading, and studying.

Ida's father reminds her of the challenges she has taken on and the full-time job of living in the area.

Ida expresses her desire to go to high school but worries about the financial challenges and finding a place to board.

Ida's father encourages her to admit to her mistakes.

Ida is confronted with the question of how she wants to be treated, as a kid or a grown-up, by her father.

Ida's mother encourages her, expressing that being a teacher would be unusual but could be a positive experience for her.

Ida's internal conflict and her determination to pursue her education reflect the challenges and aspirations of young individuals in urban settings.

Ida wants to become a teacher to escape a life of farming.

Ida's family supports her decision to become a teacher.

Ida and Tom Kohl were best friends.

Ida is unsure about the possibility of becoming a teacher.

The story's setting in Elk Valley adds depth to the narrative.

Ida's encounter with Mr. Bixler leads her to feel worried and guilty

Tom Kohl shows Ida his homemade printing press and shares his family's positive opinion of her intelligence

Ida confides in Tom about her encounter with Mr. Bixler and her fear of ruining everything

Ida feels embarrassed and abruptly leaves Tom's farm with her son, Felix, and heads back home

Ida struggles to balance her roles as a teacher, student, and family member

The children participate in school chores, such as cleaning and maintenance

Felix mentions Tom's confidence in passing a final exam, which annoys Ida and prompts her to focus on her own studies

The story touches on the importance of education, community support, and the multifaceted nature of teaching and learning in a rural setting

The story highlights the resilience and determination of individuals, such as Ida and her students, in overcoming obstacles and striving for academic success

Ida finds joy in teaching and looks forward to each day at school

Ida uses various teaching methods, including individual attention, independent study, and collaborative learning, to engage her students

Mr. Bixler dismisses the importance of schooling and threatens to involve the school principal if Miss Ida continues visiting his son, Herbert

Ida's visit to the Bixler farm was met with immediate acceptance and support from Mr. Bixler

Ida and her brother Felix arrived at the Bixler farm to check on Natasha, a student who had been absent from school for three days

The Bixler farm appeared to be well-maintained and organized, similar to Ida's own family farm

Mr. Bixler expressed that the education of his son, Herbert, was of utmost importance to him

Ida felt entirely at ease and comfortable during her visit to the Bixler farm

Ida's visit to the Bixler farm highlighted the contrast between her dedication to teaching and the challenges faced by her students

The interaction with Mr. Bixler raised questions about the balance between education and farm life for rural students

The visit to the Bixler farm underscored the socioeconomic disparities and difficulties faced by students like Herbert

Ida's frustration during the encounter at the Bixler farm was due to her inability to advocate for Herbert's education

Ida's visit to the Bixler farm emphasized the similarities between her family's farm and the Bixler farm

The encounter at the Bixler farm emphasized the challenges faced by teachers in urban settings

Ida's role as a teacher was met with immediate acceptance and understanding by Mr. Bixler

Ida helped deliver twelve lambs during lambing season

Ida fell asleep at school due to exhaustion from helping deliver lambs

Ida declared she would be 'Ida' during recess and 'Miss Bidson' when it ended

Ida ended up being flung into a pond during a game of 'Crack the whip'

Miss Sedgewick commended the students for their dedication to studying

Ida struggled to contain her laughter during Miss Sedgewick's serious talk

Miss Sedgewick encouraged Ida to take her place as the teacher despite her wet clothes

Ida is unsure about the possibility of becoming a teacher

Ida's family supports her decision to become a teacher

The students, including Ida, were confident and relaxed about their appearance in front of Miss Sedgewick

Miss Sedgewick's visit served no significant purpose in the story

Ida followed a structured teaching plan, including reading, memorization, and practical exercises

Ida's visit to the Kohls' barn illustrated the strong sense of community and collaboration within her rural neighborhood.

Ida's unconventional approach to entering the school demonstrates her resourcefulness and determination.

Mr. Kohl immediately dismissed Ida's request for help with the school-board meeting.

Ida's family is supportive of her decision to become a teacher.

Ida felt tormented during lunchtime as she wanted to study but had to help her students

Ida urged Herbert to pass and show everyone how smart he is

Ida chose to study alone at home, causing a moment of hurt for Tom

Ida worked late into the evening before the exam, feeling the weight of responsibility

Ida was exhausted and emotionally wrought on the day of the exam, feeling the pressure and responsibility for her students' success

Ida's mother expressed pride in her hard work and encouraged her despite the challenges

Ida and Felix set off for the exam in challenging weather, with Ida feeling overwhelmed and snapping at Felix in the car

Mr. Jordan grants two more weeks for the school with Ida Bidson as the teacher for the children to take their exams

Families must take responsibility for the school building and grounds

Mr. Jordan expects every child to pass their exams, putting the responsibility on the teacher

The last two weeks before the exams were frantic, with students quizzing each other and focusing on studying

Ida and her students were all feeling the pressure of the upcoming exams

Ida and Felix's car skids into a ditch on the way to school due to a backfiring engine and rain

Miss Sedgewick arrives late due to the rain and starts the exams

The students have both written and recitation exams in subjects like geography, arithmetic, and reading

The rain stops by morning recess, but no one wants to be outside for long

Miss Sedgewick reassures the students that she is sure everyone passed and leaves

Ida remains in the empty schoolroom after everyone else leaves, feeling drained and reflecting on the day

Ida asks Miss Sedgewick how they will know if they passed, and she informs them that they will be informed by mail after she grades the exams

Ida feels nervous and panics during the exam

Ida's feeling of nervousness and panic during the exam affects her performance

Tom and Mary offer to give Ida and Felix a lift to school after their car skids into a ditch

Miss Sedgewick provides time for the students to check their work and write their post box numbers on the booklets

No one wants to be outside for long after the rain stops by morning recess

Ida is the only student to receive a scholarship to stay in Miss Sedgewick's home while attending high school

Ida's classmates, except Herbert Bixler, completed their exams with varying degrees of success

Mr. Jordan hopes that Ida will become a real teacher and return to work at the same school in the future

Herbert Bixler admits that he failed the exam on purpose and plans to join the navy in Denver when he's old enough

Ida's brother, Felix, supports her and accepts her unconventional approach to handling their situation

The Last Day Exercises are held at the high school in Steamboat Springs

Susie sings 'Amazing Grace' to conclude the ceremony

Miss Sedgewick commended the students for their dedication to studying

Ida and Tom are the only eighth graders in their school

Ida's father is aware of her decision to become a teacher

Ida and Tom discussed the impact of not being able to attend high school during recess

Ida finds it easy to maintain authority over her classmates

Tom printed off 20 copies of the circular for the school meeting

Mr. Jordan accused Ida of pretending to be a teacher

Mr. Plumstead claimed to have seen Miss Fletcher lock the school door

Mr. Hawkins defended the children at the school board meeting

Ida was paid for pretending to be a teacher

The school board members decided to allow the children to take the exit exam

The crowd congratulated Tom for his role in the decision

The school board meeting took place in a city, not a rural area

The children were the only eighth graders in the school

Ida recited a poem taught by Mr. Plumstead

Ida's family was present at the school board meeting

The school board meeting was regarding a decision to close the school