So Esther and Fern started their freshman year of high school cooking their own meals, walking to school, and keeping their room tidy. This was Esther’s first experience with sharing a bedroom. She was only 13 years old and found the high school subjects difficult at first. Her 8th grade preparation for high school was not as strong as some of the other students. However, she soon caught up and became a good student.
As a sophomore in 1926-1927, Esther stayed with an elderly Norwegian couple, the Kvandes, near the high school. She shared a room with Agnes Anderson and paid the Kvandes for room and board.
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| Jackson High School (1925-1929) |
During her junior year in 1927-1928, she stayed with the Nels Nelsons in a house on the south end of Main Street in Jackson. Aslaug Ronhovde and Esther shared a room. They cooked their own meals. Aslaug’s brother, Peder, Arthur Johnson, and Jeffrey Flatgaard also stayed there. Aslaug and Esther ate with the boys but did not socialize much with them. (Aslaug and Jeffrey later married, 1939)
As a senior in 1928-1929, Esther, Aslaug, and the boys had rooms at the home of Mrs. Olena Eide during the school week and did their own cooking. They went to their parents’ homes for the weekends, weather permitting. Esther remembers her mother sewing all of her dresses through high school. Esther and Aslaug both enjoyed music. Aslaug was taking piano lessons from Mrs. Grottum. Aslaug would play the piano and they would both sing selections from the Etude in the evenings. Both Aslaug and Esther were in the high school chorus – they had a very good choir director and enjoyed being in the operettas. Esther sang the second soprano part. Math and science were Esther’s favorite subjects. She also took Latin I & II, chemistry, and 4 years of math. At the end of their senior year, they took state senior exams. Esther’s parents let her drive the family car (1917 Buick) to town on the days of the exam.

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| Esther Hansen High School Graduation (1929) |
Because math was one of her favorite subjects, Esther would have liked to attend business school in Sioux Falls. However, to save money and be closer to home, Esther decided to attend teacher training or “Normal” school in Jackson. She shared a bedroom with Olga Nielssen at the Skarda home near the high school. They made their own meals and went home on weekends.
Esther started “Normal” school in September 1929. The teacher training classes were held in the southwest corner of the upper floor of the high school. There were 15 students and Miss Ford was the teacher. They received training for teaching all subjects kindergarten through eighth grade. Esther remembers teaching a group of “top-notch” kindergarten students at Normal school. She also went across the street to grade school and observed teachers at different grade levels. After observing the class, she was able to teach a lesson to the students. In the spring of 1930, Esther practice taught for 2 weeks in a country school – District 1, where Irene Garber was the teacher. Irene was an excellent teacher and became a good friend. Irene recommended Esther for the teaching job at District 93. Because of the Depression, several teachers did not get teaching jobs. Esther was grateful that Irene helped her get her first job. -Marita

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| Esther’s teaching contract (1930) |
District 93 – Enterprise Township, Jackson County, Minnesota
1930-31 – 8 months @ $80 per month
1931-32 – 9 months @ $85 per month
1932-33 – 9 months @ $75 per month
District 1 – Wisconsin Township, Jackson County, Minnesota
1933-34 – 9 months @ $60 per month
1934-35 – 9 months @ $65 per month

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| Esther Hansen driving 1917 Buick to teach in a rural country school (1930-1935) |
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