Intrepid teacher and pioneer Olive Mann Isbell was a California teacher who taught while war raged around her. Photo Credit: Braun Research Center

One relatively unknown figure in California history is educator Olive Mann Isbell. This outstanding lady taught while the Mexican American War raged on around her. She is credited with being the first teacher in a school in the state of California.

In 1846, when Olive was only 22 years old, she and her husband, Dr. Isaac Isbell, made the arduous journey west by wagon train. Western territories had recently severed their relationship with Mexico, and the Isbells arrived just as the Mexican army was poised to attack in an attempt to reclaim the land.

When fighting broke out, Olive and over two hundred American women and children barricaded themselves inside Mission Santa Clara de Asis, while the men were quickly drafted to defend the dilapidated fort. Inside the shelter, Olive sensed the anxiety of the children, so she decided to organize a school to occupy their attention. The newly-arrived pioneer was well-suited to this work, being the niece of the famous educator Horace Mann and an experienced teacher from her home state of Ohio.

The bullets were flying all around the mission, but Olive steadfastly conducted her lessons. Without slates or chalk, without pencils or paper, and with only a few books, the intrepid teacher skillfully conducted her lessons with little more than her experience and her wits. She used a long pointed stick to draw diagrams on the dirt floor. She used charcoal from an extinguished fire to write the letters of the alphabet on the palms of the children’s hands. And she kept a long rifle by her side, just in case.

When  Mexico finally laid down their arms and signed a truce with the United States on January 3, 1847, Olive’s Santa Clara Mission School became recognized as the first American school on California soil.

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