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Show Volume XIX Issue I The Ogden Valley news Page 9 April 1, 2011 Aunt Jennie Neal – Part IV School. She had concerns for the little three and four year old children and campaigned to get proper meeting places and lessons given to make Note: This is a condensed version of the history their Sunday experiences positive ones. Jennie collected and built up a vast library of of our Great Aunt Jennie Marshall Neal, who was born and raised in Liberty, Utah. Aunt visual aids for teaching children. She used these Jennie was born April 14, 1887, and died on aids in lecturing many people in all the organiJanuary 8, 1983. My younger sister, the late zations that were involved in teaching children. Lida Beth Clark Johnson, formerly of Eden, These were used to demonstrate lessons, stories, songs, and music. She often Utah, assembled this information wrote little songs to go along with from Aunt Jennie’s personal histhe lessons she was teaching. tory, from histories she had writJennie directed Teacher ten on her parents and siblings, Training courses in the Weber and from many family members. College Institute of Religion on Marriage and John Jr. Sunday mornings. She presented a It appears that when John C. course to many teachers. Exhibits Neal came to Liberty School to were prepared, set up and disteach in 1903, he found a lovely played to stakes and the General bright young lady who would Board. enter his life as well. She assisted Jennie moved to Burbank, him in teaching, even though she California in 1955. Here again she was only 15, she must have left was asked to supervise the Nursery a great impression on him. Her group in the Sunday schools of the name was Jennie Marshall. Burbank Stake. She continued In just a few years she would this work until her vision became Jennie Neal become his wife and, in many impaired in 1964. instances, his teaching companion. In addition to her work in the They had a great love and respect for each other and a lot of common interests. John was an avid Sunday School, she taught Literary lessons in hunter, even though he had lost his left arm in Relief Society, the Young Ladies Mutual and for an accident when he was a teen-ager. He was years in Religion classes. She also served as living in Wyoming working at a mine when a President in the Primary. In 1964, she went into retirement from railroad car broke loose and his arm was severed at active duty. In 1964 she moved into the Temple the shoulder. John, Jennie, and usually some family mem- Apartments in Westwood, California, and went to bers or friends would go up into the mountains work in the Los Angeles Temple. She was loosing of the valley to hunt. There was always the wild her eye-sight, but she continued to keep up her chicken hunt. The men would shoot the chickens housekeeping, shopping and cooking and went to and the women would process them over a campfire the temple Tuesday through Friday. She was able for their winter storage. John could shoot his shot- to do ten endowments each week. In April 1973 she moved back to Ogden. She gun as fast or faster than any of the others. He took became a member of the Ogden 6th Ward. She great pride in his shooting ability. After Jennie and John were married and before became a member of the Amanda Smith Camp of John Jr. was born, they would take a job as sheep- the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers. She attendherders for the summer. They would take their ed the Ogden Temple as often as she could. In her later years Jennie was asked to be a books and use that time to prepare for the next school year, as well as to enjoy the beautiful session leader for a Relief Society being held at a nursing home. Even though she had lost most mountains. After fourteen years of marriage, Jennie was able of her vision, she was still able, and still willing to have a son. They named him John Alfred Neal. to continue doing that which she loved to do, to He was the light of their lives. When he was eleven teach. The General Board of the Relief Society years old his father passed away. He became the became aware of what she was doing and a display was put together and shown in the General Relief center of Jennie’s life. John married and they lived in California, Society Building of the Church in Salt Lake. so she wasn’t able to see her family as much as The title of the display was called, “The Bonus she would like to have until she moved there in Years”. ‘A Time To Keep Giving’, ‘A Time To 1955. She moved back to Ogden in the early Keep Living’. Many pictures were taken and 1970’s. John has two daughters, Cammie Joy honors were given. On January 7, 1977, a special Sacrament and Jodi, two sons John Cary and Jack Patrick, and a stepson Richard Hier. Jennie loved her Meeting was held in the Ogden 6th Ward. A tribute grandchildren. She would save all of their pictures was given to Jennie, honoring her for her lifetime and letters that they had sent to her and have them accomplishments; for her years of teaching and for posted somewhere in her house where she would her service in the church. A member of the Relief Society General Board gave a talk on the impact of show them to people who came to visit. Jennie passed away at Weber Memorial Nursing Jennie’s picture and display. A poem was written for her, Home in Roy, on January 8, 1983. A TrIbuTe To JennIe neAl church service (Taken from Jennie’s Personal History) By Lida Beth Johnson (grand-niece). Submitted by Ned Clark As a child Jennie attended Sunday School, Primary and other church functions of the Church. She was made a teacher in Sunday School at the age of twelve. She was called to take a Teacher Training Course at Weber Academy, under the direction of David O. McKay. Under the direction of the Bishop, she showed the other teachers of the different organizations in the ward how to select a text, do research, choose an aim, outline the material and develop and present the lesson in class. No doubt this was the beginning of her love of teaching. She was called into the Presidency of the Young Ladies Mutual Organization. At the young age of 16, she was made an assistant in the Kindergarten Dept. of the Weber Stake Sunday School Board. Young women in the various wards were called to teach these little children in Sunday School. In 1908 she became a member of the North Weber Stake Sunday School in charge of the Kindergarten Department. Each month stake meetings were held to instruct the girls in child development and in preparing and presenting the lessons. Jennie and a coworker conducted and presented these classes. Children were brought in for them to demonstrate with. Soon the teachers were well trained and were called to teach in some other department and they would get a new set of girls to train. This work was so satisfying that Jennie continued Teacher Training throughout her life. In 1927 Jennie moved into the Mt. Ogden Stake Fifth Ward. They soon became aware of her love for and abilities with children. She was again called to serve in many ward and stake leadership positions in the Junior Sunday Agricultural College. Mrs. Neal, recognized as one of the outstanding kindergarten teachers in Utah, was past state president of the American Association of Childhood Education, and a founder of the Parent-Teacher movement in Ogden. Excerpts from The Ogden Standard Examiner - April 26, 1978 “EX-TEACHER HONORED FOR 58-YEAR CAREER” In April, 1978 Jennie was presented with an Honorary Achievement Award in Logan by the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International. Mrs. Neal, 91, was presented the award noting over-all excellence in the teaching profession. She was successful because of her great love for children, and she believed in doing everything possible to let each child develop himself. She believed that if teaching were done in an atmosphere of love and appreciation, the child would learn. Mrs. Neal humbly feels that her main contribution through-out her teaching life has been in the field of visual aids. She has hundreds of her own visual aids which she designed herself to be used not only in the classroom but in her church teaching assignments. “I do not regret being old, because so many things are open to me!” This philosophy is responsible for the great attitude and agility which Mrs. Neal possesses. Excerpts from The Ogden Standard Examiner - 1955 “reTIrInG TeAcHer looks bAck on 50 YeArs of rIcH eXPerIence; Mrs. JennIe neAl Is conVInceD scHools DoInG fIner Job ToDAY” HALF A CENTURY IN SCHOOLROOM— When Mrs. Jennie Neal cleans out her desk at the end of this school year, it will mark the close of a 50-year teaching career. She compared the schools now and at the turn of the century with the horse-and-buggy days and the jet airplane in transportation. “When I began teaching, children read one primer during their first year of school. The children were drilled on this one book until they could recite each page by memory. Today, children read from 40 to 50 books in their first year of school. They are no longer drilled on old material but read new material intelligently and fluently. They read of every-day experiences and new interests. When I began teaching, pupils were expected to remember and reproduce what they read or were taught verbatim. Children memorized pages, chapters and even entire books and then recited it parrot-like. Just parts of it soaked in. Today, thinking, purposing, planning and creating by the child are emphasized. Children now think, feel and perform on a much higher level than previous generations and also have more know-what, know-who, and know-how. --(teachers) of today have a good knowledge of child-development and above all, they know that a happy child is a learning child and vice versa.” In regard to kindergarten, Mrs. Neal feels that the establishment of full-time kindergarten is the best thing that happened in the Ogden Schools. A good kindergarten background, where the teacher has lived richly with the children and allowed them to live abundantly with her, will forever influence the individual’s life, she is convinced. Excerpt from THE OGDEN STANDARD EXAMINER - June 11, 1978 “LONGTIME EDUCATION SERVICE TO BE RECOGNIZED” Jennie Neal can remember her first teaching assignment well. She was just 14 years old at the time. Her years of dedicated service were rewarded recently when she received an “honorary achievement award.” And now Mrs. Neal has received yet another honor—she’s been named “Pioneer Queen” for the 1978 Ogden Pioneer Days celebration. This time, thousands of Ogden area residents will pay a silent tribute to the 91-yearold retired educator as she rides in the annual Pioneer Days Parade on July 24. Excerpt from THE OGDEN STANDARD EXAMINER - July 1978 “UTAH’S HERITAGE UNFOLDS IN SPECTACULAR PARADE” Utah’s heritage unfolded today in a brilliant panorama of color, glitter and pageantry as the 44th annual Ogden Pioneer’s Days Parade flowed down Washington. Following the opening vanguard were Grand Marshall Dr. T.O. Smith, riding in an antique car, and Pioneer Queen, Mrs. Jennie Neal, riding on the ZCMI parade float. The ZCMI float carrying the pioneer queen sported an old-fashioned carriage resting on a bed of orange satin. Historical Photo A beautiful woman, this daughter of God, She knows the worth of the one. For she has taught her whole life through, The example of the son. No greater calling can there be, Than a teacher of a child. For these students of today grow up to be Leaders, meek and mild. I’m sure our Father is very pleased With the work she’s accomplished here. For she has touched so many souls, Great lessons to endear. If we all could have a life so full, What a blessing that would be! Enduring to the end, Oh Lord, Returning unto thee. THE OGDEN STANDARD EXAMINER ARTICLES (July 31, 1990) “50 YEARS AGO” July 31, 1940 Mrs. R. R. Tonks, president of the Ogden Parent-Teacher Council, said the second in the “Fun With Stories” series of radio programs would be broadcast over radio station KLO. Presented by Jennie C. Neal, the program was designed for mothers and children and was unusual in that it offered an opportunity for the children to respond to the music and to act out the story as it was told. (August, 30, 1990) “50 YEARS AGO” August 30, 1940 Jennie C. Neal, well-known Ogden City School teacher, had resigned in order to accept a position on the teaching staff at Utah State HunTsVIlle scHool, VIcTorIAn YeArbook sTAff, 1941-1942. Can anyone identify those pictured above? Please call Shanna at 801-745-2688 or Jeannie at 801-745-2879 if you can help. Jeffrey D. Shepherd DMD, MSD Specialist in Orthodontics shepherdorthodontics Fast Treatment Times • Children and Adults • Flexible Payment Options Call to schedule your complimentary exam today! 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