First published by the students of Omaha High School in December of 1859, The Free School Advocate is the earliest known example of school journalism in Nebraska. The paper published editorials, essays, verse, fiction, and news– all the work of students at the school. Each weekly issue was hand written in fine script and the front page was often decorated with fanciful calligraphy. Rather than duplicating the paper for distribution to each student, only one copy of each issue was made to be read aloud to students at assembly.
(partial transcript)
FREE SCHOOL ADVOCATE
Omaha High School, April _th, 1860.
FREE EDUCATION
“Our glorious Motto – bear it on
O’er mountain, plain and sea:-
‘FOR EVERY DAUGHTER, EVERY SON
OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE FREE.’
Nebraska teems with wealth untold,
Yet her proudest boast shall be,
Not that her mountains are rich in gold,
But that her SCHOOLS are FREE.”
