I was taking Mark and his friend Billy Davis to school in the buckboard.  Along the way we picked up quite a few more kids.  When we got to the school, Mr. Griswald came out.  "Here he comes. I told you he looks like he eats persimmons," said Billy.  "He sure does," said Mark.  "Now boys," I said.  He introduced himself to me.  I told him who I was and introduced him to Mark and Billy.  He made me aware that the children were twelve minutes late for class.  I told him most folks around here didn't have time pieces, the children usually judge their pace  by the school bell.  He told me there would be no bell for his classroom, that punctuality was the responsibility of the individual.  I told Mark and Billy they better hustle.  As they were getting off the wagon Billy bumped my rifle and knocked it to the ground.  Mark went to pick it up, but Griswald refused to let him.  Mark told him it wasn't good for a gun to stay in the dirt.  He told them to take their places in the classes room.  Immediately!  He asked me if my rifle was loaded.  I told him it was.  He felt that the gun should not be in easy reach of children.  I told him his point was well taken but it can't go off without it being cocked.  I told him the reason it was loaded was because the rifle is a necessary safe guard in open country.  He felt it was carelessness.  He told me never to bring a loaded gun in the vicinity of the school house again.  He turn and entered the school.

        Griswald told the children the rule that he expected them to bide by.  Learning is their duty and teaching them well was his. He notice that most of the children carried their shoes to school and it wasn't to happen again.    He told them, anyone coming to school without shoes will be sent home.  Mark told him that their shoes would be dirty before they even get here, especially those walking. Griswald didn't want to hear it.  He told Mark he was speaking out of turn.  Mark apologized.  He told them, walking bare foot is a threat to personal health as well as appearances.  There would be a rag outside of the door.  They were to wipe their shoes before entering the school.  "Come November, I'll wear some said Billy."  Griswald told him he would wear shoes tomorrow like everyone else.  Mark tried to tell Griswald why Billy had to wait for his shoes.  He said no exceptions.  He would take Billy to town and buy him a pair of shoes which his mother can repay him for later.  He told Mark he wanted no more interruptions from him.   

It was after nine.  I told Mark he better get to bed.  Mark had fallen asleep at the table doing his homework.  He had to finish his homework.  He said that Mr. Griswald gave them so much homework that they don't have time for anything else. even chores.  He asked what good it was to learn about some Greek named Academes.  "Mark, everything you learn will come in handy someday, one way or another."  I asked him if he ever heard of a battle the Greeks fought called Thermopolis?    I told him even tho the place is gone, knowing what happened there save my life when I was in the army.  Now he was all ears.  "Honest?" Asked Mark.  "It was the first year of the war, on an eight man patrol, we ran smack into a party of rebs. There must have been twenty of them. They opened fired. In a few minutes there was only four of us left."  He asked if I was scared. I nodded.  "They drove us back against the cliff. Looked like we didn't have a chance. Then I remembered a box canyon I scouted a couple of days before. Oh, about fifty yards across, about the same width of the pass thru the mountains of  Thermopolis   If we could get to it we could hold them off  the way the Greeks held off the Persians."  "Sure cause, cause only a few of them could get into the canyon at a time," said Mark.  "We crawled and fault every inch of the way. We finally made it. And we did hold them off until our main column showed up.  "I see what you mean," said Mark.  He eagerly went back to his homework.   

While in class the next day, Sally was going over their assignment out loud.  Griswald saw Mark was preoccupied.  Billy had just passed Mark some jujubes.  Griswald told Mark to finish where Sally left off.  Mark started to, but didn't know all of his lesson.  He told Griswald he didn't finish his homework.  Mark told him he fell asleep after he talked to his Pa.  Griswald told him to stay after school for one hour.  "Yes sir," said Mark.  "Everyday! Since your father considers talking more important then studying, it becomes my duty to see that your lessons are completed here!" Said Griswald.  Mark got upset.  He told Griswald he had no cause to talk that way about his Pa that way.  He told Mark to sit down.  "No, no I won't sit down," shouted Mark, then ran out of the school house.           

I came in from outside.  There was Mark sweeping the rug.  I asked him if they got out of school early.  He told me what had happened.  He said that Griswald thought I wasn't doin' good for him.  He thought him unfair.  I told him he was strict, but I didn't think he meant to be unfair.  He said Griswald was a mean, nasty, rotten, old varmint. I told him he had to go back to school.  As long as Griswald was the teacher there he had no choice but to obey him.  "But Pa I can't. I hate him!"  I told him that was a strong word to use just because he didn't agree with him.  I told him he had to go back.  He said alright and headed back to school.

Mr. Griswald accepted his apology.  Griswald told Mark he had to stay an extra hour today because of his conduct.  Which was a total of two hours.  Mark didn't agree with him, but he had no choice.

"I know something that will fix him," said Billy.  Billy took a handful of jujubes from out of his bag and put them in the middle of Griswald's book and slammed it shut.  Mark went to see what Billy was doing.  Mark opened the book.  Just then Griswald came into the room.  He asked Mark what he was doing at his desk.  Mark told him nothing and took his seat.  He opened his book up and there they were.  Mark told him he didn't do it.  He then took the switch and whipped him with it.

I was upset with Mark for what he had done and for destroying school property.  Mark told me he didn't do it.  Billy did.  He asked Mark not to snitch on him.  "If you choose to stand up and take the blame for someone, you gotta do just that. Not run away," I said.  Mark didn't mind the punishment he just couldn't take Griswald.  I told him he had no choice, he had to go back to school.  If Mr. Griswald was not the right teacher for us it would be taken up with the town council. He said he couldn't.  I told him not to disobey me to.  I walked out of the bedroom, angry and upset. 

I didn't know, but the next day Mark didn't go to school.  He and Billy played hooky.  Billy told Mark of a really neat hiding place he found last week.  He said it was a cave.  It was an old abandon mine cave.  Mark saw an old mining cart there and jumped into it and decided to explore the cave.  Billy stood there watching  Mark rolled into the cave.  Suddenly the ceiling of the cave collapsed and Billy couldn't see Mark anymore.  Billy called to Mark, but no answer. Billy ran to get help.  When Mark came to, he couldn't get up.  His leg was caught under the cart.  He tried calling to Billy, but no answer.  All he could do is lay and wait. 

I saw the kids coming home from school. I didn't see Mark.  I asked Sally if Mark was on his way home.  She said she didn't know.  I thought I better go to the school and check. 

Mr. Griswald said that Mark and Billy never showed up at school.  Even if they played hooky they should be home by now.  He felt Mark was a rebellious boy.  I told him that Mark never gave any trouble until he came here.  That he educated him to  rebellion.  He felt I lacked in discipline.  That his training and credentials were the finest.  "It takes more then credentials to make a good teacher. It takes a heart and I don't think you've got one! But your gonna help me find those boys."  "Excuse me Mr. McCain, I have work to do at home."  I grabbed his arm.  "Were gonna look for those boy and when we find them they better be alright."  He looked down at my hold on him.  I removed it.  "Very well," he said.  "I suggest we begin our search at the Davis ranch where they undoubtedly spent the day," he said.  "For your sake I hope so." 

We headed toward the Davis ranch.  We saw an image in the road.  It was Billy.  I stopped the buckboard.  He was tired and worn out.  He had been running.  I asked him where Mark was.  He kept yelling, "he's in a cave, in a cave."  He told me Mark was in a cave that they were hiding in and that it had caved in.  "On Mark son, did it fall on Mark?"  He didn't know.  I asked him where this place was.  "Stop sniveling, where is it?" shouted Griswald.  Billy turn to him and yelled, "None of this would had happened if you hadn't said mean things about Mr. McCain. That's why Mark left school, that's why!"  He didn't know what Billy was talking about.  "You said Mr. McCain wouldn't let Mark study, and it was his fault Mark didn't have his homework."  Griswald said he never realized.  I told him to forget it for now and told Billy to show us where the cave was.   

When we got to the cave I told Billy to stay where he was and I told Griswald to come with me.  We took stones and boards away from the opening.  I was getting thru no matter what.  A board fell and hit Griswald's arm.  He was aright.  Just bruised.  I called and called to Mark.  He wanted to call out but he had to be careful.  There was some really loose board and dirt ready to cave in.  He didn't want to cause it to fall.  "Pa.....Pa.....Pa, over here."  We heard him and kept digging.  "Pa, over here."  We finally dug a whole big enough for me to crawl thru.  "Pa, over here, yelled Mark!"  I finally made my way to him.  "Pa, I knew you'd come, Pa."  We hugged.  I was so relieved he was ok.  Now to get us all out of here.  The ceiling was starting to give way.  We had to get his foot loose.  I started to lift the cart.  I told him as soon as he can to pull his leg out.  I couldn't budge it.  We needed a lever.  "Archimedes said, 'give me a lever and I can move the world'," said Griswald.  The ceiling started to give way more and more.  I found a board.  I placed it un the cart.  Still didn't work.  I needed a flat rock.  Griswald found one.  "The position of a fulcrum determines the amount of leverage," said Griswald.  I told him to get ready to pull Mark out.  It worked.  Mark was free.  Just as we finished heading out the cave it collapsed.  When we got to safety I made a sling for Griswald's arm.  "it's sure gonna be dark riding home, said Billy."  "I won't be dark long. Tonight the moon rises at eight sharp.  It's in it's final quarter and should furnish plenty of light," said Griswald.  "Well Marl, I told you, learning comes in handy.  He told me I was right.  "I hope I'm not so set in my ways that I can't learn himself from what's happened in the pass few days," said Griswald.  He then turned to Billy and said, "On, and Billy, think I might have a jujube?" Said Griswald.     

piddlin' stuff.....Arnold Moss played 'The Schoolmaster,' Stevan Griswald.
Moss had guest appearances on shows like "Route 66" ~ "The Time Tunnel" ~ "Daniel Boone" ~ "Fantasy Island" and "Bonanza" to name a few.
His mellifluous voice was frequently used to serve as narrator-soloist with the Boston, Milwaukee and Detroit Symphonies, among others.
He received his Ph.D. from New York University in 1973, at age 63.
Taught drama for nearly a decade at Brooklyn College.
A veteran character actor who played benign, effete types on stage, film and TV, particularly soaps.
 
Jimmy Fields played Billy Davis.  He's the kid with the jujubes.  Not much on Jimmy other then he was a regular on "The Ann Southern Show" for one season.  He also had a guest spot on "The Donna Reed Show" ~ "Star Trek" and the movie "Sweet Charity".  Nothing on him since 1969. 

Pamela Cole played Sally. Pamela was one of Chuck's nieces.
for more information of the kids on the set of 'The Schoolmaster'

Steven Gardner as the boy at the school in 'The Apprentice Sheriff.' 
Steven is the son of Arthur Gardner and today he is a lawyer. 
Steve Gardner was also in 'The Schoolmaster'

Here is some info on "the kids" that was in 'The Schoolmaster'

Boys Costumes Depicted in Television Shows: The Rifleman (U.S., 1958-63)

*All four of Chuck's boy's were in this episode.  Can you pick any of them out?  You can't see all four of them here but you can in the episode.  They are in the wagon ride to school and some in the class room.    Jeff played Toby Halpern in 'Tension' and he and Mike both appeared in 'First Wages.'  Did you see them?  They are the boys that wanted Mark to go fishing.

Connors' family tidbit.....Michael Connors, the oldest son of Chuck Connors, became a full U.S. citizen on 8/11/64, he was swore in at the Department of Justice in Los Angeles.  Michael was born in Canada while his father was playing baseball for the Montreal Royals.  This gives Michael dual citizenship.

Would you like a picture of Chuck with his boys from this episode?  Maybe a picture of Chuck, Johnny & his boys from this episode?  Just drop me a line & mention this episode—'The Schoolmaster'—in the subject line & I'd be glad to send you one/two or both through e-mail. (only) 

*If anybody has any information on any of the stars, and would like to share it, please get in touch with