Pioneer Schools
Depending on where you live, school may look very different this year than it has in the past. You may be doing remote learning, using a computer to keep up with schoolwork and your classmates. Or you may be sitting in a spread-out classroom, wearing a mask and learning new safe habits.
No matter what, school in the 1800s was nothing like what you’re used to. Let’s take a look at pioneer schools.
Of course, there were no computers. Even paper and books were scarce on the frontier. There were no sports teams. Instead, school activities included chores.
One-room schools
Few places had kindergarten. Kids started first grade at about 5 or 6 years old. Students usually stopped going to school after the eighth grade.
On the frontier, children from ages 6 to 14 would all go to class together in the same room. As they got older, they probably heard every grade’s lessons year after year. By graduation, they’d know the subjects backward and forward.
Morning chores
Before school even started, students put in hours of work. They began each day by doing chores at home. Some would help prepare breakfast and clean up. Others might help feed the animals or chop wood.
The walk to school might be three to five miles long. Sometimes kids would get to ride a pony to school.
In warm weather, they would usually walk barefoot. Although they had shoes, most kids wore them only in the winter. Going barefoot was more comfortable. Back then, there were no left and right shoes. New shoes would form to the feet over time, but breaking in new shoes was painful.
Once at school, students had more chores. Kids as young as third graders might help chop wood for the stove, pump water for the washbasin or sweep the floor.
Lessons
Paper was expensive, so kids did most of their lessons on chalkboards. Books cost a lot too. Schools did not provide textbooks. Kids had to buy their own books or use ones passed down from older students.
Pupils followed a strict formula to answer questions. For example, Mary would sit straight at her desk with her hand up. When the teacher called on her, she would move her legs to the aisle at the side of her seat. She’d stand up, then she’d turn to face the teacher. Only then would she answer!
School lunches
Students brought their own lunches to school. Usually, they’d bring leftovers from breakfast or supper the night before.
Students might spread bread with homemade butter or jelly. Sometimes, they would bring a can of milk or leftover soup. If they were lucky, they might have boiled eggs or cold fried chicken.
The school day
Teachers might write the day’s schedule on the blackboard each day. Subjects might include “Spelling,” “Geography” or “Penmanship” (handwriting).
Many teachers spent part of each day inspecting children’s hygiene: checking for clean hands and fingernails, making sure they had washed their faces and behind their ears, and giving a sniff to make sure they had bathed. Can you imagine your teacher doing that today?