Schools
Many pioneer children went to school, but it was different from your school today. Usually, all of the kids were in one room together. Many kids also had to travel a long way to get to school.
What did kids learn in school?
Kids learned basic reading, writing, and math skills. They did not have many books or much paper. They often used a slate to do their work. A slate is a small chalkboard.
A lot of the work kids did was memorizing. Spelling bees were very popular, and some kids spent the whole school year memorizing many words for the big contest in the spring.
A lot of the work kids did was memorizing. Spelling bees were very popular, and some kids spent the whole school year memorizing many words for the big contest in the spring.
How did kids get to school?
Most kids walked to school. The walk could be very long, and the roads could be very snowy and muddy. In the winter, many kids started walking before the sun rose. Some kids rode horses to schools. They left their horses tied outside the school during the day.
What was a one room schoolhouse?
Many schools had just one room and one teacher. Older kids and younger kids were in the same class, but they did different work. The teacher taught all of the ages at the same time. There was usually one wood stove in the middle that gave heat to the room. In the winter, sitting next to the stove was very hot, but it was cold to be too far away.
Did all the kids go to school?
Education was important to families, and most pioneer kids went to school. In the spring, summer, or fall lots of kids had to stay home to help on the farm. They only went to school during the winter. Unfortunately, Native American kids were not usually allowed to go to the same schools.