 One of our more prolific contributors to CSAA publications across the years has been Mike Day of Barkhamsted, CT. Mike was always a dedicated schoolhouse preservationist and researcher and here we offer another of his varied essays on country schooling. Imagine the days when the schoolmarm or schoolmaster had to "live in" with the families in the district during their teaching term, sleeping, eating, and communing with their students and parents for some set period of time. Today, unthinkable! Here is Mike's take on an archaic practice.
BOARDING ROUND By Michael Day For much of the 19th century teachers were itinerant laborers who moved from one community to another in search of work. Certainly there were "home-grown" teachers, particularly in view of the fact that no special training was needed for the job. But if a community expected to attract an educated teacher, special accommodations had to be made, so communities routinely provided room and board for the teacher. In a story called "The Sufferings of a Country Schoolmaster," William Austin described how one community solicited bids at the Annual Town Meeting for the job of boarding and feeding the schoolmaster. There was, in effect, a reverse auction with the lowest bidder getting the job of keeping the teacher. Austin wrote that he was, "at noonday publicly sold at auction," and went on to describe how he was so poorly fed that he had to catch squirrels and wild rabbits in order to avoid starvation. But more often than not, the teachers were expected to "board round," that is, live with their students' families, often moving each week from one house to the next. This was considered a good way for the teacher to get to know the children and the families, and it did reduce the town's out-of-pocket expenses. For the teacher, "boarding round" could be a trial, and the conditions of their "board" are a common theme in the letters and stories that teachers wrote. One teacher from Wisconsin in an 1851 letter wrote of her experience boarding round: "I found it very unpleasant, especially during the winter and spring terms, for one week I would board where I would have a comfortable room; the next week my room would be so open that the snow would blow in, and sometimes I would find it on my bed, and also in it. A part of the places where I boarded I had flannel sheets to sleep in; and the others cotton. But the most unpleasant part was being obliged to walk through the snow and water. I suffered much from colds and a cough." Another young lady from Connecticut on her first teaching assignment on the frontier of Wisconsin wrote a similar letter and added, "But what was worse than all, I was obliged to sleep in the same room with Mr. & Mrs. Richardson. It is a very common thing for both sexes to sleep in the same room." The practice seems to have been wide-spread, but specifics are hard to find. In 1846 the report of the Connecticut Board of Education noted that, state-wide, 911 teachers were found to "board round" while 174 were found to "board themselves.” In the more rural counties "boarding round" was the norm. Windham County , in the northeast corner, reported 101 teachers boarding round and only one boarding himself; in Litchfield County , in the northwest corner, 157 teachers were boarding round, while 5 boarded themselves. Unfortunately, follow-up statistics were not included in subsequent State reports. That the practice continued is suggested by the fact that State reports on teacher pay throughout 1860's included the caveat, "including board." In the 1870's, teacher pay was reported as "including board where provided" but by 1885 the "board" notation was dropped entirely. The practice of "boarding round" probably died out gradually. By the late 1860's and early 70's, there was a significant increase in the number of female teachers and concerns were being voiced about the propriety of the arrangement. A correspondent was quoted in the 1869 State Board of Education report as saying, "The teachers in nearly all the districts "boarded round." This practice is especially objectionable, now that so many female teachers are employed in winter. It is in every respect for the interests of the town that the teachers should have one boarding place." The idea of "one boarding place" seems to have taken hold, and in later years we hear of towns owning a "Teacherage" where the teachers would live. *We have researched to locate Mike Day numerous times on-line and have been unsuccessful. At one time he produced many wonderful reproduction primers and print materials for use in country school museums, but Clippership Publications is also presumably out of business. If you know how to reach Mike Day please let us know how as well. Note: The subject of a Teacherage is a great idea for a future Report Card post!
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 Summit School or "Straw College" Historic Village and One-Room Schools in Kalona, IA - (Video) Fall Festival Information Attend this two-day event and visit a schoolhouse at Kalona Historical Village! Take a stroll through the scenic 1800’s village and explore pioneer life in 12 authentic buildings. Each building is restored and filled with interesting artifacts and informative displays depicting the rugged years our immigrant settlers spent taming the Iowa prairie. Leave behind the stress of today’s world and savor the family values, hard work ethic and unpretentious lifestyle of an earlier age. The second half of the video below deals mainly with the country school at the village named the Summit School. Built in 1850 it was nicknamed “Straw College” because straw was stuffed behind the wainscoting during the winter for insulation. The school originally stood on the prairie south of Kalona. As part of the Mid-Prairie School district, it was used as a typing room by them until they donated it to the Kalona Historical Village in 1972. It was restored in 1973. The Summit School hosted many much-anticipated yearly spelling bees. Students and families gathered in this one-room schoolhouse, excitedly waiting for the big bee. One teacher taught all the grade levels in one room. Students received instruction that was appropriate for living a better life as a pioneer on the prairie. Additional area schools are featured as well, and you can get a glimpse of the interior of a new order Amish school, Meadow Lane Schoolhouse, in Kalona. FALL FESTIVAL 2024 SEPTEMBER 27th AND 28th Thanks to Kalona Historical Village for this information and an invitation to visit! Check out the 2024 Fall Festival Friday, September 27th: 9:00 am – 9:00 pm Saturday, September 28th: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm Click on the photo below!  CLICK ON THIS PHOTO FOR INFORMATION ON THE 2024 FALL FESTIVAL The poem below caught my eye as a very sweet tale about a country school boy who may have had more important things on his mind when his schoolmarm/master was teaching American history lessons. It raises the question though, "Did Johnny ever pass his 8th grade examination with THIS compendium of knowledge?" Johnny's History Lesson by Nixon Waterman I think, of all the things at school A boy has got to do, That studyin' hist'ry, as a rule, Is worst of all, don't you? Of dates there are an awful sight, An' though I study day an' night, There's only one I've got just right - That's 1492. Columbus crossed the Delaware In 1492. We whipped the British, fair an' square, In 1492. At Concord an' at Lexington. We kept the redcoats on the run, While the band played Johnny Get Your Gun, In 1492. Pat Henry, with his dyin' breath - In 1492 Said, "Gimme liberty or death!" In 1492. An' Barbara Frietchie, so 'tis said, Cried, "Shoot if you must this old, gray head, But I'd rather it be your own instead!" In 1492. The Pilgrims came to Plymouth Rock In 1492. An' the Indians standin' on the dock Asked, "What are you goin' to do?" An' they said, "We seek your harbor drear(y) That our children's children's children dear, May boast that their forefathers landed here In 1492" Miss Pocahontas saved the life, In 1492. Of one John Smith, an' became his wife In 1492. An' the Smith tribe started then an' there, An' now, there are John Smiths everywhere, But they didn't have any Smiths to spare In 1492. Kentucky was settled by Daniel Boone In 1492. An' I think the cow jumped over the moon In 1492. Ben Franklin flew his kite so high He drew the lightnin' from the sky, An' Washington couldn't tell a lie, In 1492. Note: This little poem was one of many written by Nixon Waterman (much more serious, of course) who was born in 1859 in Kendall County, IL, when it was part of Indian Territory. He died in September 1944 in Canton, Massachusetts. Waterman was a newspaperman, prolific poet, essayist, and creator of countless stories and anthems. He became a noted Chautauqua lecturer who rose to prominence in the 1890s. His life story is fascinating, a pioneer who lived the American Dream. Here you'll find a link to an inspiring article about this very successful American wordsmith. Click on the poem by Nixon Waterman or his portrait below: If you make connections with country schools in your travels or on-line, an easy way to introduce caretakers to our organization is to share with them our 6-minute video slide show that explains how CSAA serves schoolhouse enthusiasts ....or copy and send them a link to this short promotion. The narrated video has been updated and says a lot in those six short minutes. Here is the link for their easy access or tune in yourself for a little review. The link will also take new people to our website where they can learn even more about grants, annual conference, resources, support, and friendship. Let's get the word out there about CSAA! The link to forward our video is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnG-R8Ny-X0 |
