Our One Room Schoolhouse

In the March 7, 1973 issue of the Bedford Gazette, an article appeared "Whatever became of the little Red Schoolhouse". I stuck out my neck to answer that question. Other than those schoolhouses, which were built of red brick, there were NO one room schoolhouses in Bedford County painted a bright red color. Either they were left unpainted throughout the years, or they had a coat of white paint.

Classes are no longer conducted in these little buildings. What buildings are still standing have, in most part, been converted into small private homes.

From what I can determine, the first one room schoolhouse was closed in 1916 in Londonderry Township and the last two were in Monroe and Juniata townships in 1947. As each school was closed the children from that school were forced to attend another school.

In checking on the history of the one-room schoolhouse, we find the system of public school was adopted in la34 by the state. The county and townships gradually accepted and adopted the state's decree. Here in Bedford County, Southampton Township did not take this step until 1866.

The County Superintendent's office was created in 1854. T.R. Gettys held this office from 1854 to 1857. It is believed that first County Institute was held in 1854 at New Enterprise. The institute of 1856 was held in the basement of the Lutheran Church in Bedford. The first term of school was only three months. This was changed to four in 1854, five months in 1871, six months in 1897, seven months in 1899 and nine months about 1922.

The country children of a century ago were lucky to attend more than a total of four or five months in their entire lives. The boys were needed to help their fathers about the farm. The girls had their chores about the house. When they were able to go to school for a day or two, they, in all probability, had to walk several miles in all sorts of weather. There were no yellow school busses. The parents were too busy performing farm chores to take time to hitch old Dobbin to the wagon or sled to haul the children.

For comparison of the schools of yesteryear with today, we checked on a few statistics. In 1857, there were 174 schools with a total enrollment of 7,150 pupils. The average teacher's pay was less than $20.00 monthly. By 1891 the number of schoolhouses had increased to 245, with 185 male and 112 female teachers. Pupil attendance was now 10,725. The average salary for men was $31.63 and women received $27.04 monthly. In 1900, 325 schoolhouses existed with 200 men and 141 women teachers. Enrollment had reached 11,017. Salary had increased to $32.57 per month.

Today we have 26 elementary and six high schools, with 11,033 pupils, (just 16 more than in 1900). The ages of the pupils who attended these little schools ranged from six to sixteen. Many teachers in the rural areas walked miles to teach school. Some drove a horse and a two-wheeled cart. Once in a while, if the teacher's home was not in the immediate area, they would obtain room and board with a family who lived near the school.

A typical day in a one-room school began at 9 a.m. However, for the teacher it meant getting to the school at least an hour earlier in order to get a good hot fire going in the potbellied stove so the children could have a warm room after their long walk in Winter weather. During these extra minutes, the teacher would also sweep out the building. Usually a wooden box was filled with (kerosene-soaked) sawdust. The sawdust was obtained from a local sawmill in a burlap bag. The sawdust was scattered over the floor in large quantities. Then the teacher would sweep the floor. The oil in the sawdust would absorb the dirt and dust. The sweepings were then put into the coal bucket or mixed with the kindling for the next morning's fire.

Every school had three additional small buildings. One was for the winter's supply of coal. The other was marked boys and the third girls.

The teacher would open up the day by reading several verses from his Bible. The six and seven year old pupils were seated in smaller seats near the teacher's desk. The oldest were seated in the rear. The pot-bellied stove was in the center. Boys occupied the desks on the right and girls on the left.

The first class was with the first graders. By recess time the eighth graders had completed their first lessons. The subjects the older pupils had to study were geography, arithmetic, physiology, spelling and reading. The latter was graded from first year to eighth grade. There were stories about the fox and the stork; the man who cleaned up by town of rats by playing his flute; Captain John Smith and Pocohontas and many others, which had a good moral.

Generally the older pupils were rationed to one pencil per month. The smaller children were given slates in a wooden frame and a slate pencil. We had no banks to provide us with 'ball point pens' as such an instrument was unknown. Once in a while someone would get a fountain pen as a gift. How jealous we were of that lucky kid.

Each desk had an inkwell into which we dipped a straight steel pen when we had our Penmanship period. Pupils were issued Copy Books. On the top of each page was a short sentence beautifully written. We were supposed to copy that sentence on and in between example.

If we were good little boys and girls during the week, we could generally persuade the teacher to hold a special program in a form of a contest on Friday afternoons between the last recess and 4 P. M. This might include a spelling contest between all pupils chosen by two captains, or a geography match in locating certain countries, towns, etc., selected by the teacher or perhaps arithmetic problems such as addition, subtraction, division or in fractions.

The teacher would pick up a book from his desk, insert his finger between two pages, then each captain had to guess the closest number. The captain guessing the nearest number won first choice of the pupil on his team. After all pupils were selected, the teacher began the contest. The last one on a team won. If you missed a question or word you were retired.

In the spelling classes, each grade would line up in front of the teacher's desk in the same order the class finished the previous day's with one exception. The pupil who was at the head of the line, now had to start at the foot. If the pupil above missed a word and the next spelled it correctly, he then moved upward and the one who missed the word had to move downward. Each time a pupil reached the head of the line he was given credit of a 'headmark'. The pupil getting the most headmarks at the end of the term was awarded a prize. One year I was awarded 'Uncle Tom's Cabin'. I still have this book.

At recess times and at the noon hour, the girls had their games such as London Bridge is Falling Down or Prisoner's Base. In good weather boys had their baseball games. A good ball was usually made by buying a five cent ball of twine at a local store, which we wound into a ball until we had the right size. Someone would always come up with an old worn out pair of high top shoes from which we could cut out a cover for our ball. The pattern was usually taken from a 15¢ oil cloth covered baseball. One of us would prevail upon our parents to use their skill in sewing the leather cover on our new ball. These old homemade baseballs were just as good and flew just as far as those that cost 50 cents or more at a store. They lasted much longer, too.

We kids had no knowledge of football or hockey. We played a game similar to hockey, which we called 'shinney'. Each member made his own shinney stick in the form of a large 'L'. The puck was an old milk can. The team which got the battered can over the opposing team's goal won. Many a kid had his shins skinned and fingers bruised at the end of the game.

In the winter when a good cover of snow was on the ground, we would make a large circle. The diagram would be like a wagon wheel. The hub was 'safe'. Anyone outside the hub was eligible to be caught and made 'it'. Everyone had to remain within bounds of the rim or spokes. Throwing snowballs was strictly forbidden. If you were caught, you were likely to be punished by not being permitted out of the school room for the next several days' recess periods. Sometimes we played 'Andy-over'. Two teams were chosen. Each side would be on the opposite side of the building. A ball was then thrown over the roof. If a member of the opposite side caught the ball, he could then quickly run to the other side and try to hit a member with the ball. If he succeeded, that member became one of his team. The game continued until the last member was captured or the game was interrupted by the bell.

If one of us was caught in some mischievous deed, most likely we were forced to march up beside the teacher's desk. Sometimes we were forced to hold a book straight out for five minutes. Other times we had to face the blackboard. Yes, we played tricks on our teachers, too, however two of my teachers are still living, so I'll refrain from mentioning what they were. I might have to stand once again on the floor with a book in my hand. I remember on one occasion two of us had to remain after school to write the longest word in the English dictionary one-hundred times on the blackboard. After we had completed our punishment, we had to clean the large slates.

"TIDISESTABLISHMENTARIANISM" Now you can try it

We who attended the little country one-room schoolhouse have many memories.

Note: I stuck out my neck-and got clipped-just a little.

I received a letter from a reader in which he called my attention to the fact that he remembers four one-room school houses that were painted red, perhaps not the brilliant red, but at least they were red.

The first is the Beckley (he went to school here in 1903, 4 and 5.) It was located in West St. Clair Township. The second was called the Kniseley, one mile east of Pleasantville. Both are located on the Dr. Kniseley estate. The third was the Griffith, near the fish hatchery (formerly called Spring Meadow). He attended school here between 1910 and 1914. The fourth was the Bethel school, three miles west of New Paris in Bethel Hollow.

So, I stand corrected.

V.E.W.