One Room Schoolhouse

During my visit to the Red Mill Museum and Winter Village,
I was delighted to see this one room schoolhouse.
Named the Bunker Hill School House,
it resided in Alexandria Township as of 1860.
In 1974, it was moved to Clinton and restored,
giving me a glimpse into my profession over 150 years ago.



The year it opened, there were 50 students,
and the budget was $315.37.
In August of 1894, voters defeated 
a budget of $1,000 for books and supplies,
by a margin of 38-19.

A coal stove heated the classroom,
and it was the responsibility of the teacher
to bring a scuttle of coal and bucket of water,
plus fill the lamps, trim the wicks 
and clean the chimney.



The schoolhouse contained a blackboard,
a globe, maps, books, a nature corner,
and a sand table for writing practice.
Good students got to stoke the fire,
while bad children sat on a stool in the corner,
wearing a dunce cap!



Male teachers could take one night a week to court,
or two nights if they attended church regularly.
Women had to remain unmarried and could not engage
in "unseemly" behaviors or they'd be dismissed.

It was such a charming room, 
and I could imagine that once the chores were done,
the teacher must have had to be very organized
and creative to instruct children of all different ages,
not just abilities,
and to provide structure to keep students
independently engaged 
so she could work with some individually.
I wondered where he got his materials,
what life lessons he hoped to impart,
and how long she could survive on the measly income.



Seeing that schoolhouse made me proud
of what I do and for the long tradition of education,
and I am so grateful for the many resources at my disposal.
But at the end of the day,
it's the connections we make with children,
it's how we let them know they're valued,
that they matter,
that makes a teacher great.
And allows her to change the world.
One little mind at a time!

Photos:  Red Mill Museum, Clinton, NJ.  12.7.24