The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1868-01-23
EdRcn sfOn I'm jackson County.
NUMBER 4.
BY D, MAcELry.

/ ulu not az oHCe lakS thSlT Sedls, Dut
crowded around the great log fire for
short time to warm themselves. The
master then gave them notice to take
their seats. They all spelled and read
aloud. Generally the classes were
heard recite from three to four times in
the forenoon, and about the same num-
Der of times in the afternoon. There
were but few classes, as there were so
many different kinds Of spelling books.
But then the schools did not average
over twenty, as that number was the
highest that any teacher was permitted
to have subscribed upon his article of
agreement. Sometimes there would
be over that number in attendance for
day or two, and often not more than
twelve or fifteen. There was no recess,
either in the forenoon or afternoon.
School commenced about eight in the
morning, and continued until twelve.
Then there was "playtime" from one
hour to one hour and quarter. In
this time we had to eat our dinners, and
enjoy what exercise we could get.
From little after one until near FIVE,
we had to sit again on the high benches,
with our feet swinging near the floor.
The great error committed by teachers
and parents, was attempting to carry
out the idea that seven or eight hours
was full short time to remain in the
school house each day. They knew
that man could cut wood, make rails
or thresh with fail ten hours a day.
Then why could not a person sit by a
good fire eight hours and read or spell3
Much attention was given to spelling
in those days. There were generally
two classes that spelled for head, twice
day. About half an hour before
the school was dismissed, forenoon and
afternoon, the "master' would say:
"get your spelling lessons" Then you
ought to have heard the music of TWEEN
ty voices. The lesson to be spelled
would be rapidly run overa few times,
when the master would say: "get your
places" when we would all take our po-
sition in our class, the same as when we
had last spelled. Not much was learn
ed in going over the lesson so rapidly
in SCHOOL, but much was learned at
home at nights. have set up late at
night, pronouncing the words for my
brother and sisters, and they for me, un-
til we scarcely ever missed word. The
teacher, or Hmaster" as he was unyer-
sally called, was not very strict IN his
rules during the spelling exercises.
The children could always turn one
down who had missed a word, but they
were not compelled to do so. / prided
myself upon being good speller, and l
took great delight in it, | could gen.
orally be at the head of my class as much
as desired. I would often go foot,
and then see how long it would take to
get head again.
Idid a thing at the school of John
West, that was hardly fair He was
teaching in little cabin under the hill,
near the residence OF Peter Seel There
was little girl in our class that we
boys all liked. She had yellow hair,
and was freckled; but we thought she
was pretty and lovely, and that did just
as we'll as If she had been pretty, ]
would go to the foot ofthe GLASS, and as
words were missed would turn the
pupils down until l was next below
Barbara Lambert, and if she would miss
word / would not turn her down, and
thus | got to stand in the class next to
her, which was very pleasant,
1t would seem very strange now to
90 into a school house ard hear all the
pupils spelling, reading, and talking
aloud | was always very mischie-
vous boy in school, and | soon learned
how to take advantage of this loud
spelling aud reading, or "open school,
as it was called. The pupils all had a
kind of sing-song tone, and IT | wished
to talk on any subject to fellow pupil,
even on subjects foreign to theinterests
of education, would get my voice in
the same tone as the balance of the
school, and while looking intently upon
my book, could talk as much as ! de-
sired, and the master would think was
eagerly pursuing my studies.
When "slent schools" were being
introduced, they met with much oppo-
sition, and although no one wouldInoN
dream of introducing the old system
yet must say thatit had some advan
tages. II rendered the school hours