Monday, August 31, 2009

Many Fascinated by One-Room Schools



  • Whenever I've written about one-room schools and my connection with them, I've discovered that others are fascinsted by them, too.

    They tell stories about their experiences or want to hear about my connection with these places of learning.


    Often they:
  • Attended one

  • Have parents who attended them

  • Taught at one

  • Have family members of the current generation or previous who taught at a one-room school

  • Researched them

  • Interviewed those who attended

  • Took photos of those existing today, either as a school, home or historic building

  • Sketched the schools

  • Visited them

  • Are simply fascinated with them as part of our American heritage
  • Compiled stories about these places of learning

What is your connection with one-room schools?

(Image: sxc.hu)

Attending a One-Room School in Poughquag, NY


My first four years of schooling took place in a one-room schoolhouse, in the village of Poughquag, NY, in the 1940s. My sister and brothers attended, too. Gradually, there were so many students that the townspeople decided to "centralize." That meant becoming part of the Arlington School District.

At first, all students beyond the fourth grade were bussed to the Arlington Central schools on the outskirts of Poughkeepsie, about 15 miles away. However, the bus trip took about an hour and a half because the bus wound around on back roads. My sister, brothers and I were among the first to be picked up and last dropped off.

Eventually the Poughquag school was closed and sold to a family who converted it into a home.

There are many fond memories of school days in a one-room school house. I'll tell more stories about them, as well as my mom's as a teacher in one-room schools.
(Image: sxc.hu)

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

My One-Room School Heritage


I descend from a family with many generations of one-room school students and teachers. Whenever I write about my memories of those days (the first four grades of school for me) and the role one-room schools played in the lives of earlier generations of my family, I receive a tremendous response.


So....I thought I'd better collect some of these memories and write about them here...for my family and others to enjoy.


You're welcome to share your memories in the comments to my posts.


ENJOY!