Did Our Parents Disapprove of Our Books?

As I consider the modern fantasy books and find them distasteful and depressing, I wonder if my parents disliked books we read at the one-room school and the larger one I attended after fourth grade.  Since Mother had been a school teacher, she had first hand knowledge of many of our books.

However, I don't really like many of the modern fantasy books young people are reading nowadays.  I wonder, as I learn about them, if they are contributing to the disrespectful attitudes of many who read them?  Do they lead youngsters and young adults to look at the world with a depressing view?

This isn't to say that books should create a rose-colored and unrealistic view of the world and our lives.  However, so many of the modern fantasy books delve into violence and present jaded characters.

I realize many people will say I'm wrong.  They (adults and young readers) regard these books and series as wonderful.

I read fantasies, or "fairy tales" as we called them, in my youth.  But they didn't seem to have so much violence and depressing outlooks.

I did come across one mother who refuses to let her children read these types of books until they're 14.  What happens when the books are included in class reading in middle school and discussed in class?  What happens when they want to attend movies of these books at a younger age?  They will hear classmates and teachers discussing the books and movies.

Reading the books your youngsters are reading and discussing your "old-fashioned" views of them does help to give them insight into why you may not approve...and give them something to consider.

One Room School Friends

Even though it was many, many years ago that I attended the one-room school in Poughquag, NY, I still remain in contact with three of my classmates, along with my sister.  Another classmate I've heard from, via email, intermittently.

Through postal mail, email and Facebook, we've kept up with one another.  We're grandmothers, live in different parts of the country, yet still share memories and keep up with the joys and sorrows in our families.

First Day of School

This time of year, I looked forward to going back to school and seeing all my friends. Sister and I had new dresses for the first day. My brothers had new pants (not jeans for school) and shirts. Even though money wasn't plentiful, Mother got us something new to wear for starting school. Getting a new "store bought" dress was something I looked forward to. (Mother made many of our clothes on her treadle sewing machine. But she purchased dresses for starting school.)

The school was about half a mile from our farm. Mother or Father drove us to school in the morning. But most days we walked home from school, carrying our bookbags and lunch boxes.

I've been trying to find a picture of the Poughquag Schoolhouse but have only come across one on a postcard that probably was an earlier version. The building seems somewhat different from what a friend and I recall. So we're wondering if the original school was distroyed or dismantled an a newer one built when we attended.

Some books available about one-room schools around the country. (Eventually I should compile my blog entries into a book with photos and sketches.)

Legacy of One-Room Schools
One-Room Country Schools: History and Recollections from Wisconsin
Northwest Indiana One Room School
(Image: sxc.hu)

Mary Emma's Learning Activities Blog

Although this isn't really about one-room schools, although it could interest current teachers and does relate to education, I've begun a blog, Mary Emma's Learning Activities, where I can share lesson plans and activities.

I've long wanted to do this...develop activities from the lessons I teach when I'm subbing, working with home schoolers, and conducting at young author workshops. After providing lessons to home schooling moms during a workshop, I decided it was time to get this going.

Since I've just begun my blog, there isn't much there yet. But keep checking. Also, let me know what might interest you.

Sharing One-Room School Memories

I'm pleased to have others share their one-room school memories. We all have the basic experience of receiving an education in a small school. However, there will be some differences.

How do they differ in various parts of the country, and even in different countries. A friend wrote me about attending one of these places of education in Newfoundland. Another is researching one-room schools in Oregon.

What were your experiences like? How long did you attend? What is the history of your school? What is it used for now? Or perhaps it has disappeared from the landscape.

(Image from sxc.hu)

Dick and Jane Readers

Does anyone remember the Dick and Jane readers? Although I'd learned to read before I started school (Mother had been a one-room school teacher before motherhood), I remember how I enjoyed reading about Dick, Jane, Sally, Spot and Puff.

Nowadays, children usually don't have standard readers. They use a variety of little books at grade level. They might read in groups or individually when they start out. Do they miss the fun we (or at least I) had with our progression of Dick and Jane readers?

I was delighted a few years ago, when I found a compilation and history of these books. Also, I've collected some of these readers, along with others from one-room schooldays.

Contacting Former Schoolmates

I'm contacting my former schoolmates, who attended the one-room school at Poughquag, oh, so many years ago. I'd love to have them add their memories to the comments. We probably all recall something different about our years there.

Some only attended for a year or two, while others spent their first four years at the white school house within sight of Poughquag village.

Do you have one-room school memories of a different school you attended? I'd enjoy hearing from you, too.

Mother's One-Room School Memories

My mom attended a one-room school house in Milan, NY, in the early 1900s with her two brothers and sister. She went on to high school, the only one in her family, in a nearby town and stayed during the week with a friend of her parents, exchanging room and board for housework.

I only have her verbal stories about her one-room school education, with perhaps a reference or two in a letter. I must recall these and write them down before they're lost from our family heritage.

After high school, Mother attended a one-year Teachers' Training course at Pine Plains, NY. Her first teaching position was in a one-room school about 45 miles from her home in 1929, at Gardner Hollow, NY. Upon my urging, Mother wrote her memories about coming to this school, boarding with a local family, and meeting the young man she later married, my dad,

Before marriage, Mother went on to get her teaching degree at New Paltz Normal School (now SUNY New Paltz) and taught for three years before we children were born. In those days, some school districts wouldn't hire married teachers and definitely wouldn't let pregnant ones teach. After New Paltz, Mother taught at Towners, NY.

I must compile memories, photos, certificates, teaching contracts, and Mother's writings to depict her one-room school life and memories as a student and teacher.

Keeping in Contact with One-Room School Classmates

Even though the years have passed, many years, since I attended the one-room school in Poughquag, NY, I'm still in contact with three of my classmates, as well as my sister. We have memories of those few years we acquired learning under Mrs. Reynolds and Mrs. Burr.

We live in different parts of the country and see one another seldom. But we keep in contact by letter, e-mail and Facebook. I've discovered photos of us taken during those years and must make copies to send to the other gals.

We need to share more of our memories and make them available for our children and grandchildren, who will never attend one of these small schools.

How are you preserving your one-room school heritage?

(Image from: sxc.hu)

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)

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!