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.

The Fascination of Old School Books

I'm sorting through old school books that I've accumulated. They're reminders of my mom's teaching days in one-room schools and of my attending this type of school for grades 1-4.


I enjoyed reading Mother's books when I was a child and found some of these when I cleared her house upon her move to our home in another state.

My daughter and I both have collected old reading, math and grammar books but now find we have more than we may want to save. So we'll sort them out for sale.

Some may be first editions. Others are simply of the era when they were used.

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)

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.