Schedule



The day normally started with a reading lesson. During this lesson, students in each grade would have a turn to come up to the recitation bench and recite a passage for the teacher. The other grades would be busy working at their desks preparing for their turn at the recitation bench and/or doing other assignments. Following the reading lesson there would be a writing or spelling lesson, depending on the day. During the writing lesson, the children learned good penmanship, which was considered a very important skill. After this, there was a short break. During the break, the children had a chance to use the privy, or outhouse, and get something to drink or just move around. After the break the children would begin their arithmetic lesson. The children would do their work on slates. The teacher would check the younger children’s work and the older children would recite drills. Once the arithmetic lesson was over, it would be time for lunch. If the weather was nice, the children could eat and play outdoors. If not, they would have to eat and play indoors.

After lunch and recess, the children would return to work. The afternoon lessons generally consisted of history, geography, civics, language and maybe some nature study if it was a nice day. The teacher would decide which lessons would be appropriate. The day would end around 4 p.m. The students would file out of the school and walk the mile or two home. The teacher, and possibly a few older children or someone who had gotten into trouble during the day, would stay behind and clean the building to prepare for the next day.