The+Colonia+Period+Classroom

The Colonial Period Classroom



The colonial period classroom had only one room and one teacher. Children of all ages learned together in this one room. There would have been a fireplace for warmth in the winter. The furniture consisted of desks with benches, a seat for the schoolmaster, and a desk for the dictionary. Girls sat on one side of the room, and the boys sat on the other.

School supplies were provided by the parents. These included quill pens, ink, paper, and books. Students may have also used a type of chalk made from ashes. In winter, parents were also expected to provide firewood for the fire.

Discipline in the colonial classroom was extremely strict. Students were expected to be completely obedient at all times. Punishments for misbehavior ranged from wearing a dunce cap to being tapped on the hand or the head with a ruler. Furthermore, if the schoolmaster deemed it necessary, students could be whipped. Those students who performed well might have been awarded by being allowed to sit closer to the fire. 