Furniture

=Furniture: 1776-1860= In early American schools, children sat on three-legged stools or long benches behind narrow tables. These were hand-made of pine or oak by the parents of the schoolchildren. By the 1880s, children sat at individual desks that were bolted to the floor. Boys were on one side of the room and girls on the other. Younger children sat at the front of the room, closest to the teacher. Students rarely faced each other and focused their attention entirely on the teacher, who was the sole source of instruction and discipline in the classroom. Additional furnishings in the room might have included the U.S. flag, a bookcase, maps or a globe, pictures of a president or two, and whatever decorations the teacher could add. Hooks or nails were provided on the wall at the back of the room so students could hang their coats up. There was also a bench for removing overshoes and under which students could place their lunches. Usually there was a crock or bucket for water with one dipper, which was used by everyone.