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In the 1840s, American schools offered students a much different experience than they do these days. Back then, children had far fewer opportunities to receive a quality education, as their teachers were usually much less educated, and didn’t always have easy access to books and resources. In fact, there weren’t even laws requiring children to attend school at all! Let’s take a look inside some of these old, American schoolhouses.
Most schools were one room school houses in the 1840s, and children of every age were all taught in the same room. The structure was typically made of wood, built more like a barn than a house. This meant many were very hot in the summer and very cold during the winter. Since all the students were in the same room, the teacher would teach each of the age groups separately. Often, the older children would aid the teacher by helping the younger children with their schoolwork. School teachers weren’t always very well-educated, themselves. Many didn’t have much training beyond reading, writing, and basic mathematics. Teaching as a profession also paid very poorly, and it was often something the teacher would do as a service to others or as a temporary profession. There were very few books available for children to use. Children were responsible for the books they took home with them, and if they somehow damaged the books, their parents or guardians had to pay to replace them. Instead of taking that chance, children from poorer homes would only read books when they were at school. There was also little, if any, homework assigned, as children did not have the resources to do any serious work from home. At this point in American history, there were no laws making it mandatory for children to attend school. Because of this, some families would choose not to send their children to school, especially if they needed to pay tuition. This was especially a problem in cities. Lots of children would not go to school, and would often get themselves into trouble with all their free time. This was one reason the public finally became aware of the need for mandatory public schooling, provided free to all children. Schooling was a winter affair for many places, as the children often helped their families in the fields during the spring and fall, and it was often too hot to attend school in the summer anyways. In some places, the convention of aligning school schedules with growing and harvesting cycles continued until the late 1950s. Some students would go to school in the summer but have six weeks off in the spring and fall for planting and harvesting. During this time period, school was held for three to six months, for 5-6 hours a day on weekdays. Not all schools had 12 grades, with some of the more rural schools only having education for grades 1 through 6. Most larger schools, however, provided education through 12th grade, and there were diplomas given to those who graduated, just like most schools today. There was no formal public school system in most of America in the 1840s. Typically, schools were funded in one of two ways: through taxes or through donations. Sometimes they were sustained by donations from people of the community. Other times, schools were also funded by taxes on local goods and services. The education system began to change after the 1840s. Many reformers studied the school systems of Europe and wanted to adopt different methods of education. This included free, mandatory schooling for children, and providing a library for the children to borrow books to read on their own. Schooling has changed gradually over the years and has since become a nine-month a year, five-day a week, seven-hours a day affair. School is mandatory, and books are free. Students almost always attend school through twelfth grade, instead of only the sixth. And school teachers are now often highly-educated experts in their subject. They take years of instructional courses to understand how to best instruct the children in their charge. The next time you have a bad day at school, just be thankful you didn’t have to go to school in the 1840s. At least you have a sturdy, air-conditioned building to go to school in and lots of books to read. That is so much more than Tom Sawyer had-- maybe that’s why he was always scheming to get out of the schoolhouse! |
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GLOSSARY
Convention an accepted way things are done, especially in a specific area or community.
One Room School Houses barn-like schools prevalent in the rural United States in the 19th century.
Reformers someone who looks to improve something, often in society, to improve it in their view.
Rural an area that’s mostly countryside; not urban.
Tuition term for the charge of enrollment at a school or college.
One Room School Houses barn-like schools prevalent in the rural United States in the 19th century.
Reformers someone who looks to improve something, often in society, to improve it in their view.
Rural an area that’s mostly countryside; not urban.
Tuition term for the charge of enrollment at a school or college.
