School's in Session
Written by Esther McCrumb
With the help of a Littler Youth Fund grant from the Greeley-Weld Foundation, a teacher's
desk and chair, wash stand, seven more sets of McGuffey's Eclectic Readers, slates, a
water crock with lid and spigot, a blue enamel cup for each child, and a few other
necessities were purchased.
The Fort Lupton Schools joined in the effort by paying a teacher for a week and recruiting
pupils, and school was in session mornings during the week of July 24-28, 2000.
The teacher started the day by ringing a desk bell that was donated by a former teacher
from Wisconsin, calling pupils inside, where they did the Pledge of Allegiance. Then
outside for a few minutes of calisthenics using wooden dowels.
Class time was spent learning about life in 1875, by listening to stories read by the
teacher, interactive discussion on how things were different from what the first- through
sixth-grade pupils know, and studying the appropriate level of McGuffey's Readers. Several
aides from seventh and eighth grades assisted with lessons, helped pupils pick a poem from
the readers to memorize for reciting when parents visited on Friday, and helped with the
recess ritual of squeezing lemons and making lemonade.
Friday parents visited to share lunches from the "box social" boxes each child
had made, and to help turn the crank as ice cream was made to wind up the week.
Curriculum for future classes was written by the teacher, and two teachers from the
elementary school are writing curriculum for teachers so that each third- and fourth-grade
class can attend 1875 Independence School.
The grant was for a pilot project for one year, and from the enthusiasm of all who
participated in the one-week summer session, it appears that means should be found to
continue.
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Pupils were instructed that proper posture was sitting straight, with hands folded on
desk.
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The Pledge of Allegiance was in a somewhat different form in 1875.
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Teacher read about 19th century schools.
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A poem was selected from the appropriate level McGuffey's Reader and copied.
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Aides learned alongside the pupils.
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Poems were memorized for recitation at the end of the week. One girl said, "I
can't believe I memorized all that! Can I copy another one?"
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South Platte Valley
Historical Society
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