School Daze

Lunch time! Nine-year-old Jacob was lined up with the rest of his third grade class, ready to walk down to the cafeteria. It was only the second week of school, and while Jacob would never admit it even to his closest friends, he was glad to be back.

"Jacob," his teacher called, "would you mind staying behind for a minute? I have a favor to ask."

"Sure, Mrs. P., I'd be glad to." Jacob felt flattered that Mrs. Perales had chosen him. His teacher was one of the main reasons he loved school. She was, by far, the coolest teacher he'd ever had.

"Jacob," Mrs. Perales began, "I've just learned that our class will be getting a new student and I'd like you to help show him the ropes. I'm concerned that this student may have a little trouble adjusting and having a friend like you would be a big help."

Jacob thought he understood. Last year Mai Yue had come to their class from
China. It had been hard at first because she didn't speak much English, but she'd learned quickly and was now one of the best students in the class.

"Did he just move here from another country?" Jacob asked.

"No," Mrs. P. answered, he's from Tucson, it's just that he's from another ti..."

Just then, the door opened and in walked the strangest looking boy that Jacob had ever seen. He was dressed in a long tunic that came to his knees.Under that he wore a pair of trousers. And he was barefoot!

Jacob cast a sidelong glance at Mrs. P., but she seemed unfazed. "Welcome, Nathaniel," his teacher greeted the new kid. We're so pleased that you'll be joining us.

When Nathaniel answered, Jacob was surprised to hear he spoke English. Still, the words sounded a little funny. And when he spoke to Mrs. P., her called her "Ma'am."

"Jacob," Mrs. P said. "I was hoping to have a little more time to explain this. It's a rather unusual situation. But you'd better go on to lunch now while I take care of some paperwork with Nathaniel. Take this and read it over during lunch. I think it will give you some ideas about how you can help Nathaniel to fit in here."

Jacob hurried to the cafeteria and got his tray. After he sat down, he opened the paper that Mrs. Perales had given him and his mouth fell open. Nathaniel wasn't from another place, he was from another century! Here is a copy of the paper Mrs. P. gave to Jacob:

Tucson Schools in the 1800s

Tucson's First Public Schools
One of Tucson's first public schools, Congress Street School opened in April 1871 with 138 boys.Within the next ten years, the school began enrolling girls as well, and had three divisions: a primary department (four grades), a grammar school (four grades), and a three-year high school department. Soon all children between the ages of 8 and 14 were required to attend school unless their parents couldn't provide suitable clothing, they lived more than 2.5 miles from the school, or the child had a mental or physical disability.

The Schoolhouse
School was often held in buildings originally designed for other purposes, such as saloons or jail houses. Early schools had dirt floors and no windows. A sprinkling bucket was used to keep the dust down. Students did not have desks, and instead sat on rows of wooden benches. They wrote on slates, rather than with paper and pencil. Sometimes talcum powder was used instead of chalk, which was rare and rather expensive.

Indian Schools
Under federal government programs, many Native American children were sent to boarding schools where they were forced to learn English and to do things the white way. At these schools, they were made to change from their traditional clothing, and their hair was cut and styled like whites.

Teachers
Teachers were often very young themselves, and without any formal training. School boards usually hired the teacher who would work for the lowest wage, rather then the person with the most experience. Teachers were usually unmarried women who sometimes boarded with the families of their students. The teachers were expected to serve as role models and were held to strict moral standards.

Subjects
Schools focused on the "three Rs,"reading, writing, and arithmetic. Spelling Bees were common. The youngest students used primers, or small books that combined reading, grammar and spelling. There wasn't much room for creativity in the early schools; students learned their lessons by memorizing them, copying them, and reciting them.

Clothing
Schoolgirls usually wore long, full dresses with petticoats. These dresses restricted their movement, which helped to ensure ladylike behavior. Dresses were commonly made of wool because it absorbed perspiration and didn't have to be cleaned frequently. Cotton was also used for more informal wear because it was lightweight and more comfortable in the Arizona heat. Schoolboys' everyday clothing consisted of trousers, a vest, and a button-up jacket. Some boys wore a "tunic suit," which had a jacket that reached the knee like a skirt, and matching trousers. Boys also wore broad-brimmed hats.

Discipline
Corporal or physical punishment was common in Arizona Schools in the 1800s. Often teachers would spank the students with wooden paddles or hit them with switches made from tree branches. Unruly children were sometimes made to stand in a corner wearing a "dunce cap" or to sit in the closet.

How can Jacob help Nathaniel to make the transition to his new school? Use the Venn diagram to compare and contrast school life in the 1800s with the way it is today. To learn more about what school life was like for children like Nathaniel, visit the Privilege or Punishment: Schools in the 1800s exhibit at the Arizona Historical Society.

School Life
In the circle on the left, write some facts about school life today. In the circle on the right, write some things that you have learned about school life in the 1800s. In the center section, write things that they have in common.

Tune-up Your Mind
Look for these books and related materials:

Going to School in Pioneer Times
by Kerry A. Graves
Frontier Schools and Schoolteachers
by Ryan P. Randolph
Early Schools
by Bobbie Kalman
Going to School
by Philip Steele
Dust in Our Desks: Territory Days to the Present in Arizona Schools
published by Arizona State Museum
Indian School: Teaching the White Man's Way
by Michael L. Cooper
The Education of Little Tree
by Forrest Carter
Adventures in Arizona: An Illustrated History
by Kate Rutland Thorne and Linda Lawrence, Ed.D.

Details

Arizona Historical Society
949 E. 2nd. St.
Tucson, AZ 85719

Information: (520) 628-5774    www.arizonahistoricalsociety.org

Admission:
$5.00 Adults (19-59)
$4.00 Seniors (60& over) and Students (12-18)
Children under 12 are free

Hours:
10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday – Saturday
Closed on Sundays
The first Saturday of each month is free

Fuel for Thought

Did you know…

The Privilege or Punishment: Schools in the 1800s exhibit was created by kids like you as a part of the Arizona Historical Society's Museum Youth Curator Experience. The program runs for three weeks in July, and participants have an opportunity to select and research their topic, choose items from the collection to display, and design the layout of the exhibit. If you are interested in participating in this program, contact the Arizona Historical Society at (520) 628-5774 or visit their website at
www.arizonahistoricalsociety.org.

CLICK HERE FOR RELATED ACTIVITIES