Remembering......

Local One-room schools

 

Longwood Twp., Clark Co., Wisconsin

 

From Kris Leonhardt's Owen-Withee Enterprise series,

"School Days:  Remembering local one room schools"

 

 

"Reading and 'riting, and 'rithmetic, taught to the tune of the hickory stick."

 

Hickory sticks may not have been used in all one-room schools, but student lessons in these schools did emphasize the "3 R's".

 

Reading often became the main emphasis in local rural schools. Prior to the introduction of "spellers", schools often relied on the Holy Bible to help students learn proper English.

In 1760, the New England Primer was introduced, followed by the American Spelling Book ("Webster's Blue Back Speller") in 1783. Webster's Blue Back Speller became popular among schools and continued to be published as late as 1958. The Speller included: a phonics sections, lessons to practice pronunciation and spelling, poetry, and fables. Lessons often included moral twists within the stories.

 

Next came the McGuffey Reader series, in 1836. The McGuffey series readers were filled with inspirational material, rules for living, poetry, and short stories. When the state set school standards in the 1870's, eighth grade students expecting to graduate were required to complete the fourth or fifth readers or an equivalent book.

 

Later readers included: The Harpers Series, Elson-Gray Basic Readers, and The Dick and Jane Series.

 

Students were also expected to master handwriting and spelling during their eight years in "grade school". Teachers used the "Spencerian Approach", and later the "Palmer Approach", to teach students to write in cursive with connected flowing letters. Cursive letters were also displayed above the blackboard for reference.

 

Students were given a list of spelling words at the beginning of the week, with a test on the words held Fridays. With all eight grades in one classroom, students were often able to "learn ahead" on spelling words.

 

School spelling bees gave a new excitement to learning. Spelling bees soon became a social event in many communities.

 

To graduate from the eighth grade, students from the Longwood area and around the county were required to pass a one day exam, held in Neillsville.

 

In addition to the " 3 R's", the county-wide exam also covered geography, history, civics, and science.

 

In the early 1900's, the Longwood township boasted four rural schools and just one community, Longwood, within its boundaries.

 

County records show records of the following teachers in Longwood area schools: Longwood State Graded, Effie Andrews and Vilet Farwell; Moody School, Saima Peterson; Poppe School, Martha Stark; and Spring Valley, Mary Siggelkow.

 

In 1890, one acre of land was purchased in section 18 of the Longwood township, on what is now County Road O. A log school was built with $150 that was raised within the community. Students at Poppe School attended school during a six-month school year (four months in the fall and two months in the spring).

 

In 1922, a brick building was constructed to replace the log structure. The brick facility was used until 1957, when the Poppe School was merged into the Longwood Graded School. The building has since been torn down, but a grove of pines mark the location where the school once stood.

 

Further east, in section 10 of Longwood township, a brick building still stands where students once attended class. The words "District 6 Public School" stretch across the aged brick building in big block letters to signify the existence of the Spring Valley school. The building stands on what is now River Avenue and is privately owned.

 

Just one mile east, in section 11 of the township, another country school once stood. The Moody School stood at the location just two and one half miles north of Longwood on Highway 73. The building has since been torn down and replaced by a private residence; however, a grove of trees still marks the location where children once played.

 

Heading south on Highway 73, to the community of Longwood, you will find the site of the Longwood State Graded School. The building once stood on the corner of Highway 73, County Road N, and Colby Factory Road. The school was once located across from the church, on what is now Colby Factory Road. The church still stands, but the school has since been torn down.

 

Story and photos by Kris Leonhardt

O-W Enterprise 2007

 

 

 

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