The Little White Schoolhouse by Hartford Ellis F.;

Author:Hartford, Ellis F.; [Hartford, Ellis Ford]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: University Press of Kentucky
Published: 2021-08-15T00:00:00+00:00

Method and discipline would sometimes mix,

And generally to the tune of hickory sticks;

Teachers could not be said to be really mean,

They simply loved to run a “thrashing machine.”1

6

PLAYTIME, GAMETIME

THE PLAY EXPERIENCES of pupils represented the most pleasurable aspect of their common school careers for most old-time scholars. No matter how dreary the environment, how tiresome the long hours of books, how strict the teacher, how few the books and other instructional materials, or how rough the daily walk to school, the time spent outside at play was nearly always recalled with pleasure and enthusiasm. Games that have disappeared over the years come to life in descriptions of how to play town round, or ante-over, or shinny, or ring men, or any one of a dozen others.1 Tales of prowess in sports, of victories over rivals, and of long-absent teammates bring back vivid scenes from the past.

The pupils of the old-time common school played happily and vigorously without the space and equipment considered necessary for playgrounds and play activities of modern schools. No matter how tired and dispirited pupils may have felt during books, the welcome sound of the bell that signaled recess brought instant rejuvenation as boys and girls alike rushed outside for fun and recreation. This was one phase of their school life that was generally under their control.

Games recalled from the schools of a century ago clearly show how the pupils used whatever they could find for their amusement in the school environment. Boys from schools along the rivers and creeks frequently skated when the streams froze over. A few former pupils remembered times when even the Ohio froze over solid and they had great fun skating. Smaller children often played along the creek or river banks and built sand structures. This led to parental concern about safety near deep spots and the danger of water moccasins, or cotton-mouths, as they were called in some parts of the state.

High banks along the sides of the road were used for many activities—digging, sliding, and mock battles. Sometimes the banks were burrowed or tunneled into by young engineers. Many schoolhouses stood next to woods, which offered a variety of recreational facilities. A young hickory sapling could be climbed and the top bent over by a venturesome lad until other pupils could reach it and turn it into an acceptable “ridey horse.” Sometimes a board could be balanced across a stump or fallen tree trunk to make a usable seesaw for younger children. Branches, dead sticks, and leaves could be fashioned into rude but satisfactory playhouses for the smaller girls. Leaves from hickory saplings could be pinned together by their own stems to make hats or clothes for stick dolls.

The luxuriant growth of wild grapevines in the forests provided much pleasure to pupils of early schools. Jump ropes would most likely be made from these grapevines. More exciting was to fashion a swing from a strong vine by cutting it loose near the ground and hanging onto it to swing like a pendulum.

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