A Pioneer School Day in Nineteen Aught One

Our study of the Revolutionary War is almost over and we're  ready for an expansion, as in Westward Expansion!

Skip west a few 1000 miles and  forward about 100 years 

to Gig Harbor in 1901.

Miss Bennett, the schoolmarm at the Midway School 

on Donkey Creek is about to ring the bell!

We're dressed,all ready to go. 

 

We've got our drum sticks and boiled eggs wrapped in waxed paper and packed up in our baskets and kitchen towels. 

 

Miss Bennett, our schoolmarm, rings the bell and inspects our cleanliness.

We are given our chores, say the Pledge of Allegiance, sing My Country 'Tis of Thee  

and be sure to stand on the right side of our desks and say yes ma'am.

We sit up straight and fold our hands on our desks. 

We've heard that Miss Bennett doesn't smile until December!

We practice our reading...

Our writing...

and our 'rithmetic.

We even get in trouble! (Just pretend.)

Holding a book

Keeping our nose in a chalk drawn circle

Standing in the corner

We "toe the line" on the platform

We take a couple breaks and do some exercises and sing some songs. 

She'll be coming around the mountain

We recite our memory work. 

And we take a very serious class picture.

A big thank you to the generous donors and volunteers of Gig Harbor who rescued Midway School and moved it to its present day location with the dream of someday hearing the voices of school children again within its walls. We had a great day experiencing what it was like to go to school in "nineteen aught one." Miss Bennett was perfect and yes, she does smile!

Up Close and Personal: A Son of the American Revolution

Lt. Col. Robert O' Neal, USA-Ret. 

of the Washington Society of the Sons of the American Revolution came to Seabury School 

and presented to us:

"Daily Life in Colonial America"

and

"The History of Old Glory."

It was a privilege and an honor to have such a passionate veteran come and make history come alive!

We loved his farmer's clothes/Patriot's army uniform

Map of a typical village

Sparks were flying as he struck the flint. 

Many things were made from the horn of a cow (plastic had not yet been discovered.)

A toothbrush was made from cow horn and horse hair. 

Have you heard of the Boston Tea Party? Of course we had, but we learned that the tea was shipped in "stamped cakes." Tea was made by scraping off the amount you needed.

The history of Old Glory. Just stripes?


There came a point when it was decided to not add a stripe for each new state.
We also learned about the 5-pointed star of Betsy Ross.

Mr. Bob had our rapt attention!

A tri-corn hat was made of a farmer's hat with the edges turned up. 

Thank you, Lt. Col. O'Neal for all you've done for our country and for sharing your passion with us!