Our school day program allows children to experience a typical day in 1910. We encourage participants to dress in period clothing and bring a pail lunch to add to the experience. Our teachers administer the day as it would have been done: health inspection, mental arithmetic, choral reading, all work being done on the wooden slates. In the afternoon the teacher discovers a snake in her desk drawer and the children wonder who will get the “strap”!!
WHAT OTHERS HAVE SAID ABOUT OUR PROGRAM:
Guelph homeschooling family: We had an absolutely wonderful time today! The teachers were amazing and the kids got a really authentic look at what the schoolhouse would have been like. They all found it so interesting and loved playing along with “getting in trouble” and mischief (e.g. the snake!) All the parents said thanks so much for planning this and having us! We would definitely recommend this trip to other homeschool groups to attend.
K/W homeschooling family: Thank you so much for the wonderful opportunity for our children to step back in time! First of all I was happy to be able to be at the back of the classroom so I could see what the kids were learning. I think the length of the program was perfect. Even though the kids were getting a bit antsy in the afternoon, they were able to see that school days were long, even almost 200 years ago. I think movement exercises are best in the afternoon. I loved that the teacher stayed in character so well. My son was so convinced that the next day he asked “Are we really going to the fall fair?” I loved the penmanship exercises (printing and writing with the ink and straight pen) with the 7’s and 8’s. I loved the bell exercise, teaching the kids to sit up, turn knees, stand in your row. I loved the discipline examples and the fake snake (that children played jokes). I liked the lesson about the Union Jack. It was also great to see how the teacher differentiated for the different ages in a single room (something I’ve wondered about) and to see how the children used to be segregated.
K/W homeschooling family: Thank you so much for organizing and hosting this wonderful event! I’m not exaggerating when I say that it was one of our most memorable and favourite homeschooling field trips so far (in our 8 years of homeschooling). The children loved it so much that they asked if we could go again so that they could have more time to explore and maybe look at the books and articles inside. They had nothing but praise for the teacher, who was simply amazing. We hope and pray that this schoolhouse will remain in the community and continue as a museum. It was such a beautiful reminder that the Greatest Generation achieved great things because they had God in their school and home and hard work and discipline.
Tavistock homeschooling family: For my kids, the program was definitely not too long. I asked my son about it and he said he was really happy that it continued longer after lunch. Some of the kids definitely seemed antsy by the end, but they persevered to the end and were happy for it, I think. I asked them if there was anything in the program they didn’t like, and they both said no, though my son did mention the punishments intimidated him a bit. He said that with a smile, as he explained how he made sure to never take his eyes off the teacher and to sit up real straight, once he realized she was handing out punishments. Myself, I thought seeing and hearing about the various punishments was fascinating, and I really enjoyed all the history lessons sprinkled throughout as well. My son mentioned earlier today how interesting the story of King Edward was, how he abdicated the throne for love. And learning about the Union Jack, connected with the Patron Saints of each country: such great lessons! And because they were sort of in context and delivered so well, I think these kids will never forget these lessons.