When people came west, one of the first things they did was to build a school. Early Idaho schools were often very small, primitive buildings made out of logs with a dirt floor. Furniture was made by volunteers who built it by hand. Many schools had only rough benches to sit on, often made from a big log sawed in half lengthwise. There was plenty of fresh air in some schools, because the doors and windows were just openings. Even "good" log schoolhouses had plenty of cracks for the wind to blow through. After the pioneers began to make some money, they built better school houses, such as the one at the top of the page.
Think about the following questions.
| What is so
important about schools that make people feel that they must have them? What do schools do? How do you think the Bown children got to school? |
The school room you can see at the Bown House looks much like schools that were built around 1890-1900. By then, people had enough money to support better schools. The picture below is the Bown House school room.
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In the Bown House, you will learn more about early Idaho schools. You will be able to see the books and desks actually used by students of those days. Some people think of these as "country schools," because many were far from town. |
Look carefully at the picture, then think about the following questions.
| How is your
classroom different from the one shown in the picture? How many things can you find that no longer exist in Idaho classrooms? What do you have in your classroom that the Bown children may not have had in their classroom? |
Ask your family members if they remember any family stories about attending country schools. Then write the story and tell it to your class.
If your family doesn't have a family story to share, ask a friend or neighbor. In this way, we will be able to preserve a part of our heritage for others to read about and learn.
Find a partner, gather your resources, and try your hand at solving our Early Idaho Schools crossword puzzle. Click here.
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The Idaho
Compass
Copyright ©
2002
by
Katherine A. Young and Virgil M. Young
Producers, Designers, Writers, and Websters
in cooperation with Boise State University