Downing's Teaching in the Little Red
Schoolhouse
Teaching in the
Little Red Schoolhouse
by
Lucia B Downing
Lucia Downing (1868-1945) educated at Univ Vermont 1889 began
teaching in 1882 at 14. She was free to enforce discipline and
design curriculum.
Vermont had no law restricting age of teacher, after her it
was 16. The school super was the town doctor. He combined
medical visits to areas to school visits, thereby saving wear and
tear on car. So if someone was sick the doctor would visit the
school. Her sister was a teacher. Like Emma she copied sister.
She took a test with the Dr and because she knew Greenleaf's
Arithmetic felt confident. Then she did the grammar section
which she enjoyed because of her familiarity with Reed and
Kellogg. Next was Geography, history and physiology. But it was
Theory and School management she did herself proud. She spoke of
ventilation and temperature (environment for learning); good
govt; firm but kind & gentle with dignity. When she compared her
paper with her sisters, she felt she did not know as much as her
sister. She got a certificate along with her sister.
At four kids have to go to school. No provision so a school
was created in an abandoned school. Her father thought an
inquiry was for her sister. He laughed when he realized it was
for her. With only 4 scholars what harm could come of it, so he
said okay. She would "board out." She was 14. She tried to
acquire the schoolteacher look at 14. She learned
diplomacy when her first boarding situation fell through
and the second appeared. She was addressed as "Teacher" which
gave her self-respect and conceit. She spent 6 hours a
day in the schoolhouse with four boys and after a fashion a girl
join. Short on discipline. The recitation at the end had 25 in
the audience and 4 on stage.
An entertaining account of a first year of teaching. The second
year she had 15 scholars.