Well, Gay and I are back from our holiday on Manitoulin Island.
We had an amazing time - despite the rather cool weather and a couple of very very windy days!!
On our way back, we stopped in South Baymouth to visit the Little Schoolhouse & Museum.
They have lots of interesting old machines, methods for fishing, boating, farming, etc. in the larger building.
The little schoolhouse brought back memories of attending a one room school. I went to a one room school for the first couple of years of my schooling, and there were lots of similarities. The one I went to also had grades 1 to 8 and a big stove in the middle of the room. (The stove has been removed from the museum example.) We had a pump outside for water and a little shed for wood and wood chips for the stove to keep warm in winter.
Inside the museum schoolhouse there are examples of the children's work, old student desks, and lists of rules for school teachers.
For example, at one time - male teachers were not to be shaved in a barber shop and female teachers at one time had to ask permission to leave the town!!
Of course the rules for students have changed considerably over the years as well.
The school opened in 1898 with 11 students. It closed in 1962.
If you are ever on the island - it is a very interesting and educational visit.
