HW Mr. Padilla 6.15.17

Homework: Dear parents/ guardians, please assist your child with today’s homework.  

Option 3: Collections: OBSERVATIONS ON SCHOOLING IN EARLY AMERICA, 1785

READING FOCUS: What was public education like in the years following the American Revolution?

Most of the stories of students in the first public schools are negative. For example, Nathan Hedges, who attended school near Morristown, New Jersey, said the following of his school years:

"The first [school] I attended was taught by a cruel old man, by the name of Blair. The [school] house was new, about sixteen feet square; had a writing table on one side, fast to the wall, for the larger pupils; all others were seated on benches made of slabs. The only books used in spelling and reading were Dilworth's Spelling book and the Testament [the Bible]. I have no recollection [memory] of an arithmetic [book] in the school. Geography and grammar were not even thought of. I well remember that when I could not multiply by even one figure, he [Mr. Blair] would give me a sum in multiplication, with four figures for a multiplier, and from day to day would pound my bare feet with his hickory club for not doing the sum correctly. He furnished no help, no instruction, no kind of encouragement to a beginner, but relied on the severity [harshness] of his punishment."

 Task: Read the following statements, agree Yes or No, then explain why, and give evidence from the text.

1.      Statement: American schools were better in 1785 than now.  

A.      Your reason for Yes or No:

B.      Evidence from the text:

2.      Statement: Students today would learn more with the teachers from the past.   

A.         Your reason for Yes or No:

B.      Evidence from the text:

Option 2: Collections: OBSERVATIONS ON SCHOOLING IN EARLY AMERICA, 1785

Most of the stories of students in the first public schools are negative. For example, Nathan Hedges, who attended school near Morristown, New Jersey, said the following of his school years:

"The first [school] I attended was taught by a cruel old man… The [school] house was new… had a writing table on one side, fast to the wall, for the larger pupils; all others were seated on benches… The only books used in spelling and reading were Dilworth's Spelling book and the …[the Bible]. I have no recollection [memory] of an arithmetic [math book] in the school. Geography and grammar were not even thought of. I well remember that when I could not multiply…the teacher [Mr. Blair] would give me a sum in multiplication…and from day to day would pound my bare feet with his hickory club for not doing the sum correctly. He furnished (offered) no help, no instruction, no kind of encouragement to a beginner, but relied on the severity [harshness] of his punishment."

1.        How were most of the stories of students in the first public schools?

2.        Who is Nathan Hedges and where was he from?

3.        How was his first teacher?

4.        What kind of books were used in class? What were they missing?

5.        What happened to Nathan when he couldn’t do math?

Option 1. Collections: OBSERVATIONS ON SCHOOLING IN EARLY AMERICA, 1785

Most of the stories of students in the first public schools are negative. For example, Nathan Hedges, who attended school near Morristown, New Jersey, said the following of his school years:

1.    How were most of the stories of students in the first public schools?

2.    Who is Nathan Hedges and where was he from?

"The first [school] I attended was taught by a cruel old man… The [school] house was new …

3.    How was his first teacher?

 The only books used in spelling and reading were Dilworth's Spelling book and the …[the Bible]. I have no recollection [memory] of an arithmetic [math book] in the school.

4.    What kind of books were used in class? What were they missing?

… I well remember that when I could not multiply…the teacher [Mr. Blair] would… pound my bare feet with his … club for not doing the sum correctly.

5.    What happened to Nathan when he couldn’t do math?

Option 1A. Collections: OBSERVATIONS ON SCHOOLING IN EARLY AMERICA, 1785

Most of the stories of students in the first public schools are negative. For example, Nathan Hedges, who attended school near Morristown, New Jersey, said the following of his school years:

1.      How were most of the stories of students in the first public schools?

2.      Who is Nathan Hedges and where was he from?

"The first [school] I attended was taught by a cruel old man… The [school] house was new …

3.      How was his first teacher?

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