Ourclassisstudyinghowthingshavechangedovertime.FormytaskIspokewithmygreat-grandmothertofindoutwhatherschoolwaslikewhenshewasmyage.Hereiswhatshetoldme.
MyschoolwascalledAlgoeSchool.Itwasaprettyone-storybuildinglocatedatthebottomoftwohillsbetweensomeoaktrees.Theschoolwasbuiltin1875andwaswhatisknowntodayasaone-roomschool.Therewasonlyoneteacherbutthestudentsmightbefromdifferentgrades.AlgoeSchoolsometimeshadasmanyas18studentsbutoncetherewereonlytwo.
Everymorningtheteacherwouldringthelargeschoolbellthatdecoratedtheroof.Aflagpole(旗杆)stoodtotheleftofthedoor.Weheldaceremonyeverymorningandafternoontoraiseandlowertheflag.
Theschoolwasheatedbyawood-burningstove.Onverycoldmorningswegatheredaroundthestoveandtheteacherreadusstorieswhilewewaitedfortheroomtoheatup.
Weallhadjobstododuringtheschoolday.Someofuscleanedtheblackboard.Somecleanedtheerasers.Everydaytwostudentshadthetaskofwalkingtoanearbyfarmtobringbackourdrinkingwater.