Such a good experience for myself and school age children to get a feel of what being a student back in the 1880's was like!
Recently, I chaperoned a 3rd grade field trip to the Rhoad's School House and enjoyed most of the experience. I believe theres an organization who volunteers to do this experiment. Upon our arrival, we were given popular names from back in the 1880s. My name was Mistress Smith. The teacher gave an introduction and laid out the rules for the kids before starting. She did a great job acting out what it would be like back in the day; being stern with the kids especially.
I don't want to explain too much of what actually happened because I want you to experience it for yourselves. Basically, it's in an actual school house that was restored by students with a lot of the original wood and studs. Throughout the classroom you'll find antiques and trinkets that may or may not have been found with the original school house, a fire place that we actually used for heat, some historical pics of the restoration, and so much more. The kids did activities like jacks, stilts and pen writing with a pen and feather.
A huge con for me was I spent more time taking the kids to use the bathrooms across from the school house. There's not path either and the grass was wet so my shoes got dirty and I had to make sure my costume rental wouldn't get messed up.
Overall, I enjoyed the experience but the kids not so much. I just don't think 3rd graders can appreciate the experience so maybe another year or so would've been a different story. read more