It's September and the children are back in school or staying home to study this year. I was inspired when I was reading a section of an essay by Freda Pollema Versluis written for her teacher, Alberta Visser, in Student for 6 years at a 1 Room School. She wrote about the time she attended school in Blendon Township, probably South Blendon No. 2, in the early 1940's.
It struck me that the way time is spent in school is different, but certain things remain the same. The subjects from arithmetic to spelling were studied, and although methods for learning have changed, the need for the same, practical knowledge hasn't.
One area of study, though, did change over time - maps and geography. Borders are drawn and different areas are mapped out, but the world has now had sufficient time to determine what a state, country, continent, and the world physically look like. In another treasure in the holdings at the Gary Byker Library is a textbook that belonged to Tom and Bernard Hughes. It is easy to see from the illustrations and through improved mapping technology those things that have changed in the 146 years since this book was published.
Anderson's Historical Series, Anderson's Grammar School United States
Published in 1874
Front Inside Cover Inscribed with both Tom and Bernard Hughes names and address
Held at the Gary Byker Library in Hudsonville, Michigan
