School Days

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.

                                                           South Blendon No. 2

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

     

It's interesting to see Michigan drawn close to correct, but our dear west coast has some changes that need to be made!

Tom and Bernard Hughes, Inscription in front cover

What did you like in school?  Are there subjects you wish you could have studied?  

As always, I would love to read your comments and thoughts about this or any other post you've found interesting.  

The Improved Curtis Washer

Recently we were given a copy of  "Memories of Bygone Days" by Marshall and 
Jacqueline Elzinga.  It was written by his grandparents, Gerrit and Gladys Elzinga 
and is filled with humorous, eloquent and  descriptive essays, wonderful poems, and
black and white photos from a bygone era in Hudsonville's early history.

Too good not to share, we've decided to feature an excerpt from this work on our new
local history blog, where we hope to share more such Elzinga entries, as well as 
entries from other hidden gems given to us over the years by local residents.

So, sit back and be transported briefly back in time to find out some of the early 
ways life began to get easier for people in the early 1900's - courtesy of Gerrit 
and Gladys *!

*(Gerrit Elzinga, b. 1906, d. 1994; Gladys Elzinga, b. 1905, d.1993, married in 1931)