The Schoolhouse at the Gov. Bill and Vara Daniel Historic Village

This building shows how the scholars of the village experienced school. Before the Civil War, most schools in Texas were private schools or academies. During the Reconstruction Period, free public schools were created but were unpopular with whites. By the 1880s, free public schools were gaining acceptance; however, black and white students went to separate schools. African Americans were allowed to learn reading and writing for the first time, but illiteracy was common among all races.

A one-room school often contained first- through seventh-grade classes and a beginning student could be any age. Because they were needed to work at home during some seasons, a few children didn't start school until they were ten or twelve years old. In many areas, the school year was geared to the local farming seasons, and a school year of four months--usually after cotton picking season was common in the country. In towns the school year lasted eight or nine months. Many schools were closed during cotton picking time.

The teachers, usually women, were often young. Some beginning teachers were only a little older than their students and they usually boarded in a neighbor's house. The teachers were hired by the common school district, administered by a county school superintendent. They usually boarded in a neighbor's home.

The most common subjects included reading, spelling, grammar, penmanship, and arithmetic that were taught every day to all grades. Geography, history, civics, and nature study were learned in the upper grades. A teacher instructed a single subject for five to fifteen minutes and then moved on to the next higher grade. The students were left to study on their own until it was time for them to move up to the recitation bench and recite what they had learned. Students also worked problems on the blackboard.

Often a teacher combined upper grades and subjects, especially history, literature, and geography. Spelling bees and blackboard games were common and older children might help younger children with their lesson. One benefit of having all grades in one room meant that bright children could listen to more advanced students, and older students could review by listening to lower grades.

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