At 9:00 in the morning, the day begins for children of the 1800’s as they walk to their one room school. Children ages eight through eighteen years of age enter the building as they are greeted by their teacher. All of the students will be learning their lessons in one room at the same time. The schoolhouses grades one through eight and all grade level subjects are taught by one teacher. The schoolhouse is often very cold, because there is only a potbelly stove to warm it. Long windows on two sides of the room provide the only light in the room. There is no cafeteria for a warm meal and no bathroom facilities in the building. Even with these minimum facilities, these children have fun as they learn through spelling bees and ciphering contests. This book includes sections on games that were played during recess, recipes of food eaten for lunch, directions on how to make items used in school at this time, and samples of lessons that were learned.

The Midwest's one-room schools were, Fuller observes, the most democratic in the nation. Located in small, independent school districts, these schools virtually wiped out illiteracy, promoted democratic values, and opened up new vistas beyond the borders of their students' lives. Entire communities, Fuller shows, revolved around these schools. At various times they were used as churches, polling places, sites of political caucuses, and meeting halls for local organizations. But as America urbanized and the movement to consolidate took hold in rural counties, these little centers of learning were left at the margins of the educational system. Some were torn down, some left to weather away, some sold at auction, and still others transformed into museums. Despite its demise, Fuller argues, here was a school system that worked. His book offers a timely reminder of what schools can accomplish when communities work closely together to educate their children.

Hopefully MEMORIES of One-Room Schools will be enjoyed by anyone that ever attended these schools, knows of anyone that did or is interested in history. Some of the things included are a brief history of one-room schools and the special state program that was legislated to solve the teacher shortage. Some topics covered in the book are: -the different languages spoken-sporadic attendance-clothes worn-"hickory stick" discipline-getting to and from school-sleigh/bob sled rides-horses ridden to and from school-where the teacher stayed-water for the school-building and banking fires-schoolhouse pests-outhouses-lard or syrup lunch pails-snowbound at the school house-subject taught-spelling bees-YCL song-special days-school picnics-description of classroom and some of the recess and indoor games played by the students. But the highlight of the book is the humorous, interesting memories of former students, parents and friends. Baked potatoes and the game Anti-I-Over appear to be favorite memories.

This history documents the many one room schools in that once existed in the town of Holland, Sheboygan County.

Not only are the memories of attending a one-room school interesting, but the history of the beginning of one-room schools and the 19th-century idealism of our nation introduces one to how this part of our heritage impacted us as a nation today. Chapters feature the Amish one-room schoolhouse, the schoolteacher, school books, teaching apparatus, desks and chairs, and rules and regulations. (70pp. illus. Masthof Press, 2005 reprint of 1997 ed.)