One Room Schoolhouses
Early teaching was by rote and drill. Encouragement was by the rod. The control of the district school was delegated to an agent who in turn worked with three committeemen elected by the people of the district. The employment of the teacher, salary of the teacher, time of term opening and closing along with supervision was entrusted to the agent and committeemen.
The schoolhouse was usually built where the land was as nearly useless as possible. Any spot was good enough if it was in the geographic center of the district. Children were to walk no more than 2 miles to school.
The structures were generally roughly clapboarded and might have received a coat of paint. The interior was lathe and plastered and lighted by 5 or 6 windows of 12 over 12 panes. The schoolroom walls were dismally vacant except for weather stains and grime from the smoky stove. There were not maps or pictures and not until the mid-1800's were blackboards introduced.
Seats and desks were of pine or oak rudely fashioned by some local carpenter. In the passing years the unpainted wood became more and more browned with the umber of human contact. Every jack-knife possessor hacked and carved into the desk.
A narrow entry with a few nails for clothing did not accommodate the extra winter clothing and much of it would lie on the floor to be trampled on.
No money was spend on janitor service. Older boys took turns during the term in opening and heating the schoolhouse. Older girls alternated in sweeping out.
No matter how many scholars - there was never any thought of providing more than a single teacher.
Schools were run two terms. The winter term generally began the Monday after Thanksgiving and ran from 8-10 weeks depending on the weather. The second term took place during the summer.
At the time the Town of Acton was incorporated in 1830, there were 13 school districts with a total of 625 scholars. This doesn't mean they all went to school, but a census was taken in April of each year because the Town was paid by the State according to this census. The amount paid was $3 per scholar, whether or not they attended school.
Examing the timeline, it appears for about four (4) years, during the period 1883 - 1887, all fourteen school districts were operational! If the administrators (and taxpayers) of town with a single school think their school is hard to deal with, imagine the logistics of juggling all of these! It would appear the voters (Town Fathers) figured that out somewhere about 1887.
Acton Schools:
Joy School, built 1837 - discontinued 1887
Hilton Ridge, built 1856 - discontinued 1937
Frog Pond on Peck Road, built 1876 - discontinued 1893
Riverside, built 1876 - discontinued 1957
Fox's Ridge School, built 1883 - discontinued 1950
Lincoln School at South Acton, built 1884 - discontinued 1957
Acton Corner, built 1886 - discontinued 1950
Garvin Road, discontinued 1887
Hopper Road, discontinued 1887
Great East, discontinued 1887
Hubbards Ridge, discontinued 1887
Franklin School at Hubbard's Corner, discontinued 1919
Young's Ridge, discontinued 1930
Acton Ridge, discontinued 1937
Shapleigh Schools:
Highland School on Hanson's Ridge Road
Mousam Lake, built 1923 & home to the ASHS
Pound School
Ross School at Butler's Corner
Lindsey High School, built 1877 - discontinued 1942
Washington School at No. Shapleigh, built 1866 - closed 1942
Jackson School of Shapleigh
Shapleigh School at Owls' Nest - see below
Shapleigh School at Owl's Nest
If you know any of these people, please drop us a line. Thank you.