Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 September 1898 — Revolutionary Scholars. [ARTICLE]

Revolutionary Scholars.

Rev. George Channing wrote an account of the school of Iris youth, which he attended just after the revolution. Girls and boys attended together the primary school, and sat on seats made of round blocks of wood of various heights, which were furnished by the parents. Children bowed and kissed the teacher’s hand on leaving the room. The teaching of spelling was peculiar. It was the last lesson of the day. The master gave out a long word, say multiplication, with a blow of his strap on <hds desk as a signal for all to start together, and in chorus the whole class spelled out the word in syllables. The teacher’s ear was so trained and acute that he at once'detected any misspelling. if this happened he demanded the name of the scholar who made the mistake. If there was any hesitancy or refusal in acknowledgment he kept the whole class until, by repeated trials of long words, accuracy was obtained. The roar of the many voices in different keys, could be heard on summer days for a long distance. —The Chautauquau.