Country School Association of America

2015 CSAA Conference Registration is Now Open!

2015 CSAA Conference to be Held at Skidmore College

Hello Country School Enthusiasts:

Registration is now open for the 2015 Country School Association of America Conference at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York.

The Washington County Fair Farm Museum with its Perkins Hollow one room schoolhouse is hosting the Annual Conference of the Country School Association of America June 14-17, 2015.  We are pleased to bring this national event to the Washington and Saratoga County region of New York State.  

The Skidmore College campus and the Washington County Fair Farm Museum will be the locations for two days of presentations and workshops on early schooling, curriculum and preservation of historic country schools.  There will also be local displays and presentations featuring area schoolhouses, the slate industry, the Ticonderoga pencil, and other related topics.  The third day bus tour will take you through the slate region of New York and Vermont while you visit seven restored/preserved country schools.

Make your reservations soon as Saratoga is the summer place to be!  

 You have a choice of online registration or a paper registration with 2 payment options:  

1)  Online registration with payment by credit card or check:

ON-LINE CONFERENCE REGISTRATION

2)  Paper form with payment by check:

Download CSAA 2015 Registration Form

When you use online registration at www.CountrySchoolAssociation.org you will have to make your selection for payment by check or credit card as indicated below.  If paying by check, you will mail it to the address provided online.

  

 

We look forward to welcoming you to Skidmore College, in upstate New York in June.  

Should further information be required, please do not hesitate to contact me.

(3) For a brochure with additional information:

Conference Brochure 2015 

 

Joan & Dale Prouty

CSAA 2015 Conference Co-chairs

[email protected]

(518) 747-3635

Call for Workshop and Presentation Proposals

2015 CSAA Conference Organizers Seek Proposals 

"Celebrating Country Schools: Slates, Salutes and Scholars"

June 14th -17th

Skidmore College

Saratoga Springs, New York 

You are invited once again to submit your proposals to present at the 2015 Country School Associaiton of America Conference to be held At Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, New York from June 14th-17th.

Join enthusiasts from across the country in preserving and promoting the preservation of our remaining historic country schools. Share your knowledge, research or interest in all phases of schoolhouse history,          re-enactment and preservation.

Proposals should be submitted by February 1, 2015 for consideration. 

Detailed information on the Call for Proposals can be found on the link below:

Download CSAA Conf call for proposals 2015

If you wish to share this information in print, feel free to print the palm card below for distribution. Hope to see you in Saratoga Springs!

Download Conference 2015 palm card

For additional information on the Saratoga Springs area access the CSAA brochure below:

SARATOGA SPRINGS THINGS TO DO!

 

Iowa Hosts Annual State Schoolhouse Conference

Kalona Plays Host to Country School Preservationists

Submitted by Sarah Uthoff

The 15^th Annual Iowa Country School Conference drew a capacity audience at the Kalona Historical Village in Kalona, Iowa on October 10^th and 11^th. People interested in one-room schools, their history, and their restoration filled the room to overflowing to hear one-room school experts both local and national.

Preservation Iowa and Bill Sherman organize this event each year traveling to different locations around the state. The annual event has a slightly different theme and this

Bill Sherman of Preservation Iowa

year, nestled in the heart of Amish country in Iowa, the theme was definitely Amish schools. The Amish population has been quietly growing and helping to fuel a resurgence of the number of one-room schools around the country.

According to Mark Dewalt from Winthrop University in Rock Hill, SC, the number of Amish one-room schools has been growing at such a pace that they no longer can track the number of them. In the Kalona area the Amish schools are almost all former public one-room schools and while their practices are not the same, they serve as a living window on how such schools are used.

Dr. Deborah Mink

Other out of state speakers included Dr. Deborah Mink of Indiana University Southeast, Diane McGowen of Chicago, Tom Bobrofsky of the Reed School in Neillsville, Wisconsin, and Susan Webb of Birmingham, Alabama.

Webb’s presentation was of special interest to Iowans as she talked about the Latta’s Book for Teachers a resource produced by the Latta School Supply Company headquartered right here in Cedar Falls, Iowa. This useful guide was used by one-room school teachers around the country.

Another point of Iowa interest was Katherine Martin, current director of the UNI Center for Rural Education, who gave an update on their project to collect one-room school records from across the state in one place or at least list where they are housed.  

Artifacts from the Moody's traveling display

A special display was set up by Jane and Paul Moody of Quincy, Illinois of numerous school antiques they’ve collected. The Moody's exhibit serves as a movable museum that has delighted audiences across the midwest.

A strong element of the conference was the only national schoolhouse organization, the Country School Association of America (www.countryschoolassociation.org). While the Iowa group is not a regional branch of CSAA, the connection is strong.  Sarah Uthoff shared information about the organization and Dale and Joan Prouty traveled all the way from Hudson Falls, New York to talk about what they have planned for the 2015 national conference.

Silent Auction

There were several special events during the conference. A silent auction of three quilted wall hangings served as a fundraiser for the organization, including a one-room school wall hanging. Conference participants toured the historic village. There was a piper, complete with kilt, who played during supper. The first day ended with Michael Zahs talking about one-room school programs, introducing a collection of puppets used in a one-room school and displaying a pitcher that his mother had won in a spelling bee at a one-room school.

The conference concluded on Saturday with a tour of one-room schools around the area. Normally this tour features one-room school museums, but this time they visited currently active Amish one-room schools.

Note: Thanks to Sarah Uthoff of the Country School Association of America and TRUNDLEBED TALES. Access Sarah's link here to learn more about Laura Ingalls Wilder, Sarah's radio show, research materials, and social media sites.

Visiting Kalona's Schoolhouses

Enthusiasts Find Iowa Country Schools Special

Submitted by Ron Slechta- Publisher, Slechta Publictions, Kalona, IA

Visiting the 1926 Center High School

A record number of schoolhouse enthusiasts from six states and Australia attending the 15th annual One Room Country School Conference in Kalona found the area one-room schools both special and unique.

“This was our best conference we have ever had for a variety of reasons,” said Bill Sherman, organizer of the October conference. There were 99 in attendance at the Friday all day session held in the Amish Quilt Gallery at the Kalona Historical Society Visitors Center. On Saturday, 65 toured area country schools and ended up with a home cooked meal at Salina Bontrager home near Joetown.

Sherman cited several reasons other than the large attendance why the Kalona venue was so significant and successful:

•Middleburg Amish one-room country school. This is the oldest continuous running school in the state of Iowa. It was opened in 1860. Teachers Silas Bontrager and Elmer Beachy offered a commentary on how current day Amish schools operate 170 days a year including field trips. They gave a unique insight into how the Amish schools operate. Like other students, Amish students must take the Iowa Basic Skills test each year. Results show students are below state averages in lower grades as they are just learning English, but the upper grades test above averages for those students taking the tests. Teachers noted there are 34 students at Middleburg.

 

Historian, Mike Zahs (Photo by Sarah Uthoff)

Historian Mike Zahs, who spoke to the group Friday evening, gave a brief history of the historic Middleburg School and the community of Middleburg which was the halfway point on the stage coach route between Iowa City and Washington. The arrival of the railroad resulted in the end of the community of Middleburg, but not the school, which was moved to its present location in 1876 so it would be more centrally located. It was part of the Mid-Prairie School District until 1970.

•Fairview School, located on James Ave. north of  560^th Street, was a Mid-Prairie School District school for the New Order Amish community, according to Ed Miller who was the Mid-Prairie principal in charge in 1980.

Mary Swander, a professor at Iowa State University and Iowa’s Poet Laureate, purchased the old school in mid 1990’s, and has converted it into her weekend and summer retreat.  Swander invited the group into her neatly decorated home and autographed copies of her most recent book.

Swander related that people who attended Fairview pitch a tent in the yard to hold reunions each summer. She enjoys hearing their stories.

•Friendship School (formerly East Lincoln) an Amish one-room school, located on 520^th Street west of Hazelwood Avenue, has 24 students. Teachers Lenora Miller and Rhoda Beachy answered questions by the group of how they handle and teach students. Sherman noted this was a classic country school with large windows on one side and few windows on the opposite of the room to avoid too much cross lighting. Sherman noted that it is  also unique in that the room can be divided by a pull curtain, an unusual design feature. The curtain is used to divide the lower grades (kindergarten to 4^th grade) and upper grades  (5th to 8^th grades).

•Washington Twp. Central High School was the township high school for those attending one-room country schools. It was recently purchased by the Amish community and will be renovated to use as a school as the Amish community grows in that area.

Sherman related that the Central High School building, the Central Elementary School building (now a private home) and the Mid-Prairie Washington Township school is a very unique complex of schools still standing in Iowa. The former Central Elementary is also noted for having the largest belfry and school bell in Iowa.  The only other similar set of buildings is in Clay County north of Spencer, and those buildings may be destroyed to convert the grounds into farmland. Ed Miller, a former principal at Washington Twp. School, noted that the school was built by families living in the area and when they voted to join the Mid-Prairie School District Amish students attended the school, but school officials decided not to continue that arrangement.

During the brief stop at Lower Mennonite Church many on the tour viewed the historic Amish marker on the grounds of the church.

The tour group drove through the Mennonite School grounds where they learned about that school. Next stop was at the Methodist Church in Joetown. The town was originally called Amish, but was later named Joetown after a minister whose first name was Joe.

From Joetown the group meandered through the countryside past Brush School before stopping at Salina Bontrager’s home for a delicious and filling meal.

Sherman noted it was significant that attendees were able to view the 25-inch diameter Iowa Quarter carved by Chuck Hining of Swisher, a former industrial arts teacher in Cedar Rapids schools. The quarter is carved out of Iowa red oak from Iowa County. The model for the country school on the quarter was from a Grant Wood painting of a school that was on the land where the Eastern Iowa Airport is now located.

 

2004 Iowa Quarter (photo by Sarah Uthoff)

 

Sherman admitted to overbooking the program Friday, which include a variety of experts on country schools.

Local speakers included Michael Zahs, whose appearance was funded by Humanities Iowa Speakers Bureau and Dwight Seegmiller, CEO of Hills Bank & Trust Co, spoke on “Why Country School Preservation Matters.”

Ed Miller, a former country school teacher and principal, Lois Gugel (former country school teacher including Central Elementary and currently Mennonite Museum Library Archivist) and Timothy Bender, a junior at Iowa Mennonite School were lead off speakers.

Sherman paid special thanks to Nancy Roth, Kalona Historical Village director, for hosting the event and making many of the arrangements for the program including a lunch and evening meal at the Visitor’s Center.

He also gave a special thanks to Ed Miller and Lois Gugel for making the arrangements for the Saturday morning countryside tour including the school bus for many in the tour.

Mark Dewalt of  Winthrop College,  Rock Hill, SC, said he was glad to he a part this year’s  conference and pointed out that Bill Sherman is the main mover behind preservation of the history of one-room country schools.

Sherman said there are approximately 60 one-room schools now in use in Iowa, mostly operated by Amish and Mennonite groups. Seven of the Amish schools are public schools operated by Wapsie Valley and Jesup school districts in Buchanan County.

Dale and Joan Prouty, Hudson Falls, NY, invited the group to attend the 2015 National Country School Association of America annual conference at Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY, June 14th-17th, 2015.

Sherman invited the group to the 16^th Annual Iowa Country School Conference in Boone next year.

 

CSAA Member Achieves National Historic Registry Designation

Concord School: A Labor of Love for Eleanor Ent of Pennsylvania

It was a perfect day in August for the 100+ guests who gathered to honor a schoolhouse and it's dedicated owner. After years of restoration and hard work, Eleanor Ent achieved her goal of having her schoolhouse enshrined in the National Registry of Historic Places. Friends, family, and former students gathered to celebrate the honor.

 

Concord Schoolhouse

 

Word from the dedication:

"There are numerous categories for historic places on the registry; mansions, factories, churches, sites associated with historic events, historic districts with multiple buildings...but a schoolhouse is most special to those of us gathered today. A humble schoolhouse did not presume great wealth, it did not witness great historical events, it was not holy, it did not house an industry that made America great. Instead, our schoolhouses, unassuming structures that they were, produced generations of educated, productive, patriotic, and moral citizens. 

Eleanor and Veronica Ent are charter members of the Country School Association of America, a national organization dedicated to the preservation and promotion of our nations remaining country schools, and we are so proud of them today! They epitomize what our membership aspires to do...save our historic schools.

 

Ellie Ent receives her historic marker

Schoolhouses hold a special place in our appreciation of historic places...why? We have all attended school here in America. School is part of our fiber and our being, a part of a national shared experience of attending public schools.

As a testimony to our nation's commitment to educating all its citizens, at the turn of the 20th century, it is estimated there were some 220,000 country schools in the United States...and now there are only a few thousand. Fortunately, New Alexandria houses a gem.

We met Eleanor and Veronica in 2007 when they presented the story of the restoration of the Concord School at the CSAA annual conference. They told of the run down little building on the edge of their farm that had hosted hundreds of scholars for generations until it was abandoned. They told of the near hopeless condition of the school with a wall sporting a massive hole and other structural issues. They debated the wisdom and the prospects of a restoration project and forged ahead. They spoke of reconstruction and grunt work and elbow grease and money issues. Even that would not deter Ellie when she set her mind to preservation after saving the Concord from the wrecking ball.

Here it stands in it's glory, receiving our nation's highest historic recognition. Here is the Concord Schoolhouse restored lovingly by a beautiful lady and her devoted children who saw the value of the little brick building with good bones and a story to tell. She marshalled the community to donate items they had bought at auction (when the contents were sold) to furnish the schoolhouse as it had been. She antiqued and collected and salvaged until she was satisfied that the Concord was whole again, outfitted as if students would return to their seats and pick up their lessons from yesteryear. 

With the hard work behind them, the project would not be complete for Eleanor Ent until her little schoolhouse was enshrined in the National Register of Historic Places, a dream that would complete her mission. 

And here we are today to pay homage to a lady who said yes to a schoolhouse that needed a savior when the odds were stacked against her. We honor her determination and her foresight, her love for a schoolhouse, and her belief that it was worthy of a second life."

Former Concord Students join Eleanor Ent for dedication.

 

Note: CSAA members from NJ, NH, TX, and NY attended the dedication ceremony to honor Ellie Ent and her family for their preservation work.

For a detailed newspaper article highlighting the event access the link below: 

CONCORD SCHOOL-from THE REPUBLIC

Serendipity in Schoolhouse Searching

A Second Life for Schoolhouses

You're out for a drive and your eye catches what is surely, or once was, a one-room school. You count the windows, you notice a double entry, possibly a small portico, a bell tower, an outhouse. Outdated playground equipment?  A well pump? It may be on its original site or moved for its very preservation. It may be brick, stone, plank, shingled, shaked or sided. Red, white, blue, green, or yellow. You make a u-turn for a second look and a potential photo.

You walk the grounds of your latest find. You might peer into the windows. You imagine the long walks to school, the dedicated young teacher, the schoolyard games, the organization of a multi-aged and ability grouped classroom. You envision the changing seasons and the decorations and the holiday plays. 

This is our quest. Many of us are always on the lookout for the remaining one-room schools across the country. It is hardly different from bird-watching and just as exciting to the history buff and country school enthusiast. We are lucky that thousands have been preserved in some capacity across the country, and it takes some off-beat travel to find them.

You may get lucky and locate one that continues to operate as a public school! We understand that fewer than 400 of the 219,000 public schools that once operated are still being used as full-time schools, and that number is decreasing annually. (This does not take into consideration the Amish one-room schools of America.)

But while we may wish the remaining schoolhouses were all restored to an appropriate time period, complete with desks and inkwells and slates and books, we are often content to know someone has had the foresight to preserve one of our nation's icons for some measure of a second life.

If you have photographed a schoolhouse along your travels, send it in to our CSAA newsletter with pertinent information such as location, surroundings, and use. Google the building to locate additional information and include the link. We would love to post your photo to share with our readers.

Our August Entry:

Thompsonville School, now a 4-H Clubhouse on the 4-H Fairgrounds, East Middleboro, MA.

Additional Information: 4-H Fair 2014 and Thompsonville Schoolhouse

Highlights of the 2014 CSAA Conference

YouTube Photo Show: 2014 CSAA Conference Photo Memories

The Country School Association feels we have another success story for schoolhouse enthusiasts! 90 participants from 21 states convened at the Pony Express Museum in St. Joseph, Missouri to enjoy two days of presentations and a full-day schoolhouse tour, all centering on schoolhouse preservation and enjoyment.

Old friends met again and new friends were made at the annual conference that has grown in size and scope over the past fourteen years. Alternating between the east and the midwest, conference organizers hope to draw more preservationists from around the country for the 2015 gathering to be held in Saratoga Springs, NY at Skidmore College, June 15-17, 2015.

The conference is an opportunity for those involved in country schoolhouse preservation to present and to learn about schoolhouse education, history, experiences, and museum programming. 

We already look forward to next year's program being organized by Dale and Joan Prouty from the Perkins Hollow School and the Washington County Fair Farm Museum in Greenwich, NY!

For a 6-minute photo tour of the conference, access the link below.

Photo: Oxford Schoolhouse, Leawood, KS

2014 CONFERENCE YOUTUBE LINK 

 

 

Program Set for 2014 CSAA Conference at Pony Express Museum

Program Guide Now Posted for Annual Schoolhouse Conference in St. Joseph, Missouri

If you plan to attend the 2014 Country School Association, you now have the opportunity to preview the program of presentations and their summaries. Below, please find program guide, summaries and description of the ever popular bus tour of schoolhouses.

Registration information was included in the March 18th posting preceeding this one. Everything you need can be found in this post and by referring to CSAA WEBSITE.

Download CSAA Program

Download PROGRAM SUMMARIES

Download BUS TOUR

 

 

 

 

Register for the 2014 CSAA Conference

Pony Express Museum to Host Schoolhouse Conference,  June 15th-18th - Registration is Open

                      Registration Information

 

Pony Express Museum, St. Joseph, MO

 

Registration is now is now open for the 2014 Country School Association Conference to be held at the Pony Express Museum in St. Joseph, Missouri, just outside Kansas City.  More than 24 presentations are slated over two days, with the third day dedicated to the ever-popular bus tour of restored one-room schools.

 

 

• Every year we organize a conference where participants represent many different organizations, museums, academic institutions as well as cultural and heritage centers.
• The CSAA Conference provides museum personnel, teachers, staff, faculty and students, preservationists, historians and re-enactors from across the country, a unique forum.
• Here they exchange ideas, discuss their current activities, programs and issues with colleagues in the field. 
• With such an energetic atmosphere, broad choice of activities, dynamic events, educational sessions and networking opportunities, you do not want to miss this event.

 

Again this year, we offer three methods for registration and payment:   

1)  Online registration with payment by credit card

2)  Online registration with payment by mail (check)

3)  Paper registration with payment by mail (check)

Please check out the attached Conference Information & Registration Sheet to gain a better understanding of the conference and registration process before you register.  

Download CSAA 2014 Conf Info & Registration

 

*** IMPORTANT ***  In the ‘online’ registration process, when you see the big “green button” below, select your choice of payment at that time.  (check or credit card as indicated below).  Both payment methods accomplish the full registration process, but the credit option requires you pay “before you submit”, while the check option allows you to pay “after you submit” by mailing a check to the address provided. 

 

 

 

                                           TO REGISTER ON-LINE

To register online, go to our website at  www.CountrySchoolAssociation.org  and click on the Annual Conference in the left menu bar.

Annual Conference financial aid and work exchange program deadlines are fast approaching.  Check under Awards & Grants in the left menu bar of our website.

Program Schedules will be posted on the CSAA website and this newsletter in the coming days.

We look forward to welcoming you to the Pony Express National Museum, in St. Joseph, Missouri  in June. 

 

CSAA Service Award Winners Announced

2014 Service Award Winners from Maryland, Massachusetts, and Missouri  

by Dr. Mark Dewalt

The Country Schools Association of America is proud to announce that there are three service award winners for 2014: The team of Charles and June Kennedy of Westford, Massachusetts; Dick Deshon of St. Joseph, Missouri; & Ralph Buglass of Rockville, Maryland. 

Parkerville #5, Westford, MA

Mr. and Mrs. Charles and June Kennedy from Westford, Massachusetts were selected for their service related to the Parkerville Schoolhouse. When the 1880 Parkerville Schoolhouse went up for sale in 1989 they were actively involved in the formation of the Friends of Parkerville Schoolhouse and the effort to save the school.  The Friends work to raise funds to help with the upkeep of the building and run a program called “Old School Day” where third graders get to dress in period clothing and experience what life was like in the early 20^th century.  June and another board member hold a workshops to introduce teachers to the curriculum and she works as a teacher in period costume. Charlie was involved in the restoration of the schoolhouse and its maintenance.  June also wrote two Westford history books including one called Westford Recollections 1729-1979 which contains photographs and histories from Parkerville Schoolhouse and several other district schools still in use.

 

Pony School. St. Joseph, MO

Dick Deshon from St. Joseph, Missouri was selected to win one of the 2014 CSAA Service Awards for his service to the Pony School in St. Joseph, MO. Dick was highly involved with the process of building the Pony School.  He came to every meeting, drove the committee off-site to review buildings, provided funds for meals and gas, and provided major funding for the project. He also made sure everything was being built to period specifications.  Dick met with craftsman to build the window, and insisted on 1860’s glass so that everything would be as historically accurate as possible. Dick currently serves as the president of the board of trustees for the Pony Express National Museum. 

Ralph Buglass from Rockville, Maryland was selected to receive one of the 2014 CSAA Service Awards for his service to the Kingsley one-room schoolhouse in Montgomery County. When the Montgomery County Department of Parks finished restoring the one-room schoolhouse, Ralph took the lead role as the docent and has donated over 145 hours of his time since the beginning of 2012.  After completing training Ralph helped set up the program for visitors and acquired antique objects for visitors to appreciate the history of the school.  In 2012 the school was only weekend per month for six months.  The next year Ralph extended this to eight months and had three special day-long events in addition to the monthly opening.  He also did special weekday openings for scouts and area camps.  During his tours he encourages people to explore the school, talks about the history and how people did things differently, and provides activities for students.

Kingsley Schoolhouse, Clarksburg, MD

The awards will be presented to the winners at the Country School Association of America (CSAA) annual meeting.  The CSAA will host its annual national conference June 15 - 18, 2014, at the Pony Express Museum in St. Joseph, MO. The conference will include more than thirty presentations on June 16 & 17, and an optional bus tour on the 18th. The CSAA Annual Conference provides a forum for teachers, museum staff, historians, and others to exchange ideas and discuss issues with colleagues. For more information on CSAA or the conference, visit www.countryschoolassociation.org. To view CSAA’s online newsletter, visithttp://csaa.typepad.com  Awardees will receive $300 and free registration at the national conference. 

Mark W. Dewalt, Ph.D.

Chair: Counseling, Leadership, and Educational Studies

204 Withers

College of Education

Winthrop University

Rock Hill, SC  29733