Lessons From the One-Room Schoolhouse

WSJ ^ | 31 Aug 2011 | SUE SHELLENBARGER

[Palter]

Before classes began at Spring Creek School near Decker, Mont., community volunteers cut back the grass, cleared tumbleweeds and made sure there were no rattlesnakes around the playground. Last week, the one-room schoolhouse opened for its six K-5 students.

"We all pitch in out here to support the school," says Loren Noll, a neighbor who showed up to dig weeds. Even though his 4-year-old daughter isn't old enough to attend, Mr. Noll volunteers as chairman of the school board.

In the U.S., 237 public schools had only one teacher, according to 2009 federal data, down from 463 in 1999. Most are located in remote areas. And while conditions are far from the rough-hewn rooms of "Little House on the Prairie," such schools often lack the amenities typically associated with high-quality schooling, such as computer labs, libraries, sports, art, music, nurses and psychologists.

Yet one-room schools often possess intangible assets that are rare in many bigger schools, says Marty Strange, policy director for the Rural School and Community Trust, a Washington, D.C., nonprofit. Students often build close relationships with teachers, pupils in mixed-age groups help each other learn, and parents and neighbors tend to get so deeply involved that the school becomes the center of community life.

At Spring Creek, each grade has one or two kids. The lone teacher, Creighton Teter, makes as many as 30 daily lesson plans—four or five lessons for each child—along with grading papers and planning exercise and enrichment.

He starts the school day by leading his students, ages 5 through 10, in a half hour of Zumba dance or other exercise. With the help of two aides, Mr. Teter then cycles small groups of one or two grades at a time through 20- to 30-minute lessons.

[Palter]

From another article: A one-room school fit for 21st century

'"The school board gives him a lot of freedom. If he wants to do something different, we say, 'Sure, try it,'" said Patti Pilkington, a board member and parent of two boys at the school.

She has no worry that a 19th century concept will deliver a 21st century education. Spring Creek students are taught according to the same state guidelines and given the same standardized tests as their peers in bigger schools. The only difference, says Supt. Albert Peterson, is that Spring Creek students consistently outscore them.'

[GeronL]

we don’t these leftist indoctrinators.... oh wait.... this is a different kind of school story.

oops.

heh. /sarc

[concerned about politics]

Students often build close relationships with teachers, pupils in mixed-age groups help each other learn, and parents and neighbors tend to get so deeply involved that the school becomes the center of community life.

It sounds like our states home schooling organization. People from across the state work together to help teach the kids.
Each county has their own smaller organization so things are close to home. Parents volunteer anything the kids need, including technology, trades, crafts, labs, sports teams and equipment, etc. Anything a parent anywhere can offer is there for the kids, and the kids learn to work together no matter what age they are.
This is why home schooling is doing so well. There is no teachers union. There is no political vote buying. The kids come first - always.

[netmilsmom]

>>such schools often lack the amenities typically associated with high-quality schooling, such as computer labs, libraries, sports, art, music, nurses and psychologists. <<

High-quality education?

Bet they learn the basics though.

[annieokie]

Yep, the will learn the Basics.

Pull the plug in those Computer Labs, and the kids can't add or subtract.

[Matchett-PI]

Get rid of “consolidated” school districts and the one-size-fits-all NEA monstrosity. Bring back the LOCAL / neighborhood one-room school house with 1 teacher for all 12 grades. Computers make this easier than ever, now. bttt