NIAGARA, Wis. — I recently came across an article that dealt with what passed as education for children in colonial America. It varied greatly from region to region but did share some common characteristics guaranteed to make the hair stand up on the back of your neck. I thought a look back in time may help us all appreciate how far we have come as a nation in the important area of education for our children.

In Colonial days, there was no such thing as standardized education for children; no rules that governed attendance, curriculum, cost, or even teacher qualifications. Educational quality was largely dependent upon the geographic challenges of each region and the religious background of its settlers as well as their financial means. Education was not free nor was it available to all children.

As we all remember, our country was initially settled by Puritans in the Massachusetts Bay Colony who believed that the faithful could communicate directly with God by reading the Bible. Consequently, learning to read was a religious duty, and Massachusetts passed the first compulsory attendance law in 1642. While this law did not require the child to physically attend a schoolhouse, it did require that the heads of household provide an education for all children living under their roof — including the children of servants and apprentices.

Their education had to include reading, religion and the laws. A more specific law regarding curriculum and the organization of schools was passed in Massachusetts in 1647. It was known as the “Old Deluder Satan Act” because of its opening line: “It being one chief project of that old deluder Satan, to keep men from the knowledge of the Scriptures …” This law required every town with 50 households to provide a “petty school” similar to our elementary school, and towns larger than one hundred households to provide both a petty school and a “grammar” school similar to our high school.

In New England, the construction of schools outpaced all other types of buildings. Every Massachusetts town had meetings and voted on how many schools to build (students were not expected to walk more than a mile or two to school), how much public funding to allocate, and how much students would need to pay to attend. The small tuition was based upon how much students wanted to learn; reading and arithmetic were the only subjects taught. In more rural areas, students could pay for their education with garden produce. During the winter, every student was required to supply a bundle of wood for the fire that heated the classroom or be fined 4 shillings (or 48 cents).

Petty schools taught both boys and girls of all ages in a single room. Children attended when circumstances at home allowed as they were often needed to help in the family shops or on the farms. When they returned, they would simply pick up where they had left off. Curriculum included reading, writing, spelling, grammar and basic arithmetic, all embedded within religious and moral instruction. The New England Primer taught the alphabet as follows: “In Adam’s fall, we sinned all; Heaven to find, the Bible mind.”

And it continued from there; each letter included a picture to further illustrate the moral point. The youngest children — age 5 and 6 — may have attended a “dame school” that consisted of informal classes taught by an older (often widowed) woman in her home in exchange for a very small amount of money. Grammar schools were reserved for wealthy boys only who needed to master Latin and Greek for admission to Harvard College (founded in 1636) or the seminary.

While the theocracy of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, with its concentration on Bible literacy, drove the content of its educational offerings, settlements outside of New England took a different tack. In the Middle Colonies of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware, the schools remained run by local churches. However, there was an Enlightenment-era influence going on, so school curriculums leaned more philosophical and less theological. Most schools did charge tuition, but free schools did exist for the working class and poor.

The Southern colonies presented a geographical challenge because the colonists were spread out on farms and plantations with many miles between them. The wealthier Southern planters and plantation owners hired private tutors or sent their children overseas to study as they still retained ties to England and Europe. Some Southern communities pooled their resources and hired a schoolmaster. They also built “field schools” that sat in the middle of a tobacco field that was lying fallow for the year. When the field was needed again for planting, the settlers would put the schoolhouse up on a log and roll it from one plantation to another where there was an available fallow field.

In the colonial era, qualified teachers were difficult to find, since there was no such thing as teacher training or any kind of professional training or standards which teachers must meet. It was a commercial endeavor, and anyone could “hang up a shingle” as a schoolmaster and sell whatever knowledge he had to offer. Outside of the dame schools already described, teachers were exclusively male. Many were itinerant teachers who traveled from town to town teaching predominantly one subject. When they had taught everyone in town, they moved on to the next.

In Virginia and the Southern colonies, debtors and petty criminals were sold into teaching as bondsmen or indentured slaves. They were typically coarse and of poor character and often ran away without fulfilling their service requirement. In fact, George Washington’s first teacher was a bondsman who had been purchased by Washington’s father. He also served as church sexton, sweeping out the church and digging an occasional grave.

Physical punishment was both acceptable and expected in colonial schools. In Puritan New England, physical punishment was divinely sanctioned. As the rule read: “The rod of correction is a rule of God necessary sometimes to be used on children.” Additionally, the schoolmaster had full power to use this type of punishment without any input or permission from parents. In some communities, discipline included public shaming. “Caging” meant that a disobedient student would be locked inside a cage suspended in front of the schoolhouse so the community could see that he had misbehaved. “Cooping” was also used, whereby the disobedient student would be made to lay under a chicken coop all day! Some disobedient younger students in the dame school would be made to wear a dunce cap or a sign that read “Idle Boy.”

The state of education across America today is very different and greatly improved. The U.S. Department of Education has been organized to: establish policies on federal financial aid for education, as well as distribute and monitor those funds; collect data on America’s schools and disseminate research; focus national attention on key educational issues; and to prohibit discrimination and ensure equal access to education. Teachers are required to have at least a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. Most states require a certification process and a specific number of continuing education credits to maintain certification. And physical punishment or discipline punitive in nature is not practiced. Ideally, parents and teachers work together as a team in the education of their children or at least adopt an attitude of mutual respect and support.

Our future depends upon an educated population. Let’s all work together for a productive year ahead for both our students and our teachers.

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NURSING HOMES/SENIOR LIVING FACILITIES

Freeman Nursing and Rehabilitation Community

Kingsford

906-774-1530

They welcome anyone who would like to entertain the residents. Volunteers are also needed to help with crafts and other activities.

On the third Tuesday of every month at 2 p.m. they host a Memory Cafe — a fun hour to spend with others. For more information, contact Jaime Hathaway at jlhathaway@protonmail.com. The program is run by donations.

Sunday: Church on TV, 10 a.m.; staff and resident ice cream social, 1:30 p.m.

Monday: Breakfast fun, 7:45 a.m.; rosary, 10 a.m.; room visits, 10 a.m.; dice club, 1:30 p.m.; reminisce, 2:30 p.m.

Tuesday: Breakfast fun, 7:45 a.m.; hair day, 10 a.m.; shut the box, 11 a.m.; hosting the Memory Cafe, 2 p.m.

Wednesday: Breakfast fun, 7:45 a.m.; “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?” game show, dining room, 10 a.m.; crafts, 1:30 p.m.

Thursday: Breakfast fun, 7:45 a.m.; Bible study, 10 a.m.; pool, 11 a.m.; resident choice of games, 1:30 p.m.

Friday: Breakfast fun, 7:45 a.m.; morning walk, 10 a.m.; cover the number dice, 11 a.m.; bingo, 2 p.m.

Saturday: Word search puzzle, 10 a.m.; family time, 2 p.m.; “Weakest Link” on PBS, 7 p.m.

Iron County Medical Care Facility

Crystal Falls

906-874-1501

Sunday: Room visits, 9 a.m.; Yahtzee, 9:30 a.m.; chair exercise, 10:45 a.m.; room visits, 12:30 p.m.; bingorama, 2 p.m.

Monday: Crafts, 9:30 a.m.; loud acres, 10:30 a.m.; exercise, 10:45 a.m.; room visits, 1 p.m.; bingo, 2 p.m.; Sunshine Club, 2:30 p.m.; jokes, 6 p.m.

Tuesday: Book club, 10 a.m.; Catholic Mass, 10 a.m.; wildlife film, 1:30 p.m.; Dan’s songs for seniors, 2 p.m.; comedy movie, 6 p.m.

Wednesday: Community breakfast, 8:15 a.m.; web browsing, 10 a.m.; exercise, 10:45 a.m.; travel club, 2 p.m.; night bingo, 6 p.m.

Thursday: Puzzler, 9:30 a.m.; bowling, 10 a.m.; room visits, 1 p.m.; Bible study, 1 p.m.; travel film, 1:30 p.m.; United Lutheran, 2 p.m.; happy hour with Gayle, 2:30 p.m.

Friday: Crafts, 9:30 a.m.; exercise, 10:45 a.m.; room visits, 1 p.m.; sing along with Bob, 2 p.m.; action movie, 6 p.m.

Saturday: Puzzler/name that word, 9:30 a.m.; geri-gym, 10:45 a.m.; social hour, 2 p.m.; romance movie, 6 p.m.

Optalis Healthcare

Kingsford

906-774-4805

Sunday: Devotional, 9:30 a.m.; room visits, 11 a.m.; trivia and treats, 1 p.m.

Monday: Coffee clutch, 9:30 a.m.; chair exercise, 10 a.m.; room visits, 11 a.m.; bingo, 2 p.m.

Tuesday: Coffee clutch, 9:30 a.m.; current events, 10 a.m.; room visits, 11 a.m.; Sunshine Club/outside fun, 2 p.m.

Wednesday: Coffee klatsch, 9:30 a.m.; name five, 10 a.m.; room visits, 11 a.m.; Our Savior Lutheran Church, 2 p.m.

Thursday: Coffee klatsch, 9:30 a.m.; chair exercise, 10 a.m.; room visits, 11 a.m.; bingo, 2 p.m.

Friday: Coffee clutch, 9:30 a.m.; reminiscing, 10 a.m.; room visits, 11 a.m.; movie and popcorn, 1:30 p.m.

Saturday: Manicures, 9:30 a.m.; room visits, 11 a.m.; trivia and treats, 1 p.m.

Maryhill Manor Nursing Home

Niagara, Wis.

715-251-3172

Families are allowed to attend activities and are encouraged to join in.

Sunday: Tic tac trivia, 10 a.m.; Packers vs. Colts, noon; delivery of communion, 12:30 p.m.; Packers tailgate, 1:30 p.m.; church service, 2:30 p.m.

Monday: Rosary/communion service, 9 a.m.; pamper and polish, 10 a.m.; music with Bob Larson, 2 p.m.

Tuesday: Rosary/communion service, 9 a.m.; Protestant service, 10 a.m.; word maker, 10:15 a.m.; bowling, 2 p.m.; Chaplet of Divine Mercy, 3 p.m.

Wednesday: Rosary/communion service, 9 a.m.; Uno, 10 a.m.; jokereno, 2 p.m.; Chaplet of Divine Mercy, 3 p.m.

Thursday: Women’s breakfast, 7 a.m.; Rosary/communion service, 9 a.m.; mugs and muffins, 10 a.m.; creative art, 2 p.m.; Chaplet of Divine Mercy, 3 p.m.

Friday: Scrabble, 10 a.m.; C & R happy hour — Ray and Mindy, 2p.m.

Saturday: Yahtzee, 10 a.m.; bingo, 2 p.m.

Northshore Healthcare

Florence, Wis.

715-528-4833

Sunday: Independent activities

Monday: Painting, 10 a.m.; live music with Jan and Gino, 2 p.m.

Tuesday: What’s on the tray? 10 a.m.; manicure, 2 p.m.

Wednesday: Chair yoga and music, 10 a.m.; bingo, 2 p.m.

Thursday: Pastor Jason/Bible study, 10 a.m.; bean bag toss, 2 p.m.

Friday: Catholic communion, 9:30 a.m.; Pastor Cathy, 10:30 a.m.; movie, 2 p.m.

Saturday: Independent activities.

Victorian Pines

Iron Mountain

906-774-5158

Sunday: Juice time, 10 a.m.; Bible study, 1:30 p.m.

Monday: Juice time, 10 a.m.; exercise, 11 a.m.; bingo and refreshments, 1:30 p.m.

Tuesday: Juice time, 10 a.m.; exercise, 11 a.m.; trivia and refreshments, 1:30 p.m.

Wednesday: Juice time, 10 a.m.; exercise, 11 a.m.; bingo and refreshments, 1:30 p.m.

Thursday: Juice time, 10 a.m.; exercise, 11 a.m.; refreshments, 1:30 p.m.

Friday: Juice time, 10 a.m.; exercise, 11 a.m.; refreshments, 1:30 p.m.

Saturday: Juice time, 10 a.m.

Pinecrest Medical

Care Facility

Powers

906-497-5244

Sunday: Morning visits and reality orientation; off to the races, 10 a.m.; trivia, 11:15 a.m.; church services, 1:30 p.m.; social circle and treats, 2:30 p.m.; coloring pages

Monday: Morning visits and reality orientation; open room, 9:30 a.m.; pictionary, 11 a.m.; manicure Monday, 1:45 p.m.; book club, 4 p.m.; movie, 6 p.m.; daily chronicles.

Tuesday: Morning visits and reality orientation; open room, 9:30 a.m.; food talk and resident council, 10:30 a.m.; juice hour, 11 a.m.; bingo, 1:45 p.m.; rummy, 4 p.m.; daily chronicles.

Wednesday: Morning visits and reality orientation; open room, 9:30 a.m.; hangman, 11 a.m.; crafty Wednesday, 2 p.m.; table talk, 4 p.m.; daily chronicles.

Thursday: Morning visits and reality orientation; open room, 9:30 a.m.; wacky wordy, 11 a.m.; bingo, 1:45 p.m.; bunco, 4 p.m.; daily chronicles.

Friday: Morning visits and reality orientation; Catholic Mass, 10:30 a.m.; who-what-where, 11 a.m.; H.H.W. with Marian, 2 p.m.; book club, 4 p.m.; cards, 6 p.m.; daily chronicles; lunch outing at Camp Shakey.

Saturday: Morning visits and reality orientation; exercise group, 10 a.m.; trivia, 11:15 a.m.; bingo, 1:45 p.m.; one-to-one visits, 3 p.m.; daily chronicles; activity packets.

SENIOR CENTERS

Amasa Center

906-822-7284

Menu for the week —

Tuesday: Honey mustard chicken, potatoes, peas, apple crisp.

Wednesday: Cheeseburger, baked fries, baked beans, strawberry shortcake with whipped topping.

Thursday: Meat loaf, mashed potatoes, candied carrots.

Breen Center

Kingsford

906-774-5110

Dine-in eating Monday through Thursday — salad bar at 11:30 a.m., meal at noon. Carryout meals are available. Soup and salad bar are also available. Friday and night meals are on hold indefinitely.

Menu for the week —

Monday: Lasagna, green beans, garlic French bread.

Tuesday: Chicken and dressing sandwich, mashed potatoes with gravy, buttered baby carrots, Jell-O.

Wednesday: Deluxe cheeseburger, baked macaroni and cheese, baked sweet potato fries.

Thursday: Salisbury steak, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, biscuit.

Note: All meals served with a choice of skim milk or juice and fruit.

Crystal Falls Center

Head Cook: Elizabeth Peryam

Assistant Cooks: Debbie Bigalke and Shannon Stapleton

906-875-6709

The center is serving meals for dining in or takeout – call the center by 1 p.m. to make reservations or place an order. All food is purchased from local vendors. All dinners include warm vegetables, salad bar, soup, homemade desserts, coffee, tea or milk. Salad bar begins at 4:30 p.m. and dinner is served at 5 p.m. Pickup for takeout meals is 4 p.m. – call ahead and leave a message with a phone number if picking up. A volunteer will deliver meals to homebound citizens only.

Menu for the week —

Monday: Beef stew over brown rice, dinner roll.

Tuesday: Lasagna, garlic bread.

Wednesday: Pork chops, mashed potatoes, gravy.

Home-delivered meals (prepared by DICSA — independent from above menu) —

Monday: Hamburger gravy over mashed potatoes, asparagus, dinner roll.

Tuesday: Layered chicken casserole, cauliflower, croissant, chocolate pudding.

Wednesday: Deluxe cheeseburger, fries, baked beans.

Thursday: Liver and onions, roasted garlic potatoes, candied carrot coins, biscuit, pudding.

Dickinson-Iron Community Services Agency

DICSA

Iron Mountain

906-774-2256, ext. 230 or 235

This is a Meals on Wheels program only. Home-delivered meals only — call to make arrangements. Menu for the week —

Monday: Hamburger gravy over mashed potatoes, asparagus, dinner roll.

Tuesday: Layered chicken casserole, cauliflower, croissant, chocolate pudding.

Wednesday: Deluxe cheeseburger, fries, baked beans

Thursday: Liver and onions, roasted garlic potatoes, candied carrot coins, biscuit, pudding.

Friday: Sack lunch –Corn chowder, ham croissant, banana.

Note: All meals include a choice of skim milk, juice, or no beverage.

For more information, call Christine McMahon at 906-774-2256.

Crystal Lake Center

Iron Mountain

906-828-1776

Schedule for the week:

Monday: Les Artistes art club, noon to 4 p.m.; woodcarvers, starting at 9 a.m.

Tuesday: Cards — Pinochle and cribbage, noon to 4 p.m.; Happy Quilters, noon to 3 p.m.

Wednesday: Bingo, 1 to 3 p.m.; cards cost 25 cents with 10 games played.

Thursday: Spinning Spools quilting, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Friday: Cards — smear, noon to 4 p.m.

Felch Center

906-246-3559

Open for dine-in eating — call for serving times. Carryout meals also available.

Menu for the week —

Monday: Chicken, Brussel sprouts with mustard sauce, mashed potatoes and gravy, dinner roll.

Tuesday: Pulled pork sandwich, potato wedges, cole slaw.

Wednesday: Night Meal – Swedish meatballs, mashed potatoes with gravy, cauliflower, dessert.

Note: All meals served with skim milk or juice.

Home-delivered meals —

Monday: Hamburger gravy over mashed potatoes, asparagus, dinner roll.

Tuesday: Layered chicken casserole, cauliflower, croissant, chocolate pudding.

Wednesday: Deluxe cheeseburger, fries, baked beans.

Aging and Disability Resource Center

Florence County, Wis.

715-528-4890

Director: Tiffany White

Menu for the week —

Monday: Baked chicken, au gratin potatoes, spinach salad, squash, fruit

Tuesday: Split pea and ham soup, bread sticks, fruit cup.

Wednesday: Hot pork sandwich, mashed potatoes, candied carrots, fruit, s’mores sheet cake.

Thursday: Egg roll casserole, rice, copper pennies, fruit.

Friday: Tater tot casserole with lettuce and tomato, cornbread, fruit.

Note: All meals served with whole grain bread, butter and milk.

Fence Center/Town Hall

715-336-2980

RSVP for meal at 855-528-2372

Same as ADRC menu, served at noon on Wednesday only.

Florence Community Center/Town Hall

RSVP for meal at 715-528-4261

Open Monday through Thursday, serving at 11:30 a.m.

Reservations for a meal on site need to be made 48 hours in advance by calling the above number.

Tipler Town Hall

RSVP for meals at 715-674-2320

Same as ADRC menu, served at noon on second Thursday only.

Hillcrest Senior Dining Center, Aurora

RSVP for meals at 715-589-4491

Same as ADRC menu. Now open, served at 11:30 a.m. Monday through Friday.

Hermansville Center

Coordinator: Barb Peters

906-498-7735

Center is open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Meals are served through the Menominee-Delta-Schoolcraft Community Action Agency in Escanaba. Meals On Wheels program is available for those who are homebound.

Monday: Sweet and sour chicken, rice, Oriental vegetables, wax beans, tropical fruit.

Tuesday: Meat loaf, boiled potatoes, peas and carrots, whole wheat bread, mixed fruit cup.

Wednesday: Beef and bean enchilada, fiesta potatoes, Mexicorn, pineapple tidbits.

Thursday: Scalloped potatoes, baked ham, winter blend vegetables, whole wheat bread, fruit cup.

Friday: Chef salad (tomatoes, hard-boiled eggs, meat cubes, cheese), muffin, fruit ambrosia.

Iron River Center

906-265-6134

Salad bar begins at 11 a.m.; meal is served at 11:30 a.m. All meals are served with choice of skim milk or juice and fruit. Carryout meals also available. Menu for the week —

Monday: Chicken fettuccine alfredo, broccoli, dinner roll.

Tuesday: Hot beef sandwich, mashed potatoes with gravy, corn, apple dessert.

Wednesday: Deluxe cheeseburger, curly fries, baked macaroni and cheese.

Thursday: Meat loaf, mashed potatoes, candied carrot coins.

Niagara Senior Center/Café

715-251-1603

Dinner is served at noon Monday through Thursday. Reservations are required one day in advance. Suggested donation is $5 for those older than 60 and $11 for 60 and younger. Transportation is available.

Tuesday: Beef stroganoff, noodles, broccoli, fresh banana.

Wednesday: Chicken breast with peppers and onions, rice pilaf, mixed vegetables, pumpkin bars.

Thursday: Lemon baked fish, cheesy hash browns, baked beans, rye bread, apple crisp.

The center will have bingo on Tuesdays and Wednesdays this month.

Norway Center

Director: Joyce Olesky

906-563-8716

Dine-in eating begins at 11:15 a.m. Salad bar is available from 10:30 to 11 a.m. Takeout meals are available for pick-up from 11 to 11:30 a.m. Let staff know if planning to dine in or pick up.

Menu for the week —

Monday: Liver or burgers and onions, mashed potatoes and gravy, five-way mixed vegetables.

Tuesday: Sloppy Joes on a bun, green beans, potato wedges.

Wednesday: Two meal day — 11 a.m.: Chef salad with meat, eggs and vegetables, breadstick; 4 p.m.: Barbecue ribs, mashed potatoes, gravy, vegetable.

Thursday: Chicken parmesan over noodles, garlic bread, yellow beans.

All meals include milk, juice, fruit, bread and dessert.

Birthdays and bingo on second Thursday.

Board meeting on Thursday.

Center activity schedule:

Mondays and Thursdays — Exercise at 10 a.m. and card bingo after the meal.

Monday through Thursday — Card game 101 from noon to 3 p.m. For more information, call Joe at 906-563-5587.

Tuesdays — Quilting and sewing.

Wednesdays — Ceramics and crocheting.

Last Monday of each month — Book club at 9 a.m.

Second Thursday of each month — Birthdays and bingo.

Sagola Center

906-542-3273

Dine-in meals are available. Salad bar opens at 11 a.m. and meal is served at 11:30 a.m. Carryout meals also can be ordered.

Menu for the week —

Tuesday: Stuffed peppers, peas, whole wheat bread, butter.

Wednesday: Cheeseburger, baked fries, baked beans, strawberry shortcake.

Thursday: Hot beef sandwich, mashed potatoes with gravy, corn, dessert.

All meals served with an option of milk, juice or no beverage.

Home-delivered meals —

Monday: Hamburger gravy over mashed potatoes, asparagus, dinner roll.

Tuesday: Layered chicken casserole, cauliflower, croissant, chocolate pudding.

Wednesday: Deluxe cheeseburger, fries, baked beans.