PROCESS

Activity 1

What was school like in 1849? Each group will attempt to write a two- three paragraph descriptive paragraph from their unique perspective, after completing the activity that accompanies the reading of the following primary sources.

Click to download Descriptive Paragraph Rubric (PDF)

• Books: Review, “The Village Reader.” Use the web to compare this 1841 textbook and a textbook that you use in the classroom. S ample questions:  What do you notice? Is it similar or different than one of your text books? Record your observations on the venn diagram. Download Graphic Organizer:Venn Diagram
  
  • Document: (Village Reader, 1841: Boston Schools and Primers from BPL Rare Books)
    
    
    
• Rules/ Discipline: Make a list of the school rules that were important to students in 1849. Which rules are still used today? If not, why not.
  • Document: (Excerpt from Report of the Minority of the Committee, Boston, 1849.)
          
    Boston Schools and Primers from BPL Rare Books.
    
    
• Location/ Division of Boston Schools: Use the primary source document to think about how schools were divided by    
  wards in 1850. Record any observations that you notice.
  • Document: Organization of Primary Schools of the City of Boston, 1850 (BPL rare books document)
    http://voicesrising.wikispaces.com/Grade5#bostonorgschool
  • Map: Slatter & Callan Map of Beacon Hill (1852) http://www.primaryresearch.org/bh/slattercallan.php
    
    
• Develop Background: Read the article. Record any observations.
  • Document: The Public Schools Refuge of Oppression (The Liberator, C. Starbuck Jun 5, 1846. Page 89.)
    
    
• Develop Background: Read the article. Record any observations.
  • Document: Annual Exhibition Smith School Smith School, Belknap Street [Letter to Editor]Justice September 2, 1842. P139.
    
    

Activity 2