The Task

1. You will write a two - three paragraph description of what school was like in 1849. Use notes, tables and any supporting evidence from the following group activites that you may have from your assigned primary sources below.

• Read the textbook “The Village Reader.”  Choose a page from “The Village Reader.”
  How are the pages the same?  How are they different?”
  Compare this page to a page from one of your own textbooks.
  
  
• Read “The Report of the Minority of the Committee”, Boston, 1849.
  What rules does the Report have?  Create a list of these rules from the Report of the Minority Committee.
  
  
• Read the “Organization of Primary Schools of the City of Boston, 1850”
  What do you notice about how many students are assigned to each ward?  What do you notice about the number of teachers assigned to each ward? Identify where the wards are by using the following map link.
  Map: Slatter & Callan Map of Beacon Hill (1852)
  
  
• Read “The Public Schools Refuge of Oppression.
  What is the connection between abolition and the public schools?
  Use your reciprocal teaching chart as you read. Write a complete summary
  
  
• Read the “Annual Exhibition Smith School.”
  What does the document say about the purpose of public schools?
   Use your reciprocal teaching chart as you read. Write a complete summary.

2. You are a news reporter working for the “Liberator” in 1849. After viewing “Learning from the Past: Revisiting the Abiel Smith School Slide Show.” Create a series of interview questions that you might ask Abner Forbes (Principal of the Abiel Smith School). Use the Q-chart to help you create your questions. (Q_Chart_fillableform.pdf)

Challenge: Fill the whole chart!

            Be prepared to answer questions as well…. As if you were Mr. Forbes!

3. Create two-column notes, recording main ideas and supporting details from a number of articles about Sarah Roberts’ Case. Use the left side of the notebook to record questions and clarifications. On the right side, record your main ideas and supporting details. Write a complete summary about the case.

4. Petition preparation  - A petition is a form of persuasive writing.   Petitions are requests made to an official or organization to take an action that you want.  Having developed lots of ideas about schools in 1849, describe what you expect students to include in their petitions.  Four facts, persuasive language, logical arguments etc.

Process