Schools of the Three ''BY' 199 



PIONEER SCHOOL-HOUSES 



The pioneer school-houses of this wooded coun- 

 try were nearly all log buildings — same as the 

 homes of the pioneers. There were no blue-print 

 plans prepared, showing front and rear eleva- 

 tions, to guide the workmen — the man with the axe 

 was both architect and builder. But within these 

 crude "halls of learning," first aid to the un- 

 tutored was dispensed by the teaching of the three 

 R's — readin', 'ritin* and 'rithmetic, or cipherin', 

 as that last *'R" was sometimes designated. 



One room, with four rough log walls and, likely, 

 a trough roof, sheltered the little band of home- 

 spun-clad knowledge-seekers. A rude fireplace 

 gave forth the necessary warmth and the scholars 

 quenched their thirst at a bubbling spring at the 

 base of a nearby hill. Blazed trails through the 

 woods guided those pioneer scholars to the * 'noisy 

 mansion. ' ' 



Such scholastic facilities existed only in the very 

 early days of our civilisation, for the pioneer was 

 no laggard in matters of education. He saw to it 

 that the evolution of the country school kept pace 

 with the development of the district in which it 

 might be located. 



FATHER OF CHEESE INDUSTRY A TEACHER 



Oh, that kodaks had been in vogue in those days 

 that pictures of those very first schools, inside and 



