The School House

  Our 1890 Village schoolhouse was built in 1889 in Buford, Arkansas, and was in use in the Mountain Home, Arkansas, public school system until 1957. It was a one-room schoolhouse, housing all eight grades. Until it was brought here and restored, it was near our own General Store when both were located in Buford.

     During the late 1800s and even through the first half of the 1900s, girls in this area were generally better educated than boys. This was because the boys had to help out on the farm at planting and harvest times. In fact, most school terms were three months long at most in the country schools because all the available hands in the family were needed to help. In addition, the parents of the school district could usually get together enough money to pay the school teacher for only about three months.  

     The teacher was probably a male, and he had absolute authority over all the students. He could spank a child who disobeyed, and the child could be sure of getting another spanking when he got home because he had disobeyed at school.

     One of the three doors on this building was appropriate for your use; but only one! The front door was for boys - they sat on the right side of the room. The side door at the front was for the girls, who sat on the left side. The side door at the rear was strictly for the use of the teacher.

     The furnishings in the school are original; the desks were handmade by local residents, as was the recitation bench. All the students in one grade would sit on the bench and "recite their lessons" to the teacher.