Every week we publish a historic photo highlighting a story from Naperville’s past from the history archives of Naper Settlement.
Before today’s huge school buildings with thousands of students were the norm, one-room schoolhouses in the Naperville area sometimes had four to 22 students.
One of those, Copenhagen Schoolhouse, is where this photo was taken on Nov. 20, 1901.
The school was built at the corner of what is now Route 59 and 83rd Street by farmers in a community called Copenhagen, which is now part of Naperville.
In one-room schools, students in the first through eighth grades were taught by one teacher. Children were promoted to the next grade by ability, not age.
The teacher was typically a young unmarried woman who was expected to be an academic instructor and moral example.
A teacher’s behavior was monitored outside of school to ensure they were meeting community standards. Male teachers were paid more than their female counterparts and could be married.
The Copenhagen Schoolhouse remained open until 1922, when it was replaced by the two-room Granger School on Route 59.
Oral histories compiled from Copenhagen students in the early 20th century recall that the school day started with students singing patriotic songs and reciting Bible verses and poems.
Back then, the school year revolved around the agricultural calendar. Children were needed at home to assist with farm work between planting and harvesting.
The typical school day started at 9 a.m. and finished at 4 p.m.
Coursework stressed memorization. Students were expected to recite what they had learned.
The “3 Rs” were the basics of education: Reading, writing and arithmetic. Other subjects were spelling, art, grammar, history, geography, government, science, music and hygiene.
Boys and girls were both taught skills associated with knitting and sewing.
What was learned at school depended on what the teacher knew, the resources of the school and student interest.
Penmanship was an important skill at a time when typewriters were rare and computers inconceivable. Students would compete for penmanship awards.
Elementary education curriculum was set by state law, but parents often disagreed with what students should be taught, favoring subjects that were directly applicable to farm life.
One teacher was told, “Don’t teach them geography. They’re not going anywhere” and “Don’t teach them physiology. They’re not going to be doctors.”
Student conduct was as important as academic achievement.
Schools were places of strict rules that students were expected to follow. Teachers could use shame or corporeal punishment to keep order in their classrooms.
The Illinois Legislature passed laws regarding education in the 19th century. In 1825, free schools were established. Thirty years later, state law required that public schools be open six months a year.
The requirement of compulsory education – elementary school – was established in 1883.
In 1889, the Edwards Law was passed. It required children to attend school until age 12. Children in rural communities tended to leave school after 12 so they could help on the family farm.
The law also required that English be taught, a concept that did not sit well with much of Illinois’ German-speaking population.
You can visit a recreation of the Copenhagen Schoolhouse at Naper Settlement. It was completed in 1982 and includes the chalk board ledge and other materials from the original schoolhouse.
Andrea Field is the curator of history at Naper Settlement. For more information, go to www.NaperSettlement.org.
Steve Metsch is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.
