#52 Ancestors Week 35 - School Days - One Room Schools

Amy Johnson Crow at No Story Too Small has a weekly challenge to write the stories of your ancestors. This is week #35 and the suggested theme is School Days.  I have pictures of both of my grandfathers in front of their one room school houses. So I decided to take a look at both of them and their siblings and see how many years of schooling they showed in the 1940 census.

We are accustomed to compulsory schooling at least through age 17 these days. But in the late 1800's and early 1900's this was not the case.  Both of my grandfather's grew up in rural Indiana farming communities.

This first picture is my maternal grandfather, Alfred Moehlmann, at age 12 in his one room school house.

Adams School, Stockton Township, Greene Co., Indiana c. 1908
Alfred William Moehlmann age 12
Moehlmann Family  Collection

My grandfather wrote the story of his life and you can go here to see how he described his school days. After Alfred completed 8 years of common school he quit for a year and then went back and completed one year of high school before going to work in the mines. A couple of years later he attended a year of business school.

My maternal grandmother completed 8 years of school as did two of her sisters.  However, one other sister completed 3 years of college and taught at the local high school for many years. Another sister completed one year of college. The youngest sister completed 4 years of high school but later on went on to get her Masters and also taught school for many years. The only boy in the family also graduated from college. 

Here is the picture of my paternal grandfather.

Holt School in McCameron Township, Martin Co., Indiana 1898
Four of the Sargent siblings - Donald age 6, Asa age 12, Johanna age 10, Etha age 16
Sargent Family Collection

Donald Sargent went on to complete 8 years of common school and then in 1911 at age 16 got his certificate for mining. Donald older brother only completed 3 years of school. He was 10 went his father died and he became a laborer on the farm. Donald's younger brother completed just 6 years of school.  His other siblings all died before the 1940 census.

By the next generation, all the children graduated from high school. Although none of my aunts or uncles went on to college. Although my mother did go to a one year business school.  

Education has certainly come a long way. In 1910, 72% of all students attended a one room school house. By 1918 all states required an elementary education. And today lawmakers are talking about providing college education for everyone.