Red Bird Studio


8842 Shell House Rd,
Edisto Island, SC 29438
betseydsd@yahoo.com
605-222-0665


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Project of Country Schools: Past and present



Did you go to a country school?



What we do regarding the country school project



01



What is a country school? Are any schools still in session?



A country school is a school in a rural location that generally has grades 1-8 in one or two rooms, one or two teachers, children ride horses, walk or ride bus to school. In South Dakota there are still at least nine operating country schools for children living on remote farms and ranches, miles from town. These children will board in town during the week for their high school classes.



02



What was outside a country school?



Some schools left it up to the kids imaginations, bopping gophers, skating and sledding, playing Fox and Goose in winter, or playing ball, like Anti-I-Over and softball. Other schools had merry-go-rounds, swings, slides, monkey bars, Giant Stride, and teeter-totters. There was usually a fence around the schoolyard - to keep the cattle out. Many schools had hand pumps for drinking water and outhouses, for boys and girls.



03



What happens to a country school that closes?



Many schools were closed when the school district decided to consolidate the rural schools. As populations changed, some schools were abandoned or torn down to make room for planting crops. It was wonderful when a community found another purpsoe for a school building and preserve it as well as contribute to the social center of the rural area. Some schools became community centers, libraries, museums and even private residences.



If you would like to learn more about country schools, call betsey to arrange a presentation for your group, school, organization or club
605-222-0665, betseydsd@yahoo.com

-Click on image to enlarge-



horses shelter



operating school



playground



museum



Community Center



RED BIRD STUDIO



Books, Art, Design