Local students take a trip back in time at one room school

Ken Johnston

Riverview Elementary School students had a chance to take a realistic trip back 100 years last Tuesday when they travelled to SS Spohn #2, one of the last remaining one room schools left in the region and it is still fully functional.

Residents in Harris Hill have worked hard to preserve the historic building. Carolyn Kreger who retired from Riverview last year started taking students to Spohn #2 a few years ago and offered to play host after her retirement. Teacher Amanda Lowes took her up on that offer and brought her grade 2/3 class there last week.

Kreger lead the class in math lessons in which they all had to copy the questions down from the blackboard as there were no text books to go around 100 years ago.

She said they also sang God Save the King, recited the Lord’s Prayer and had a Bible story to start the day off.

The students also witnessed old fashion butter churning, had a science lesson in which they had to go exploring outside the school.

They had stories read to them from old time readers and eventually were allowed to taste the butter.
Many of the students dressed for the era as did Kreger and several other volunteers who helped with the experience again this year.

Kreger said she will continue to offer the old school each year as long as the new school wants it.