Spending
the day at Hornbine School is a wonderful opportunity to experience
school as
it was in the 1800’s. To make the day more meaningful and memorable,
ask the
children to come dressed as they might have dressed 150 years ago. For
the
girls a long skirt or dress, bonnet or shawl would make a fine costume.
The
boys could wear long pants with a pair of suspenders. An old pair of
pants
could be cut just below the knee and worn with long socks for a
knickers
effect. A white shirt and vest is another idea the boys might try.
Don’t forget
to try something “old” for yourself as well.
Lunch
will be a picnic outside if the weather allows. If it is rainy or cool,
the
children eat at their desks. Since we’re going back 150 years, please
don’t use
lunch boxes or paper bags. A wicker basket, tin box or pail, or even a
large
dinner napkin tied on a stick can be used to carry lunch. If it’s at
all
possible try to make an old fashioned lunch -= bread or roll, cheese,
hard
boiled egg, chicken, ginger or molasses cookies, apple or dried fruit
are some
suggestions. No cans or bottles of soda. please. Lemonade or fruit
juice in
boxes would be more appropriate.
In
addition to an old fashioned lunch and costume, each child should have
a copy
book and be wearing a name tag
with an old fashioned name. Please write
the
name large enough so it can be read at a distance. Cornelia, Charity,
or Phoebe
might be for the girls, while Lemuel, Caleb, or Ezekial are long ago
names
given to boys. Please have the children practice writing their “old”
name so
they can spell it easily.
Because
Hornbine School is very much in the country, we request that a parent
follow
the bus in a car or that you carry a cell phone. We have been fortunate
never
to have a serious injury, but there has to be some way to get help
should it be
needed.
SOME
IMPORTANT FINAL DETAILS
Try to
arrive between 9:30 -9:45. Plan to
stay at least until 1:00 p.m.
Please
bring with you
- two
parents willing to assist with the
day’s activities
- a
small first aid kit
-
blankets and trash bags for lunch
Probably
none of us would leave our modern conveniences on a permanent basis. I
think
you’ll find, however, that for a day the Hornbine School experience is
a unique
opportunity to step into history and, for a moment, see how our lives
might
have been.