The role of a family dictionary was an important one. It served the purpose that Google does now. We could look up words and teach ourselves things we didn't know.
Vintage dictionaries often show us just how our language has changed over the generations. Now, most people turn to the computer or phone app to search out words in a dictionary. For previous generations finding out the meaning of a new word, or checking on subtle nuances for reference meant hauling out the (usually large and heavy) leather covered family dictionary and carefully turning the fragile onion skin pages to find the word. Many times there were also illustrations included with the descriptions.
Teachers were few and schools often miles distant, so the home dictionary was a source of information that was accurate and relied upon for family education. Some of the things you can learn from a dictionary entry are outlined below in a clip from a slideshare.
If a community was lucky enough to have a separate school, it had frequently been built by the community members themselves, and included all students in one room. If the community could find someone to teach the children, they would use whatever space available, and gather them from as far as possible by whatever means possible.
An example of an early school room built by community members. This one was paid for by the people who sent their children here. Mrs. Pierre Ellison was one of the early teachers in the school according to Okanagan Historical Report No. 15 article by A.H.Davidson. The room was also used for church services and public meetings.
This was Vernon's First School bus. Sometimes horse and wagon brought children, sometimes just horses. Many children walked - often for several miles - and sometimes very creative methods were used to get children to school.
Curriculum and supplies for teaching were much different then too. Although I think that farm children would be in good shape from doing daily chores, there were specific, detailed instructions for physical exercises available in "Syllabus of Physical Exercises for Schools" when it was deemed necessary.
Often teachers without any actual training were chosen from within the community. If they were lucky, though, the community could bring an interested, trained immigrant from other areas in Canada, or from overseas (usually England).
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