Brett

Hello, my name is Jeffrey.  I am a colonial child in a common school.  I am 7 years old.  My parents pay the teacher.  We invite him to dinner sometimes.  At recess I play marbles.  I have to give my master firewood for the classroom fire.  I have to return to school.  Good-bye now.

Caroline

Hello my name is Anne.  I attend school six days a week from noon to three.  I attend school at my teacher, Miss Debbie’s home in her kitchen.  If one of Miss Debbie’s students forgets to bring in firewood in the winter, they will not sit near the fire.  Once I learn to read and write I am finished with Dame School.

Christina

My name is Debbie and I teach at the Dame School.  The class is in my kitchen.  I am mostly nice but sometimes I am mean when I need to be.  The students pay me with food.  I only teach from 12:00 to 3:00.  I don’t start school until noon because the students need to work when they get up.  When my class is finished with everything on the hornbook they are finished school.

Ricky

Hello my name is Richard.  I am a seven-year-old child who attends a Common School.  My parents sent me here to read, write and do arithmetic.  I must be good or else the teacher will whip me.  I love recess.  I like to play with marbles and hoops or play tag.  I have to go now, bye.

Will

Hello my name is Poe and I go to a Dame School.  My teacher’s name is Miss Debbie.  Her school is in her kitchen.  School goes from 12:00 to 3:00.  We learn to read and write with the hornbook.  Because I am a boy, when I graduate I can go to a Common School.

Ben

My name is Master William.  This is my school.  I teach arithmetic, reading and calligraphy.  My students mostly read the Bible.  If my children don’t behave they will be whipped!  They have to bring firewood to school.  If they don’t, they have to sit at the back of the room where it is farthest from the fire.  I stay at my students’ houses for one to two weeks.  They children enjoy my stay.