"Fair elbow-room for men to thrive in! Wide elbow-room for work or play! If cities follow, tracing our footsteps, Ever to westward shall point our way! Rude though our life, it suits our spirit, And new-born States in future years Shall own us founders of a nation,And bless the hardy pioneers." L 185 DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION. To Teachers and Patrons: Lansing, Michigan, August 3, 1906. At the last meeting of the Michigan Pioneer and Historical Society the Department was called upon to offer to those in attendance some ideas in regard to the cooperation of the public schools with the Michigan Pioneer and Historical Society, and in accordance with suggestions made at that time I present this pamphlet to the teachers, patrons, and school children of Michigan. I take pleasure in suggesting that Friday, October 12, be set apart and fittingly observed as Pioneer Day, and I would recommend, as did my predecessor in office, that the second Friday in October of each year be recognized in the same manner. I know that the pamphlet presented. by Mr. Fall to the teachers on this subject met with their approbation, and I believe that it has produced a new interest in the history of Michigan among the children of our State. It will be necessary for superintendents and teachers to cooperate in this work. I believe that the results will be of the highest educational value, for if we can instill into the minds of the rising generation ideas of respect and veneration for age and experience, we shall have taught it one very important lesson. I recommend that the teachers request the children to prepare invitations and send them out into every home in the district, and that special invitations be given to the grandfathers and grandmothers. The program presented herewith need not be followed literally. It may be made the basis, however, of a very interesting meeting, and while the children will take part in recitations and appropriate selections, they should be required, also, to prepare papers or essays upon topics that will require study and research. These may be published in the local newspapers and preserved for future reference. Copies of them will be very thankfully received by the secretary of the Michigan Pioneer and Historical Society at Lansing. I recommend, also, that the papers bearing upon the history of the district, township, and county be preserved in some permanent form and become a part of the school district library. I am aware that the teacher's life is a very busy one, but I feel sure that an entertainment of this kind in which some of the older persons take part will create a new interest in the public schools and really make the work of the teacher easier. My best wishes are with you for a pleasant and profitable day. Very cordially yours, Patricks Reely Superintendent of Public Instruction. SUGGESTIVE PROGRAM. (This should be altered to suit localities, etc.) Prayer. Music. Music. Why we observe this day-By one of the school. Music. The pioneers of our township-By one of them. Music. Paper-Home life and customs of pioneers. Music. Paper-Some prominent pioneers of Michigan. Music. Paper-Transportation in Michigan. Recitation. Closing song. HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. The following outline may be used by the pupils in preparing a historical sketch of the school district. Copies of these sketches should be preserved, and it will be a very good idea to have some of them printed, framed, and hung in the schoolroom. A copy of them should also be sent to the Secretary of the State Pioneer and Historical Society at Lansing. OUTLINE. 1. Name of district and why so named. 2. Township. 3. When district was organized. 4. When and where first schoolhouse was built and cost of the same. 5. When present schoolhouse was built and cost of the same. 7. Names and present addresses of the first residents of the district. 6. Name of the first director and of the first teacher. 8. Name of the present residents of the district. 9. Names of all the teachers who have been employed, so far as known. Size of the district in sections of land. 10. 11. Population and valuation of the district. 12. Number included in the first school census and number at present. In the same way the history of the township and county might be prepared. It would be an excellent plan to have some pupils present biographies of the first residents of the district. In these articles any legend or historical allusion that would be of interest should be mentioned. As a part of the program it would be well to have some of the old residents still living in the district give a short talk on their recollections of their school days. It would be especially interesting to the children to have given a description of the household utensils and schoolhouse arrangements and appurtenances, and to have as many of these articles as possible on exhibition at the schoolhouse. The exhibit should include books, spinning wheels, reels, kettles, andirons, tongs, candlesticks, snuffers, etc. Every effort should be made to interest the older people of the district in the exercises, and to interest the children in the old people and the early history of the locality. The topics given on the succeeding page may be used from time to time in order to give the children some "search topics." SUGGESTIVE TOPICS. 1. Original boundaries of Michigan. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Labors of Pere Marquette, LaSalle, Cadillac, other Jesuits and early explorers. The Indians-Their legends and their wars. Troubles with foreign powers. Toledo war and acquisition of Upper Peninsula. Territorial government and officers. State government and officers. 9. Organization of counties and townships. 10. 11. 12. Mineral discoveries. Our forests-Their past and future. The growth of public schools-books and studies. 13. Michigan's unwritten history-King Strang and others. 14. 15. Transportation-From the pack horse, canoe, and stage coach to the electric cars. Development of charitable institutions. 16. Home life and customs of pioneers-Church privileges, dress, furniture, toys, books, amusements. 17. Primitive methods and present methods. 18. Our debt to the pioneer, the State, the State Pioneer and Historical Society. 19. What can we do to show our gratitude for present comforts? 20. How can we collect the early history of our State and gather relics for the museums? 21. Early traditions. 22. Indian mounds. 23. Life in the early days and at present. 24. Adoption of the State constitution. 25. Primary school fund (see Department report for 1903). |