Every Other Day School
Published on: June 30, 2007
Every generation and culture has unique school experiences. Some of the most fascinating ones come not from modern innovation, but from the past. My mother’s story of attending school in rural Norway more than 80 years ago is one that has always stayed with me—and it may surprise you as much as it surprised me.
A Norwegian School Day
When my mother started school in Norway, she went to school only every other day through 7th grade. She attended a small rural school with only 12 or 13 students in each class. Her favorite teacher was a farmer who made financial ends meet by teaching. During class, he would leave once in a while to feed the chickens. To the joy of the students, he often came back to class with chicken feathers and droppings on his hat.
While the teacher was at the farm tending to his livestock, my mother and her classmates were absorbed in their work and were well behaved. My mother said she loved school. She really couldn’t understand why her five American children disliked it so. On the other hand, I wondered why she liked school so much. I finally asked her about her school days and found out why.
Learning Through Handwork
My mother’s school day was filled with simple hands-on activities and subjects that reflected her culture. After each subject, the children would get a short recess to run and play. Her subjects included religion and hymn singing, math, earth science, English, art, hand sewing, knitting, and woodworking. The big thrill was to use a compass in art class. The children made interesting circles, flowers, and other patterns. She colored the shapes and started her lifelong love of designs and color. It was also her creative introduction to geometry.
Math Hidden in Knitting
She said that knitting introduced basic math and geometry. Mom would divide stitches, add stitches, and subtract stitches. They didn’t use circular needles, so the students had to divide the items into equal parts to make a circle. Also, the strings of yarn would turn into shapes. Knitting in Norwegian culture was very important. When women got together, everyone would knit and talk.
Science Was the Study of Home
Science was the study of their local environment, which included bees and their life cycle, flowers, trees, animals and habitats, birds, weather, the sea, and landforms. She even remembers studying about atoms.
On the students’ day off, the children played about what they had learned. They spontaneously studied flowers and birds, and other local flora and fauna. School encouraged the children to know all aspects of their surroundings and culture.
Learning English Through Song
The students who wanted to go on to the gymnasium could go to English language class. My mother speaks, reads, spells, and writes English almost perfectly. The approach they used was singing English songs without any musical accompaniment. Stephen Foster songs were sung at every weekly class—Mom still knows all the words and tunes.
Culture Woven Into Every Subject
Most of the subjects taught were connected with Norwegian culture. Much of Norwegian folk art is based on woodworking, painting patterns, and knitting and handwork. Folk dancing, music, and local costumes also were a large part of Norwegian society. Folk costumes were worn for wedding dresses and special occasions. They were homemade masterpieces with beautiful embroidery. Religion was also a part of the students’ school, home, and weekend activities.
Simple Schools, Better Results
You would think that this easygoing school would produce non-academic students. The opposite was the case. At the end of the year testing, the rural school always did better than the city school. People were amazed because the country students only went to school every other day and had very simple items for learning materials. The students at the city schools attended every day with modern approaches and new supplies.
What Mom Loved Most
Lastly, I asked my mom what she liked best about school. She said she enjoyed the fun activities, the simplicity, and that learning was exciting. Most importantly she said, “There wasn’t any pressure to perform.”
My mother went on to the gymnasium after graduating from this simple school. Her school years at the gymnasium were eventful as well because it was the beginning of the Norwegian occupation during WWII. But that’s another story!
Recommended Materials
Children’s Beginner Knitting Kit ↗