History To-Go: Early School | Cape Fear Museum

Image from a box side — Average children in Colonial North Carolina did not go to school. Most settlers were farmers and needed their children to work with them on the farm. Instead, children learned to read, write, and do basic math from their parents at night and in between harvesting and planting. Wealthier families sent their children to schools in England or in other colonies, where they studied languages, classic literature, science, and math, among other things. Eventually North Carolina created a public school system, and it became more common for children to go to school as farm schedules allowed. Many schools were one room with one teacher who taught all subjects and all grade levels.
In the 1875 state constitution it was declared “the children of the white race and the children of the colored race shall be taught in separate public schools.” Native Americans in North Carolina asked the state government for public schools with Native American teachers, effectively creating 3 different school systems: one for white children, one for black children, and one for Native American children. Public schools in North Carolina didn’t integrate until 1971.

September's "History To-Go" box features Early School! You can come by the museum starting Tuesday September 6, 2022 to pick up a box (limit 2 per family). Limited supplies, so come early! You can select the links below to access the box contents if you cannot get to the museum to pick yours up!

Early School: Instructions
Early School: School Notebook
Early School: Crossword
Early School: Word Search

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