Walking to School, 1885

Years before, many families had moved away from Peckles-Wood Shire. Soon there were so few children that the little village school had to close. Did that mean the Whitaker children stopped learning? Not at all! Every two weeks, the Whitakers’ eight children walked across the hills into neighboring Cumberland. A kind schoolmaster welcomed them, even though they did not live in his school district.

Instead of staying for lessons every day, each child carried home a bundle of schoolwork. For the next two weeks, they studied at home. They practiced reading, worked on their handwriting, solved arithmetic problems, memorized Bible verses, and finished every lesson before making the long walk back for another bundle of work.

Not every village did things this way. Country families often found their own ways to solve everyday problems. This was the way that worked for the Whitakers at the edge of Peckles-Wood Shire.

The Whitakers’ Rules for the Walk

A long walk across the countryside was never taken lightly. Every Whitaker child knew these rules by heart.

• Never cross the High Moss alone. Always walk with a brother or sister.
• Wrap your slate in greasecloth so the rain won’t wash away your sums.
• If thick fog covers High Law, wait inside the old lead miner’s hut until it is safe to travel again.
• Carry two baked potatoes in your pockets. They will keep your hands warm on the journey. Eat them for dinner when you reach the schoolhouse.

More Than School Lessons

Those long walks taught the Whitaker children much more than reading, writing, and arithmetic. They learned to be prepared. They learned to help one another. They learned to finish what they started.

Sometimes the longest journey teaches the greatest lessons.