The Medlin School: A Glimpse into the Past
In today&https://adarima.org/?aHR0cHM6Ly9tY3J5cHRvLmNsdWIvY2F0ZWdvcnJ5Lz93cHNhZmVsaW5rPU9EVnRpZjBCa3N3QXBic0NhZGZFZUZsZ2lIbmlrV0ZsRllWUkxZM1JFY2xvMGJHdHBlbmhYTTNwMlFUMDk-8217;s fast-paced and technologically-driven world, it can be refreshing to take a step back and experience a simpler time. That&https://adarima.org/?aHR0cHM6Ly9tY3J5cHRvLmNsdWIvY2F0ZWdvcnJ5Lz93cHNhZmVsaW5rPU9EVnRpZjBCa3N3QXBic0NhZGZFZUZsZ2lIbmlrV0ZsRllWUkxZM1JFY2xvMGJHdHBlbmhYTTNwMlFUMDk-8217;s exactly what the children who attend the summer program at the Medlin School, located in Morrison, Colorado, get to do. Housed in a wood building that dates back to 1886, the Medlin School offers young minds a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in history.
As the children enter the school, they are transported to the 1920s. They don attire that reflects the fashion of the time and take their seats at period desks. The school, although restored, still maintains its original charm, with electric lights being the only modern addition. This glimpse into the past allows the children to truly experience what education was like over a hundred years ago.
One of the highlights of the program is the emphasis on hands-on learning. The children use slates to practice their handwriting and arithmetic, giving them a sense of what it was like before the era of pen and paper. They also learn cursive writing, a skill that is often overlooked in modern education. For some, like Emily Hawley, a young girl entering 6th grade, it&https://adarima.org/?aHR0cHM6Ly9tY3J5cHRvLmNsdWIvY2F0ZWdvcnJ5Lz93cHNhZmVsaW5rPU9EVnRpZjBCa3N3QXBic0NhZGZFZUZsZ2lIbmlrV0ZsRllWUkxZM1JFY2xvMGJHdHBlbmhYTTNwMlFUMDk-8217;s a welcomed opportunity to improve their penmanship.
The curriculum at the Medlin School is designed to be historically accurate, offering a genuine glimpse into the past. Emily explains, &https://adarima.org/?aHR0cHM6Ly9tY3J5cHRvLmNsdWIvY2F0ZWdvcnJ5Lz93cHNhZmVsaW5rPU9EVnRpZjBCa3N3QXBic0NhZGZFZUZsZ2lIbmlrV0ZsRllWUkxZM1JFY2xvMGJHdHBlbmhYTTNwMlFUMDk-8220;A lot of school one hundred years ago was different. You do competitions, you&https://adarima.org/?aHR0cHM6Ly9tY3J5cHRvLmNsdWIvY2F0ZWdvcnJ5Lz93cHNhZmVsaW5rPU9EVnRpZjBCa3N3QXBic0NhZGZFZUZsZ2lIbmlrV0ZsRllWUkxZM1JFY2xvMGJHdHBlbmhYTTNwMlFUMDk-8217;re doing different things, and you&https://adarima.org/?aHR0cHM6Ly9tY3J5cHRvLmNsdWIvY2F0ZWdvcnJ5Lz93cHNhZmVsaW5rPU9EVnRpZjBCa3N3QXBic0NhZGZFZUZsZ2lIbmlrV0ZsRllWUkxZM1JFY2xvMGJHdHBlbmhYTTNwMlFUMDk-8217;re not actually learning&https://adarima.org/?aHR0cHM6Ly9tY3J5cHRvLmNsdWIvY2F0ZWdvcnJ5Lz93cHNhZmVsaW5rPU9EVnRpZjBCa3N3QXBic0NhZGZFZUZsZ2lIbmlrV0ZsRllWUkxZM1JFY2xvMGJHdHBlbmhYTTNwMlFUMDk-8230; it&https://adarima.org/?aHR0cHM6Ly9tY3J5cHRvLmNsdWIvY2F0ZWdvcnJ5Lz93cHNhZmVsaW5rPU9EVnRpZjBCa3N3QXBic0NhZGZFZUZsZ2lIbmlrV0ZsRllWUkxZM1JFY2xvMGJHdHBlbmhYTTNwMlFUMDk-8217;s more historic than it was at normal school.&https://adarima.org/?aHR0cHM6Ly9tY3J5cHRvLmNsdWIvY2F0ZWdvcnJ5Lz93cHNhZmVsaW5rPU9EVnRpZjBCa3N3QXBic0NhZGZFZUZsZ2lIbmlrV0ZsRllWUkxZM1JFY2xvMGJHdHBlbmhYTTNwMlFUMDk-8221; This approach allows the children to experience history firsthand, making it a memorable and impactful learning experience.
Outside the schoolhouse, the children participate in activities that further immerse them in the past. They learn to hand pump water, a task that was once a daily chore for many. Together, they chant and pump the water until the bucket overflows, experiencing the satisfaction that comes from hard work and cooperation.
Recess is another opportunity for the children to have fun and engage in period-appropriate activities. They play in the rolling green grass, enjoying the simple joys of childhood, just as children did a century ago. The only modern convenience they miss is a bathroom, having to make use of a pit toilet outside the schoolhouse. While it may not be the most pleasant experience, it further reinforces the authenticity of the program.
Parents and grandparents play a vital role in making the Medlin School experience possible. Emily and her brother, along with their cousin, are driven to the school by their grandmother, who also packs their lunches in baskets. It&https://adarima.org/?aHR0cHM6Ly9tY3J5cHRvLmNsdWIvY2F0ZWdvcnJ5Lz93cHNhZmVsaW5rPU9EVnRpZjBCa3N3QXBic0NhZGZFZUZsZ2lIbmlrV0ZsRllWUkxZM1JFY2xvMGJHdHBlbmhYTTNwMlFUMDk-8217;s a small touch that adds to the overall immersive experience and helps the children connect with the past.
For those involved in organizing and teaching at the Medlin School, the objective is clear – to provide an educational experience that goes beyond textbooks. &https://adarima.org/?aHR0cHM6Ly9tY3J5cHRvLmNsdWIvY2F0ZWdvcnJ5Lz93cHNhZmVsaW5rPU9EVnRpZjBCa3N3QXBic0NhZGZFZUZsZ2lIbmlrV0ZsRllWUkxZM1JFY2xvMGJHdHBlbmhYTTNwMlFUMDk-8220;For children experiencing something, it&https://adarima.org/?aHR0cHM6Ly9tY3J5cHRvLmNsdWIvY2F0ZWdvcnJ5Lz93cHNhZmVsaW5rPU9EVnRpZjBCa3N3QXBic0NhZGZFZUZsZ2lIbmlrV0ZsRllWUkxZM1JFY2xvMGJHdHBlbmhYTTNwMlFUMDk-8217;s something they remember better than you just tell them. So, that&https://adarima.org/?aHR0cHM6Ly9tY3J5cHRvLmNsdWIvY2F0ZWdvcnJ5Lz93cHNhZmVsaW5rPU9EVnRpZjBCa3N3QXBic0NhZGZFZUZsZ2lIbmlrV0ZsRllWUkxZM1JFY2xvMGJHdHBlbmhYTTNwMlFUMDk-8217;s our whole point,&https://adarima.org/?aHR0cHM6Ly9tY3J5cHRvLmNsdWIvY2F0ZWdvcnJ5Lz93cHNhZmVsaW5rPU9EVnRpZjBCa3N3QXBic0NhZGZFZUZsZ2lIbmlrV0ZsRllWUkxZM1JFY2xvMGJHdHBlbmhYTTNwMlFUMDk-8221; explains teacher Jo Ann Dunn. By being actively involved, the children have a greater chance of retaining the knowledge and lessons being taught.
The Medlin School is not just a summer program; it&https://adarima.org/?aHR0cHM6Ly9tY3J5cHRvLmNsdWIvY2F0ZWdvcnJ5Lz93cHNhZmVsaW5rPU9EVnRpZjBCa3N3QXBic0NhZGZFZUZsZ2lIbmlrV0ZsRllWUkxZM1JFY2xvMGJHdHBlbmhYTTNwMlFUMDk-8217;s a time capsule. It allows children to step back in time and experience education the way their ancestors did. It&https://adarima.org/?aHR0cHM6Ly9tY3J5cHRvLmNsdWIvY2F0ZWdvcnJ5Lz93cHNhZmVsaW5rPU9EVnRpZjBCa3N3QXBic0NhZGZFZUZsZ2lIbmlrV0ZsRllWUkxZM1JFY2xvMGJHdHBlbmhYTTNwMlFUMDk-8217;s a reminder of a simpler era, where young minds were shaped by traditional values and hands-on learning. It offers a stark contrast to the fast-paced, technology-driven education of today.
As Emily, standing outside the school, is asked whether she would prefer to attend regular school or return to the Medlin School in the fall, her response is unequivocal. &https://adarima.org/?aHR0cHM6Ly9tY3J5cHRvLmNsdWIvY2F0ZWdvcnJ5Lz93cHNhZmVsaW5rPU9EVnRpZjBCa3N3QXBic0NhZGZFZUZsZ2lIbmlrV0ZsRllWUkxZM1JFY2xvMGJHdHBlbmhYTTNwMlFUMDk-8220;I&https://adarima.org/?aHR0cHM6Ly9tY3J5cHRvLmNsdWIvY2F0ZWdvcnJ5Lz93cHNhZmVsaW5rPU9EVnRpZjBCa3N3QXBic0NhZGZFZUZsZ2lIbmlrV0ZsRllWUkxZM1JFY2xvMGJHdHBlbmhYTTNwMlFUMDk-8217;d say here,&https://adarima.org/?aHR0cHM6Ly9tY3J5cHRvLmNsdWIvY2F0ZWdvcnJ5Lz93cHNhZmVsaW5rPU9EVnRpZjBCa3N3QXBic0NhZGZFZUZsZ2lIbmlrV0ZsRllWUkxZM1JFY2xvMGJHdHBlbmhYTTNwMlFUMDk-8221; she declares with a smile. The Medlin School has made a lasting impression on her and many other young minds, proving that sometimes, a journey to the past can be just what we need to appreciate the present.
