Howard, E. (2000). Virgie goes to school with us boys. New York, N.Y.: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. ISBN: 978-0-689-80076-4
Genre: Historical Fiction, Multicultural Literature
Grade Level: 1-3
Honors: Coretta Scott King Award Honor Book
Summary: After the end of the Civil War, Virgie’s brothers are all allowed to go to school, and Virgie wants to go to school with them. Her brothers laugh at her because she is a girl and they think that she does not need a formal education. Virgie manages to convince her parents that she should be allowed to go to school at the end of the summer with her brothers. After the seven mile walk to school, Virgie meets the headmaster of the school and he greets her excitedly. On her first day of class, she is very excited for her opportunity to learn. The end of the book closes with an author’s note about the impact of Reconstruction on education for freed men and women in America.
Activity: Before reading this work with students, create and go over a picture carousel with them. To do this, you should obtain pictures from the internet that capture the feeling of Reconstruction in the South and its effects. Ask students questions about the images and how it makes them feel.
For example:
Picture 1: Freedpeople reading c.1865-1890
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/exhibits/reconstruction/section2/section2_11c.html
What stands out in this picture? Why would reading be important to the freed men and women in this picture? Why is it significant that both boys and girls are pictured?
Picture 2: Students at Hampton Institute, c.1870
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/exhibits/reconstruction/section2/section2_14b.html
What type of school is this depicting? What does it look like they are doing? Why would technical schools be important to people during this time period?
Picture 3: Depiction of a Southern School during Reconstruction
http://www.americanhistoryusa.com/education-religion-black-community-reconstruction/
What is going on in this picture? Why are there people of all ages in the picture? What do you think of the classroom setup?
Picture 4: Freedman's School
http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/slavery/freedman-school.jpg
What was the importance of the Freedmen’s Bureau on education? Would you be willing to walk miles to school? Would that change your opinion of school?
Picture Carousel Adapted from: Yopp, H.K., & Yopp, R.H. (2014). Literature-Based reading activities (6th ed., pp. 50-53). New York, NY: Pearson.
Genre: Historical Fiction, Multicultural Literature
Grade Level: 1-3
Honors: Coretta Scott King Award Honor Book
Summary: After the end of the Civil War, Virgie’s brothers are all allowed to go to school, and Virgie wants to go to school with them. Her brothers laugh at her because she is a girl and they think that she does not need a formal education. Virgie manages to convince her parents that she should be allowed to go to school at the end of the summer with her brothers. After the seven mile walk to school, Virgie meets the headmaster of the school and he greets her excitedly. On her first day of class, she is very excited for her opportunity to learn. The end of the book closes with an author’s note about the impact of Reconstruction on education for freed men and women in America.
Activity: Before reading this work with students, create and go over a picture carousel with them. To do this, you should obtain pictures from the internet that capture the feeling of Reconstruction in the South and its effects. Ask students questions about the images and how it makes them feel.
For example:
Picture 1: Freedpeople reading c.1865-1890
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/exhibits/reconstruction/section2/section2_11c.html
What stands out in this picture? Why would reading be important to the freed men and women in this picture? Why is it significant that both boys and girls are pictured?
Picture 2: Students at Hampton Institute, c.1870
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/exhibits/reconstruction/section2/section2_14b.html
What type of school is this depicting? What does it look like they are doing? Why would technical schools be important to people during this time period?
Picture 3: Depiction of a Southern School during Reconstruction
http://www.americanhistoryusa.com/education-religion-black-community-reconstruction/
What is going on in this picture? Why are there people of all ages in the picture? What do you think of the classroom setup?
Picture 4: Freedman's School
http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/slavery/freedman-school.jpg
What was the importance of the Freedmen’s Bureau on education? Would you be willing to walk miles to school? Would that change your opinion of school?
Picture Carousel Adapted from: Yopp, H.K., & Yopp, R.H. (2014). Literature-Based reading activities (6th ed., pp. 50-53). New York, NY: Pearson.