Laws in colonial New Hampshire mandated that towns meeting specific population requirements employ a schoolmaster for the education of the youth. In 1719, the same year the first settlers arrived in Nutfield, a law was enacted requiring that any town of over fifty households provide a schoolmaster to teach reading and writing. If a town had over one hundred families, then it was the responsibility of the town to have a proper grammar school. However, the law was vague regarding school houses, the laying out of school districts, and the formation of committees to run the schools. The law also mandated only male school teachers. Aside from elementary reading and writing, the grammar schools were required to teach both Latin and Greek. The towns that chose to disregard the law were fined £20. This rudimentary law remained in place until 1789 when it was replaced with a new law.
The early Scotch settlers of Windham have been noted for their "love of intelligence", and schools were established shortly the first dwellings were constructed. Even though the first settlers were quite poor, they dedicated as much time to education as they could. It was not until 1727 that there was action taken to establish a grammar school in Nutfield. It was decided that for one year there would be no grammar school, on the contingency that two schools would be funded in the following year. Although there were as many as four schools in Londonderry in the 1720s, there is no record of a school being established in the town of Windham until 1766. John Aiken ran a singing school in town that year, and also taught reading in the eastern part of town. Also around that time, a former British soldier, Nicholas Sauce, was schoolmaster for four years in District No. 1. Sauce is recorded as being a "cruel teacher", for bringing the discipline of the British army into the classroom. With the possibility of a violent whipping impressed upon the minds of his students, the children would "tremble" each time they entered the classroom. Those who were often the subjects of the whipping began to place pieces of animal hide under their clothing to protect themselves. However, Sauce was an effective teacher, and greatly "advanced [his students] in their studies".
The early Scotch settlers of Windham have been noted for their "love of intelligence", and schools were established shortly the first dwellings were constructed. Even though the first settlers were quite poor, they dedicated as much time to education as they could. It was not until 1727 that there was action taken to establish a grammar school in Nutfield. It was decided that for one year there would be no grammar school, on the contingency that two schools would be funded in the following year. Although there were as many as four schools in Londonderry in the 1720s, there is no record of a school being established in the town of Windham until 1766. John Aiken ran a singing school in town that year, and also taught reading in the eastern part of town. Also around that time, a former British soldier, Nicholas Sauce, was schoolmaster for four years in District No. 1. Sauce is recorded as being a "cruel teacher", for bringing the discipline of the British army into the classroom. With the possibility of a violent whipping impressed upon the minds of his students, the children would "tremble" each time they entered the classroom. Those who were often the subjects of the whipping began to place pieces of animal hide under their clothing to protect themselves. However, Sauce was an effective teacher, and greatly "advanced [his students] in their studies".
Title page of one of the earliest geography books used in Windham schools
The earliest schoolhouses in Windham were not built to be comfortable or lavish. Class would usually only be held in the schoolhouse during the summer, when the warm weather made sitting through lectures somewhat bearable. In place of a dedicated schoolhouse, class was held in shops or barns in some areas of town. During the winter months students would attend school in the private home of a generous neighbor. It would not have been unusual for the location of the "school" to move to a different house each week.
Some families educated their children through "family schools". An educated parent or an older child would serve as a teacher for the younger children. The family of Captain Nathaniel Hemphill educated the younger generations through such a system. With a total of eighteen children the "school" educated as many students as some of the early schoolhouses. In a rural community where learned schoolmasters were often lacking, schoolbooks played a significant role in education.
Some families educated their children through "family schools". An educated parent or an older child would serve as a teacher for the younger children. The family of Captain Nathaniel Hemphill educated the younger generations through such a system. With a total of eighteen children the "school" educated as many students as some of the early schoolhouses. In a rural community where learned schoolmasters were often lacking, schoolbooks played a significant role in education.
Joseph Clyde Jr. practiced writing his name, as well as "Windham", in the back of his geography book as a 13 year old student in 1811
In the early days the only book used in education would have been the Bible. However, it would not have been long before the first academic books appeared in the schoolhouses of Windham. One of the earliest was "James Hodder's Arithmetic", which was published in London in 1719. Other early books included "Dillworth's Spelling Book" and "The Young Lady's Accidence". Geography books were not used until the turn of the 19th century, when Jedidiah Morse's books became commonplace. Similar books would have been used during the first few decades of the 19th century. Above is the back page from an 1811 copy of Morse's "Geography Made Easy", which belonged to Joseph Clyde Jr. Clyde was born on October 16, 1798 to parents Joseph and Elizabeth Wilson Clyde. He spent his life upon the family's homestead near the town center. Although copybooks for practicing penmanship were commonplace in the early schoolhouses, as a 13 year old student Clyde practiced a few of the most common words, his name and "Windham", that he would need to write, in the back of his school books. Above is an example, showing such practice as well as miscellaneous period writing. Clyde, who was the last representative of his family in Windham, tragically died on April 16, 1870 after being "thrown from his wagon, striking his head against the stone steps of Bartley's store".