School Days
Governor Howell Cobb who lived in the Governor's Mansion in Milledgeville from 1851 to
1853 had seven children who lived beyond infancy. His children were John Addison,
Lamar, Howell, Jr., Mary Ann Lamar (Jr.), Sarah Mildred, Andrew Jackson, and Elizabeth
Craig. It is interesting to note that the male children were sent to educational institutions
while the records of one daughter that are available indicate that a private tutor was
employed for her education. While the grading scales differ in each report card, it is easy
to surmise the academic strengths and weaknesses of each of the students.
The letters that were written by Lamar Cobb from school and to family members reveal a
portion of the everyday life of a child in the 1850s. In the letters, students can trace the
growing maturity of the writer as well as his growing proficiency in his use of the quill and
ink. It is interesting to point out to students that the grammar and the spelling of the writer
is not perfect because he is learning to write.
The two documents that address the boarding schools for "boys" and for "young ladies"
are fascinating comments upon the educational standards of the time period. The subjects
that are offered, the rules that are listed and the cost of the education are points which
most students will find interesting and similar to some of their own experiences.
Activity 1: Lessons and Subjects
Upon completion of this activity, students should be able to:
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Identify the subjects that were offered to male and female students.
Compare and contrast the types of subjects that were offered to male and female
students with those that are offered in today's schools.
QCC Objectives:
Grade 4: Skills: A1, A2, A8
Grade 8: Topics/Concepts: D20, Skills: A1, A2, A5, A6, A11
For this project, you will need to look at the following images:
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Report Card 1
Report Card 2
Report Card 3
Report Card #1
Report for Oct-Nov-Dec
Miss. M. Cobb
Spelling
0
Grammar
4
Geography
4
Arithmetic
4
History
4
N. Philosophy
3
Algebra
3
Botany
4
Astronomy
0
Rhetoric
4
Reading and W. History 4
French
4
German
4
Painting
4
Recitation
4
Attendance
3½
Conduct
4
0
0
4
4
0
4
4
4
0
4
4
4 4
4 4
4 4
4
2½
4
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