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The Light on the Hudson by Dana Ferry published by Ithaca Press Educating School-age Children Living at a Lighthouse Lighthouse keepers were fortunate to have their families living at their post. Months could pass before a keeper saw his family if his wife and children were not stationed with him. This created some inconvenience for educating lighthouse children. Families living at a remote Light were at a greater disadvantage. Children of lighthouse keepers were educated in various ways. One method for schooling lighthouse children was that a teacher hired by the Federal Government went to a lighthouse and stayed with the family for one week. Upon her departure, books and lessons were assigned to be completed in time for the teacher's return the following month. Another approach to schooling lighthouse children was to row to the mainland each day to attend school. When bitter cold caused ice floes to form around the base of the lighthouse, rowing was impossible. The children would miss weeks of school. Still other children who already lived on the mainland would walk up to four miles a day to receive their education. Another alternative to schooling lighthouse children was to have them live on the mainland during the week. The separation from their parents was difficult. In 1967, the keeper of the Cape Neddick Lighthouse in Maine, regularly put his two children in a very large bucket that was hanging on a line. It went across the channel to the mainland. Alarmed by this unusual way to transport a child to school, a policy was implemented at isolated lighthouses that families with school-age children would not be stationed there. Finally, given the choices for educating children who lived at lighthouses, the most suitable was when the teacher came to the lighthouse. Children who were rowed to shore had to contend with unfavorable weather. Boarding on the mainland away from parents was hard on a child. Unconventional methods have been used to get a child to school from a lighthouse. Because of educational drawbacks, it was a wise decision not to have school-age children living at lighthouses in isolated areas.		Order The Light on the Hudson by Dana Ferry Price of The Light on the Hudson $18.00 US Questions? E-Mail to Ithaca Press books@ithacapress.com (607) 273-2870

The Light on the Hudson

by Dana Ferry

published by Ithaca Press

Educating School-age Children Living at a Lighthouse

Lighthouse keepers were fortunate to have their families living at their post. Months could pass before a keeper saw his family if his wife and children were not stationed with him. This created some inconvenience for educating lighthouse children. Families living at a remote Light were at a greater disadvantage. Children of lighthouse keepers were educated in various ways.

One method for schooling lighthouse children was that a teacher hired by the Federal Government went to a lighthouse and stayed with the family for one week. Upon her departure, books and lessons were assigned to be completed in time for the teacher's return the following month.

Another approach to schooling lighthouse children was to row to the mainland each day to attend school. When bitter cold caused ice floes to form around the base of the lighthouse, rowing was impossible. The children would miss weeks of school. Still other children who already lived on the mainland would walk up to four miles a day to receive their education.

Another alternative to schooling lighthouse children was to have them live on the mainland during the week. The separation from their parents was difficult. In 1967, the keeper of the Cape Neddick Lighthouse in Maine, regularly put his two children in a very large bucket that was hanging on a line. It went across the channel to the mainland. Alarmed by this unusual way to transport a child to school, a policy was implemented at isolated lighthouses that families with school-age children would not be stationed there.

Finally, given the choices for educating children who lived at lighthouses, the most suitable was when the teacher came to the lighthouse. Children who were rowed to shore had to contend with unfavorable weather. Boarding on the mainland away from parents was hard on a child. Unconventional methods have been used to get a child to school from a lighthouse. Because of educational drawbacks, it was a wise decision not to have school-age children living at lighthouses in isolated areas.