Interpreting Lanesfield School
The mission of the Johnson County Museum System is to collect, preserve and interpret county history. Artifacts, photographs, documents, and manuscripts that record the history of a people, a place and a time comprise the collection. Proper storage and maintenance preserve these things for future generations. How, then, does the Museum System use this collection to tell the story of that people, place and time? Interpretation. Interpretation can take many forms — exhibits, publications, slide presentations, lectures, traveling trucks and living history programs. At the Lanesfield School Historic Site interpretation is now accomplished in three areas — the school, the site and the new interpretive center.
The school is the focus of the site. The building was constructed in 1869 and was in continual use until 1963. In its ninety-four year history the school saw many changes — such as the additions of a belltower, a porch, playground equipment, electric lights and indoor lavatories. In 1988, the Johnson County Museum System committed to the restoration of the building, which by that time was in immediate need of repair. The staff of the Museum System decided to restore the interior of the building to its 1904 appearance and to interpret it in the context of the community and education at that time. 1904 was selected because the school was repaired in that year after lightning struck the building. School records and oral histories provided the details for the interpretation.
The site of the school is the second area of interpretation. The area witnessed the trade caravans along the Santa Fe Trail. Just north of the site, the Battle of Bull Creek was fought during the turbulent territorial days known as Bleeding Kansas. Two towns once flanked the school — McCamish and Lanesfield. The former was established by a proslavery supporter and the latter was founded by an anti-slavery group from Indiana. While Lanesfield thrived and McCamish dwindled, the advent of the railroad brought more changes to the area. Because the railroad did not stop at Lanesfield, the town literally moved to Edgerton where the railroad did stop. Now nestled in an active agricultural area, the site reflects the farm children who attended the school from the 1870s to the 1960s.
When the site reopened to the public in 1989, other aspects of interpretation were put in place. Visitors, groups and organizations are provided with a guided tour of the site by a costumed “school master.” He leads visitors from the history of the area to the classroom, where they can participate in lessons from the past. The tours are open to public at no charge.
In addition, the Museum System produced a slide presentation, “The History and Restoration of the Lanesfield School.” This is part of the Museum System’s outreach programming for schools, organizations and community groups. Narrated by a staff member, this presentation documents the history of the site and details the research used to restore Lanesfield School.
Tours and a living history program were developed for county teachers. The primary program allows first and second graders to learn about farm families and a day of school from the time period. Artifacts, photographs and stories are used to teach young children about farm families. In the school, children experience lessons conducted by a costumed “school master.” In conjunction with this program, teachers may rent our One-Room School Traveling Trunk, which introduces students to children from the time period.
The Lanesfield School Living History program is designed for fourth and fifth grade students. Students spend three hours in the classroom recreating lessons from 1904. They use slates, copy books, and recite lessons to a costumed “school marm.” Following the morning of lessons, students spend the “noon hour” picnicking and enjoying games and stories from the past.
On February 28, 1992, the third area of interpretation will be available to the public when the newly constructed interpretative center opens its doors. The center will house visitor facilities and the permanent exhibit, “‘Just Plain Simple’: The One-Room School in Kansas.” To help fund the new exhibit, scholar research, and programming, the Museum System received a grant from Kansas Committee for the Humanities. Asked to participate in the project were Katie Armitage and Dr. Ray Hiner. Ms. Armitage has done extensive work for the Kansas State Historical Society in the field of one-room education and Dr. Hiner is a professor of History at the University of Kansas, specializing in the history of American education.
The purpose of the new exhibit is to place Lanesfield School in the context of state education and to show the visitor that one-room school education was not a static phenomenon. The exhibit addresses why schools were built, who taught in the schools, what was taught in the schools and why the schools were closed. Beginning with the establishement of schools in the Kansas territory when “a good moral character” was the primary requirement for teaching, through the educational movements of standardization and consolidation, the exhibit looks at the changing role of the one-room school.
As part of the ongoing programming, a slide presentation detailing the themes of the exhibit will become part of the Museum System's outreach programs. The presentation will be available to school classes, groups, and organizations.
The new exhibit completes the interpretation of the site by allowing visitors not only to learn about the history of the area and participate in lessons from the past but also to learn more about one-room schools. The Lanesfield School Historic Site reopens to the public on Febuary 28. Hours are Friday and Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Sunday from 1:00 to 4:30 p.m. The Grand Opening of the interpretative center and exhibit will take place on April 11, beginning at 1:00 p.m. The festivites will include a presentation by Dr. Ray Hiner, who will discuss the relationship of the rural school to the community. The public is invited to view the exhibit, tour the school and grounds. The event is open to the public at no charge.
--ALBUM vol. 5, no. 1 (winter 1992)