Touch of Dutch

submitted by Larry Gradwohl

Es Alt Schulhaus

Wann ich als nau draadenke huh An meine yunge Daage, Do hot mer fascht ken Sarriye ghatt, Un nix fer eem zu glaage.

Mer hot aa nie ken Not ghatt Bei katz un lange Daage. Do waar yo Fleesch un Brot genunk, Dann hot mer nix zu glaage.

Ken Freischul (?) waar zu seller Zeit, Wie ich en gleener Buh. Mer hen aa noch ken Lehrer ghatt, Sehr hoch-gelannt dezu.

Es Schulhaus waar yuscht ee Schtock hoch, Mit acht Ecke gebaut; En kammen Schulhaus waar es yuscht, Mer kann’s net annerscht nenne.

Die Desks, die waare im Schulhaus rum Bis newe an der Schank, Sie waare an der Mauer fescht, Un dann debei en Bank.

Die gleene Kalls un gleene Maed,

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Sie hocke do drumrum; Die grosse Buwe un grosse Maed, Die hocke ausserum.

Drei Monet im’me ganze Yaahr Waar als die Zeit fer Schul. Wer sell als grickt, der hot genunk, Sell waar als dann die Ruul.

Mer hen lanne buchschtabiere, Lese, rechle, un aa schreiwe, Un Grammar un Geography, Um unser Zeit verdreiwe.

Nau hen sie Schul schier ganze Yaahr, Un manchmol nachts debei, Hen grosse Haufe Bicher Un schtudiere allerlei.

Wann mer denkt die lange Zeit Wu sie in die Schul gehne, Vun sechs Yaahr biss nuff zu zwanzich, Sott mer doch gewiss aa meene –

Sie sodde bessere Lanning hawwe, Sodde gscheit sei wie die Parre; Oftmols sin die heechscht-gelannde Am End doch die greeschde Narre! -Thomas J. B. Rhoads

The old school-house

Now when I am thinking of it, About my younger days, One had almost no sorrow there And nothing for one to complain about.

We also never lacked necessities during winter or summer. Yes, there was enough meat and bread, Then one had nothing to complain about.

The school house was only one floor high, Build with eight corners; It was just a common school house, One can’t call it anything different.

The desks, they were around the school house, Next to the closet, They were fastened to the wall And had a bench next to them.

The little guys and little girls, They sit around [in a circle] The big boys and big girls Sit out around [the little ones].

Three months in the whole year Was always the time to be in school. Whoever got that, he got enough, That was always the rule.

We learned to spell, To read, do arithmetic and also to write, And grammar and geography Around our time out (recess).

Now they have school almost the whole year, And often evenings included, They have a large pile of books And study all kinds of subjects.

When we think of the long time that they go to school, From six years old up to twenty One should also think –

They should have a better education, Should be as wise as pastors Often the most educated are In the end the biggest fools.

[Thomas Jefferson Boyer Rhoads (1837-1919) was born on the Rhoads family farm in Boyertown, Berks County, on 26 September 1837. After attending a local school, he entered the Mt. Pleasant Seminary at Boyertown, where he remained until he was eighteen, when he began teaching in nearby Colebrookdale Township schools. But after only one year there, he began a period of practical experience and training for the medical profession under his older brother, Reuben B., entered Jefferson Medical College in 1858, graduated in 1861, and immediately began practicing in Gilbertsville, Montgomery County. After spending the next two years as an assistant surgeon in the army, Rhoads returned to Boyertown, where he spent the rest of his life.

Besides conducting a large practice, he started several businesses and served in leadership of several civic organizations. Rhoads died in the borough of his birth on 23 December 1919.

Continued on page 22

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During the last half of his life, he turned to the writing of poetry in both English and PA German, resulting in two large volumes of poetry entitled Uncle Jeff's Reminiscences of Youth, most of which had been published in the Berks County Democrat.]

[Governor George Wolf signed into law a bill establishing free schools in PA in 1834; I do not know why Rhoads said there were no free schools in Boyertown area in his youth, since he was born after that law went into effect.

Apparently eight-sided (octagonal) schools we common in the area in the first half of the 19th century. In a local booklet concerning schools of the Nazareth area, several were noted in the townships surrounding Nazareth in that time period and one was even located near where I live in Lower Nazareth Township. (The school however was in nearby Upper Nazareth Township.) The details of the interior of the school closely resemble what Rhoads stated here. (In the local article, desks were on seven sides; the remaining side was

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where the teacher stood. Perhaps the closet in Rhoads’ article was also the area where the teacher stood and also served as the entrance.)]

Wolf Administration Announces Nearly $5.5 Million for Homelessness Assistance and Prevention

submitted by Rachel Wrigley

Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Secretary Dennis Davin today announced nearly $5.5 million has been awarded to help homeless families find housing and combat homelessness across the commonwealth. The funding is provided through the federal Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) program.

“ESG funding has been an invaluable tool for regions across the state to tackle homelessness in their communities and provide housing options that are safe and reliable,” said Sec. Davin. “We are pleased to get these resources to on-the-ground community organizations that are trusted in their neighborhoods to assist individuals and families experiencing or facing homelessness.”

A total of $5,456,081 in ESG funding was approved for 17 municipal grantees and five non-profits who will administer regional projects covering 25 counties. The 2021 ESG funding eligibility falls into six categories: rapid rehousing, homelessness prevention, street outreach, emergency shelter, homeless management information systems (HMIS), and administration.

Rapid rehousing helps individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness, fleeing violence, or living in a home not suitable for human habitation to swiftly move to stable housing. Homelessness prevention resources help families or individuals who are currently housed but may be in jeopardy of losing their homes with rental assistance and case management resources. Street outreach connects unsheltered homeless individuals with emergency shelter and/or health services. Emergency shelter funding supports costs associated with essential services, operating expenses, and renovations necessary to provide emergency shelter. ESG funding is authorized by McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act as amended by the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act of 2009.