This book documents the history of one-room schools in Wisconsin and presents the author's experiences in a one-room school during the 1940s, as well as the experiences of former teachers and students throughout the state. The first chapter reminisces about the 8 years that the author spent in a one-room school near West Rose, Wisconsin, recalling recess time, long-division lessons, dedicated teachers who worked for scant pay, and the division of the community over school consolidation. The second chapter details the early history of one-room country schools in Wisconsin. The Northwest Ordinances of 1785 and 1787 included provisions for public lands to be used for public schools. Later, the Wisconsin School Law of 1848 provided for the provision of free education and authorized township boards of supervisors to organize school districts. As a result, Wisconsin became the national leader in providing a free education. Chapters 3-14 describe teacher duties and expectations, teacher characteristics, hiring procedures, and the challenges of teaching in a one-room school; teacher training; a typical day; the curriculum; the school of the air (educational radio); recess; the walk to school; softball games; Christmas programs; community uses of school; selected individual school histories; and modern one-room schools. The last two chapters address the effects of school consolidation and lessons to be learned from the effectiveness of one-room country schools. Appendices include recess games and information on Wisconsin school museums. Contains school and subject indexes, references, and photographs. (LP)