Japan Society of Fairfield County
Workshop for GJS Teachers at Bush-Holley House
On
July 1, the Japan Society of Fairfield County and the Greenwich
Historical Society organized a workshop for the teachers at Greenwich
Japanese School. The purpose of the program was to educate the GJS
school teachers about life in America so they could better cover this
topic in their classes in the upcoming school year. There were nineteen
teachers headed by principal Mr. Tomoyuki Mitsui. The workshop
consisted of two parallel sessions.
Harry Sakamaki, president of JSFC and a docent of the Bush-Holley
House, led
one group on a tour this historic house. The Bush family lived in the
house from the 1750’s to the 1840’s during the colonial and federal
periods. David Bush owned the grist mill and had a monopoly of
the
local grain trading business enabling him to become one of ten richest
men in Greenwich. The teachers were shown the parlor where David Bush
entertained business guests and friends serving tea and other
delicacies. Harry explained the operation of the tidal grist mill
using
illustrations he prepared.
Next the teachers visited the kitchen where David’s wife Sarah spent
most of the day overseeing several women slaves who prepared meals for
17 family members including 15 children. Teachers saw the kitchenware
used in the colonial period. Harry also discussed the chores boys and
girls had to do then.
Sarah’s sick room was visited next. They learned how Sarah had managed
the house and family during the difficult time of the American
Revolutionary War after David’s death. They saw a stamp on the back of
old wall paper which complied with the Stamp Act, one of the causes
leading to the revolt against England.
The teachers were astonished when they entered into a dark
room in the attic. It was the slave quarters. Harry explained the
history of slavery and its operation in New England and Connecticut.
Slavery ended in the North during the 1780’s long before the American
Civil War. They also learned how slavery in the North differed from
slavery in the Southern States.
Marybeth Nisco, GHS Assistant Director, and Tomoko Dougan, member of
JSFC, led a hands on learning experience for the other group using
colonial artifacts. Each teacher was assigned a tool or item.
They studied to it find who in the Bush family might have used it, what
was it for, how it was used and who had made it. Some of the items
studied were: a pair
of eye glasses, a candle mold, a sugar nipper, a quill pen, a sampler,
a fire starter, and a carding comb.
After 45 minutes, the groups swapped between sessions. A final Q&A
session for everyone completed the workshop. The
teachers enjoyed the program and made good suggestions for future
improvements.
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