The School Boat

Swish Swish Stroke Stroke

On the way to school she goes.

Pencil in her hand and paper in her coat

Off she goes in her little row boat.

Out of the fields and into the house,

Little girl won’t hafta  pout or plow-

Penn school’s the ticket to a future of joy.

Penn school’s the path for our girls and boys.

Swish Swish Stroke Stroke

We been stuck on this island long as I know.

They put us in yoke, nearly made us choke.

They thought this island could keep us low.

Been made to plant, been made to sow.

Now we’re gonna seed and grow our own.

Been made to need, been made to sweat.

Now we’re gonna read and take our test.

Swish Swish Stroke Stroke

Penn School is gonna save our folk.

2 oars at a time she’ll forget her strife.

2 oars at a time will save her life.

Accompanying Statement

Our field trip to the Penn Center was eye opening for me.  Although I live in Charleston and have come into contact with many people that speak with a Gullah accent, I somehow never thought about how they came to be here and sound that way.  The presentation about the Penn Center’s beginnings and the history of St.Helena Island have permeated my life in the Lowcountry since we left.  I found the manner in which plantation slavery occurred on the sea islands to be astounding and the way the island people continued to live off of the land after their former masters had deserted them informative.  Some of my favorite things that we learned were the different varieties of crafts and industrial skills taught at Penn Normal, the way that some