Children and teens attending Delaware schools in the 1930s and 40s had a very different experience than students today. From reviewing public archives and historic photos, one thing that stuck out to me was how much more time was spent on real-world skills that could help prepare youngsters for the job force. Take a peek into the past and you’ll see how much things have changed in less than a century.
- Geography class included a lot less technology. None, in fact.
Photogrammar Geography class in 1942 was limited to physical maps. It’s like paper GPS.
- The arts were alive in interpretive dance class.
Photogrammar An early iteration of the Nay Nay?
- No high school musicals here. Boys performed a pantomime suggesting manual labor.
Photogrammar I would love to learn more about the story behind this activity.
- Field trips existed, but they were different. These 1942 teens in a social science class study alley dwellings.
Photogrammar
- Learning to work with your hands was important. This boy learns to use a saw.
Photogrammar Today, this is a lawsuit waiting to happen. In 1942 it just made good sense.
- Arts and crafts had a twist. Young ladies participated in a doll making class.
Photogrammar
- The libraries contained only books.
Photogrammar Let that sink in. Books made of paper.
- Classrooms looked pretty different, too.
Delaware Public Archives A simple no-frills classroom with a blackboard was all you needed to get the job done.
- When it snowed, we still went to school!
Photogrammar
- Practicing cursive was very important.
Photogrammar
- A high tech science class didn’t include computers.
Photogrammar
We’ve come a long way, but many aspects of Delaware schools remain the same. Do you or any of your family members remember what school was like during this time period? Tell us in the comments!
Photogrammar
Geography class in 1942 was limited to physical maps. It’s like paper GPS.
An early iteration of the Nay Nay?
I would love to learn more about the story behind this activity.
Today, this is a lawsuit waiting to happen. In 1942 it just made good sense.
Let that sink in. Books made of paper.
Delaware Public Archives
A simple no-frills classroom with a blackboard was all you needed to get the job done.
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