Art
In 1920, school was a centerpiece of American childhood. Most children attended public schools like Central High, where they spent their days in crowded classrooms learning reading, math, and civic values. School shaped how young Americans saw their future.
Art · Full story
The bell rings and you slip into a wooden desk bolted to the floor, row after row of them stretching toward the teacher's desk. The air smells like chalk dust and pencil shavings. Around you, dozens of children sit rigid, hands folded, waiting to recite their lessons from memory.
Reflect
How does your school day compare to this 1920 classroom—in seating, teaching, freedom, or purpose?