Art
For most American children, school meant leaving home to learn reading, writing, and arithmetic in a room with dozens of other kids of different ages. The schoolhouse was a center of community life, shaping how children saw the world and what futures seemed possible.
Art · Full story
The bell rings. Children of all ages file into wooden desks worn smooth by years of fidgeting. A teacher moves between rows, pointing to letters on a slate board. Outside the window, the fields wait. Inside, a girl practices her penmanship while a younger boy struggles with his numbers. The smell of chalk dust and worn paper hangs in the air.
Reflect
What do you remember about your first classroom? Who was your teacher?