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.

1. Geography class included a lot less technology. None, in fact.
Delaware students looking at map
Photogrammar
Geography class in 1942 was limited to physical maps. It’s like paper GPS.
2. The arts were alive in interpretive dance class.
Delaware Interpretive Dance Class
Photogrammar
An early iteration of the Nay Nay?
3. No high school musicals here. Boys performed a pantomime suggesting manual labor.
Delaware school Pantomime Manual Labor
Photogrammar
I would love to learn more about the story behind this activity.
4. Field trips existed, but they were different. These 1942 teens in a social science class study alley dwellings.
Delaware social science school class field trip
Photogrammar
5. Learning to work with your hands was important. This boy learns to use a saw.
Delaware school boy with saw
Photogrammar
Today, this is a lawsuit waiting to happen. In 1942 it just made good sense.

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6. Arts and crafts had a twist. Young ladies participated in a doll making class.
Delaware Doll Making Class
Photogrammar
7. The libraries contained only books.
1942 Delaware school library
Photogrammar
Let that sink in. Books made of paper.
8. Classrooms looked pretty different, too.
Delaware 1930's classroom
Delaware Public Archives
A simple no-frills classroom with a blackboard was all you needed to get the job done.
9. When it snowed, we still went to school!
Delaware Snow Day 1942
Photogrammar
10. Practicing cursive was very important.
Delaware students in classroom
Photogrammar
11. A high tech science class didn’t include computers.
Delaware Science Class
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!

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