School Daze

Every day I ride around my neighborhood on my bicycle. The school kids all shuffle towards the bus stops. They all look like they are headed toward execution. They don't want to go. I'd guess the majority hate school. And I wonder. What was school like say 100 years ago? So I broke my own rule. I asked AI Here's what it said:

My question: 

"What was it like to be a school aged child in the US at the beginning of the 20th century"

Responses follow. AI is good at this stuff:

Life as a school-aged child in the US at the beginning of the 20th century was quite different from today's experience, heavily shaped by geographic location and socioeconomic factors. Here's a glimpse into the key aspects of that time:

1. Schooling was not universal

Attendance was lower: In 1900, only about half of children between the ages of 5 and 19 were attending school.

Child Labor: Many children, particularly in rural areas and working-class families, had to work on family farms or in industries to contribute to the family income, limiting their schooling opportunities.

Rural Schools: The majority of schools were in rural areas and were often one-room schoolhouses with one teacher instructing students across a wide age range (5 to 20 years old).

Shorter School Year: Rural school years were often shorter than in urban areas, acknowledging the need for children to help with farm work, according to The Library of Congress.

Urban Schools: Urban schools were typically larger, with students grouped by age into separate classrooms, notes Encyclopedia.com. 

2. Classroom environment

One-room Schoolhouses: In rural areas, one teacher taught students of all ages in a single room. The teacher might spend most of the time with older students who would then help the younger ones.

Simple Resources: Classrooms were sparse, with few books and limited supplies like slates and chalk instead of notebooks and pencils.

Rote Learning: Learning methods primarily focused on memorization and repetition.

Strict Discipline: Discipline was strict, sometimes involving physical punishment like spanking or paddling. Disrespect towards teachers was severely punished.

No School Lunches: Children brought their lunches from home, often in metal pails or woven baskets. 

3. Curriculum

Focus on Basic Skills: Elementary schools focused on basic skills like reading, writing, and arithmetic.

High School Emphasis: High schools, for the small percentage of students who attended, emphasized subjects important for industry and the economy, like woodworking, drafting, and sciences, notes Quizlet.

Segregation: Educational opportunities were limited and segregated, particularly for African American students, notes Reader's Digest. 

4. Life outside of school

Chores: Many children had chores to do before and after school, such as helping on the family farm, performing domestic duties, or assisting with family businesses.

Simple Entertainment: Playtime was often spent outdoors, playing games like checkers, board games, or baseball. Girls were often expected to learn domestic skills like sewing.

New Organizations: Organizations like the YMCA and Boy Scouts emerged, aiming to provide physical activity and character building experiences for youth, according to The Library of Congress.

Child Labor Epidemic: Child labor was rampant, with many young children working long hours in mines, factories, or selling goods on the streets. 

5. Educational reform

Growing Concerns: Despite the traditional approach, there was a growing awareness among citizens that schools needed to better prepare students for the changing demands of the rapidly industrializing society.

Reform Movements: The early 20th century saw the beginnings of education reform movements that aimed to introduce concepts like equality, child-centered learning, and broader educational opportunities for all. 

It's important to remember that these are general observations. The specific experiences of individual children would have varied greatly depending on their family's circumstances, location (rural vs. urban), and ethnic background. 

Basically , it wasn't much fun. If you could get it at all.

The kids of today need to read this before they continue hating what they have. Not going to hapen I'm sure. But they should.