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American children before World War II mosly walked to school. Here a variety of factors were involved involving demographics and the type of school. Children in the 19th century had to live close to a school if they wanted an education. This problem was partly solved in rural areas by building a large number of small primary schools. Children who wanted to go on to secondary schools would have to move in with relatives in towns and cities. Unlike Europe, in part because of larger farms, farm family did not live in villages. And land from a very early point in America's development was provided to finance schools in rural areas. This mean that most children in rural areas lived within walking distance, albeit often a long walk, of a local primary school.
Unfortunately there are very few photographic images of 19th century children walking to school. There are class portraits at school, but very few images of the children on their way to school. This changes with the development od the simplified, amateur snapshot at the turn-of-the 20th century. Suddenly we have countless photographs of school children. Today we have this image of rural boys dressed in overalls walking to school. In fact, the overalls did not become common in rural schools until about 1910. And soon after the dynamic of walking long distances to school began to change. Henry Ford's assembly-line Model-T soon lead to trucks and World War I greatly expanded the use of trucks. After the War, school busses began to appear in America and were an increasinly important fact (1930s). School busses appeared that could inexpensively transport large number of children considerable distances to school. By the 1920s and 30s corduroy knickers wetre common.Striped "T"-shirts and jeans were very common in elementary schools. This was common school clothes at the times. Many American children still walk to school, especially primary children. This is because primary (elementary schools) are relatively small and located in residenbtial neigborhoods. Most secondary students, however, ride busses because the schools are larger with more expansive catchment areas.
Here a variety of factors were involved involving demographics and the type of school. Children in the 19th century had to live close to a school if they wanted an education. This problem was partly solved in rural areas by building a large number of small primary schools. This was due to a land system established by the Northwest Ordinance (1787). A small section of every block of land was set aside for a school. This meant that most American children were in walking distance of a school even in rural areas. Some children came to school on a mule or horse, but most walked to school. Children who wanted to go on to secondary schools would have to move in with relatives in towns and cities. Unlike Europe, in part because of larger farms, farm family did not live in villages. And land from a very early point in America's development was provided to finance schools in rural areas. This mean that most children in rural areas lived within walking distance, albeit often a long walk, of a local primary school.
Unfortunately there are very few photographic images of 19th century children walking to school.
There are 19th century class portraits at school, but very few images of the children on their way to school. This changes with the development od the simplified, amateur snapshot at the turn-of-the 20th century. Suddenly we have countless photographs of school children. Today we have this image of rural boys dressed in overalls walking to school. In fact, the overalls did not become common in rural schools until about 1910. And soon after the dynamic of walking long distances to school began to change. Henry Ford's assembly-line Model-T soon lead to trucks and World War I greatly expanded the use of trucks. After the War, school busses began to appear in America and were an increasinly important fact (1930s). This enabled the restructuring of rural education. School busses appeared that could inexpensively transport large number of children considerable distances to school. By the 1920s and 30s corduroy knickers were common. Striped "T"-shirts and jeans were very common in elementary schools. This was common school clothes at the times. American children before World War II mosly walked to school. After World War II, modt one room schools were closed or in tghe process of bing closed. Fleets of busses brought rural childten to larger consolidated schools in towns. And with the post-War move to he suburbs, by\usses were needed there as well. Many American children still walk to school, especially primary children. This is because primary (elementary schools) are relatively small and located in residential neigborhoods. Most secondary students, however, ride busses because the schools are larger with more expansive catchment areas.
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