Figure 1.--This cabinet card portrait shows the what looks like an 8th grade class in the 1920s. Notice that there are many more girls than boys. At the time, 8th grade could be part of a primary school, or a grade in a junior high school. Many of the boys wear suits which was very common in the 1910s. Most of the boys wear knickers and long black stockings. This was about the time we begin to see patterned knee siocks. Several of the girls wear hair boes, but not on top of their head. Two of the girls wears middy blouses. The school was in Watertown, New York.

Most American children attended school in the 1920s. The growth of the American econoomy and the passage of child labor laws in many states (the South was a notable excption, more children were attending school regularly. By 1920, there were nearly 26 million American students enrolled in primary (elementary) and secondary schools, the vast majority in primary schools. The school years was somewhat shorter than it is today. Schooling would not approach its modern length until the 1930s. The 1920s was when Ameruica made the transition from a largely rural to an urban population and this made a difference in school attendance and level of educational achievenement. City kids are more likely to attend school and reach higher levels of education than rural children. Small rural schools made primary level education possible, but secondary education was for the most part largely restricted to city kids. Many farm parents, including those financially able, were not supportive of education, especially scondary eduction because it meant the yoingster leaving the farm where they were an important part of the work force. And others farm families were not financially able to support their children away from home. My father for example had to leave the family farm to go to high school and this caused a big rift with his father (1916). Primary education was largely an 8 year program in rural school. In city schools, 6 years became the norm and junior high schools appeared. More children continued their education into the seciondary level, but it was still a substantial, but growing minority. The 1920s decade was the Roaring Twenties. This had a contraduictiry trend. More families had the financial ability to support their children if they wanted to continue their education. But the strong economy crerated jobs that attracted many children completing theing primary school. In 1920 only about 20 percent of American kids were earning high school diplomas, but this was a huge increase over the 19th century and higher than in Europe. And these diplomas actally meant somethings in contrast to the often disgraceful level of academic achievement in modern American schools.

Decade Developments

Most American children attended school in the 1920s. The growth of the American econoomy and the passage of child labor laws in many states (the South was a notable excption, more children were attending school regularly. By 1920, there were nearly 26 million American students enrolled in primary (elementary) and secondary schools, the vast majority in primary schools. The school years was somewhat shorter than it is today. Schooling would not approach its modern length until the 1930s. The 1920s was when Ameruica made the transition from a largely rural to an urban population and this made a difference in school attendance and level of educational achievenement. City kids are more likely to attend school and reach higher levels of education than rural children. The 1920s decade was the Roaring Twenties. This had a contraduictiry trend. More families had the financial ability to support their children if they wanted to continue their education. But the strong economy crerated jobs that attracted many children completing theing primary school.

Primary Shoool

Primary education in America had been a largely an 8 year program in rural school. This means children 6-13 years of age. This finally changed in the 1920s. In city schools, 6 years became the norm. A 6-year prpgram means children 6-11vyears ofsge. The 1920s was the decade that American finall sgifed to a majoroty urban country. This mean hat more children were being educated in city porimaries which mean mostly schools wiyth 6 year programs before passing to junior highs or some kind of middle school. Primary sdchools began with 1st grade when the children were about 6 years old. This has become the standard around the world. Some city schools had Kinfdergartens, but most children began school with 1st grade at age 6 years. 1st graders are usually easy to spot. The other grades are more difficult to ientify precisely unless indicated. And states were faced with the need to transition away from small rural schools which were expensive to operate.

Secondary School

American seconsary schhools from the beginning were coeducational. While other countries had some coed primary chools. Coed secondary were very rare in ther ciuntries. Small rural schools made primary level education possible, but secondary education was for the most part largely restricted to city kids. Many farm parents, including those financially able, were not supportive of education, especially scondary eduction because it meant the yoingster leaving the farm where they were an important part of the work force. And others farm families were not financially able to support their children away from home. My father for example had to leave the family farm to go to high school and this caused a big rift with his father (1916). Junior high schools appeared in some cities. More children continued their education into the seciondary level, but it was still a substantial, but growing minority. In 1920 only about 20 percent of American kids were earning high school diplomas, but this was a huge increase over the 19th century and higher than in Europe. And these diplomas actally meant somethings in contrast to the often disgraceful level of academic achievement in modern American schools.

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Created: 11:46 PM 5/29/2023
Last updated: 11:46 PM 5/29/2023