Then and Now: The School Classroom through Photographs

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 Objective: The students will compare photographs of an old school classroom to a classroom today. 

Students can research to find changes that occurred over time in topics like: subjects taught, rules, behavior, how long students attended school, educational changes, material changes, technology changes, the duties of the teacher, and responsibilities of students over time.

Readings: The Goldfinch, volume 16, Number 1, Fall, 1994.

Photographs of old schoolrooms:

https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/whi/results.asp?subject_narrow=One-room+schools

http://www.kansasheritage.org/orsh/gallery/

http://www.ronsaari.com/stockImages/schoolhouses/oneRoomSchoolhouseInteriorClintonNJ.php

Discussion questions based on the Photos

1. How does the classroom of the past differ from ours today?
2. If a student from the old picture could visit our classroom, what questions would that person ask?
3. In what ways do the people in the old picture differ from us?  How are they the same?
4. Did the students in the old photo study the same things as we do? How do you think the curriculum differed from ours?  Why do you think so?
5. Do teachers today do the same things they did years ago?  What things are alike? Different?
6. How do you think the community has changed since those students went to school?

Activities based on the Photos

            Students can work in pairs to examine the photos and write their answers to the above questions. Discussion follows with the whole class. Students can share their photos and thoughts.

            Students can list school equipment that was not invented when the earlier picture was taken.

            Students can compare old and new classrooms for safety features.

            Students can write about, draw, or discuss what a future school may be like?  Do they think technology will eliminate schools, as we know them?

            Students can use a Venn diagram to identify items in the schoolroom photos and items in their classroom today.

            Students can compare/contrast physical features and artifacts of the old classrooms and theirs of today.

Reflection questions for Photos

1. What would you prefer to be, a student today or one in the photo? Why?
2. “School days are the happiest days of your life.”  Do you agree with this quote? Would the students in the photo agree with the quote? Why? Why not?
3. What kind of world were the students in the old photo being trained to live in? What kind of world are we being trained to live in?  Does our education meet this need?  In what ways can it be improved?