Classroom Moments: Teacher and Students, 1915-1920

This photograph features Elizabeth R. Wylie, a teacher, along with her class, captured between 1915 and 1920 by the Bain News Service. During this period, the United States was navigating a world transformed by the Great War, which lasted from 1914 to 1918. Schools during this time became not just places of learning but also centers of community resilience and adaptation as families grappling with the war sought stability in education for their children.

Wylie’s classroom would have reflected the educational practices and societal norms of the early 20th century. In this era, schoolrooms emphasized fundamental skills, with a focus on reading, writing, and arithmetic. The presence of a dedicated teacher like Wylie highlights the important role educators played in shaping the minds of young Americans, preparing them for both everyday life and the complexities brought on by global events.

This image serves as a window into a significant period in American history, illustrating the environment in which children learned and grew. It emphasizes not only the educational framework of the time but also the social dynamics at play during and after World War I, as communities worked to nurture the next generation amidst rapid changes.