Class, 1930

All classes were taught in English which accelerated the learning of the language by non-English speaking children. Because they spoke to their parents at home in their native language, once children learned English in school, they usually remained bilingual. 

Subjects taught in the elementary school were: "English including spelling, reading and writing, arithmetic, geography, history of the United States, and of Pennsylvania, civics including loyalty to the state and national government, training in safety first aid methods, and the humane treatment of birds and animals, health including physical training and physiology, music, arts."

"Pennsylvania Public School Catechism." Pennsylvania School Journal 74 (October, 1925): 89.

Photo: courtesy Helen Piscevich Morgan collection.