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How did school students support those in need during the war years?
How did school students support those in need during the war years?
Learning intention – We are practising critical thinking when examining primary sources.
Success criteria – We can state ways that the schools supported soldiers' families and examples of persuasive devices used to encourage support.
Growing vegetables
Growing vegetables
As the war continued into 1917 and 1918, families whose ‘breadwinners’ were fighting overseas, or had returned wounded, struggled to make ends meet. A Soldiers’ Fruit and Vegetable Fund was established.
Through The School Magazine a direct appeal was made to NSW school students of all ages to grow vegetables for soldiers’ families.
Help for soldiers' wives and families
Help for soldiers' wives and families
‘Owing to the present high cost of living, the families of soldiers who are fighting at the front have great difficulty in making both ends meet, It seems wrong that such should be the case...
...How many boys and girls in Sydney have grown a cabbage or a cauliflower? Let those who have not done so make the attempt...
...if Sydney boys and girls respond in their thousands, think of the great amount of food that will be produced, and of the joy which will be brought into the homes of many who have done so very much for us.’
The School Magazine, Part 3, 1 April 1918, pp.38 and 39
Can you help?
Can you help?
(Partial transcript of The School Magazine story for 3rd Grade.)
'That day after school Eva was very busy. She looked around until she found a rusty old kerosene tin. It leaked badly, but that made it all the better. She made a few extra holes in the bottom, and spread a layer of small stones there. Then she went to a stable close by and got some well-rotted manure. This she mixed with about the same quantity of soil, and soon her kerosene tin was ready.
Next day, the teacher gave out young cauliflower and cabbage plants to all the pupils who were willing to take one - and there were few who were not.
Eva hurried home and planted it very carefully, pressing the soil around the young roots gently but firmly.'
Can you help? The School Magazine, Part 1, 1 April 1918, pp.39 and 40
Can you help? - an appeal to school students to grow vegetables for struggling families. The School Magazine, Partt 1, 1 April 1918, pp.39 and 40
Growing vegetables for Returned Soldiers, Public School Wyong Creek. Wm Baldwon, Teacher. The students are harvesting and weighing potatoes. The Education Gazette, 1 June 1918, p.135
Growing vegetables for returned soldiers, Public School Wyong Creek. Wm Baldwin, Teacher. The chalk writing on the work bench says 'Public School Wyong Creek 6/12/17 For Returned Soldiers'. The Education Gazette, 1 June 1918, p.135
Activities and questions
Activities and questions
Examine the photographs published in The Education Gazette, a journal for teachers.
What vegetables have the students grown?
Are the photographs staged or spontaneous? Why do you think that?
How are the activities of the students in the photograph intended to persuade teachers to participate in school vegetable growing?
Read the extracts from The School Magazine stories, written for students
What persuasive devices are used in the stories to encourage student participation?
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