Graduate Paper

1 Professional Article Review “At a time in their lives when their days and nights should have been filled with innocent adventure, love, and the lessons of the workaday world, they were fighting in the most primitive conditions possible across the bloodied landscape of France, Belgium, Italy, Austria, and the Coral Islands of the pacific. They answered the call to save the world from the two most powerful and ruthless military machines ever assembled, instruments of conquest in the hands of fascist maniacs. They faced great odds and a late start, but they did not protest. They succeeded on every front. They won the war; they saved the world. They came home to joyous and short- lived celebrations and immediately began the task of rebuilding their lives and the world they wanted. They married in record numbers and gave birth to another distinctive generation, the Baby Boomers. A grateful nation made it possible for more of them to attend college than any society had ever educated, anywhere. They gave the world new science, literature, art, industry, and economic strength unparalleled in the long curve of history. As they now reach the twilight of their adventurous and productive lives, they remain, for the most part, exceptionally modest. They have so many stories to tell, stories that in many cases they have never told before, because in a deep sense they didn’t think that what they were doing was that special, because everyone else was doing it too.” Who are these people that Tom Brokaw speaks of in his essay “The Greatest Generation?” They are the men and women of the United States that aided the world’s greatest effort in America’s first total war. They are the youth of America that President Roosevelt called upon to be America’s third army. They are grade school, high school, and college students who would be revered as the backbone of the war effort in the United States during World War II. How, may you ask, can a third grader aid in helping one of the most established and polished militaries in the entire world fight against the spread of fascism in its attempts to poison the world? This will be the focus of my literary excerpt. I will take a look at professional essays and literary works from the state of Oregon where juvenile delinquency was a chief concern, to Texas High Schools where curriculum was dictated by the idealism of the war effort, all the way to the east coast where our government called on America’s schools to create a “Victory Corps” for America. From sea to shining sea students throughout this great country were asked to

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2 mentally, physically, and in some cases emotionally pore their hearts out in aiding America’s military machine. In some cases these propositions robbed this generation from the one thing they counted on the most – youthful exuberance and their education. The government pleaded educators throughout the country to teach patriotism and pride to their students through tin rations, food drives, and bond sales. While forgetting the fact that many of these children had seen their fathers, uncles, brothers, and even grandfathers leave to fight the good fight against people they had never heard of. These children also did their duties while their mothers and sisters spent countless hours sewing clothing, surrendering nylons, and cooking for the cause. Where does this leave these young children in the quest for a proper education? One Thing Leads to Another : Juvenile Delinquency Rises Wartime social changes led to a rise in juvenile delinquency across the country, an unwanted but not unexpected phenomenon. Social scientists had noted an increase in delinquency during World War I and Britain reported a jump of fifty percent during the first year of World War II. But anticipating the problem did little to untangle the web of complex issues that caused some alarming symptoms to surface nationally. Despite the wholesome portrait of unity, sacrifice, and patriotism painted in movies and on posters, shocking and lurid behavior drew the attention of newspapers and government officials alike. Both wondered how so many youths could seemingly behave so out of control. We look to statistics to answer the questions of why and how many. Nationally, during 1942, the first full year of the war, FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover reported arrests of “young boys and men” actually dropped off as such as ten percent. But arrests of minor girls increased a staggering fifty five percent. More detailed numbers showed that

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3 arrests of girls under twenty-one years old for prostitution rose sixty-five percent; arrests for other sex offenses jumped one hundred and four percent; arrests for vagrancy shot up one hundred and twenty-four percent; arrests for disorderly conduct increased seventy percent; and arrests for drunkenness rose forty percent. Another source measuring the “rate of juvenile delinquency” saw an increase over the same period of eight percent for boys and thirty percent for girls. Why, you may ask, could the country’s greatest generation act out so dramatically when the American government asks so vehemently to have pride in one’s own country? The answer is pretty easy. Very similar to the “Wild West” of the late eighteenth century, we see a generation of children growing up without guidance and more importantly protection of the law. Many probation officers went into the armed forces or higher paying defense industry jobs during the war leaving fewer people to keep track of at risk youth. “There’s nobody at home anymore. Pop and Bud joined the Navy. Mom’s on the swing shift.” Large numbers of youth had to fend for themselves during the war, often less than ideal homes. Some other causes of juvenile delinquency are flat out simple: Teenagers are “having a tough time – at a tough time.” In other words, it was difficult enough for anyone to go through the developmental challenges of adolescence, even without the complications of war thrown in. Beyond the intensification of the usual teenage problems, officials cited other causes, with lack of parental supervision high on the list. Fathers were often separated from their families by either working in distant war industries or, beginning in 1943, being drafted into the armed forces. Meanwhile, mothers often in full time jobs, sometimes working evenings or nights. Parents often returned

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4 home from too tired to pay attention to their children. Problems of parental neglect frequently were exacerbated by the absence of older brothers and sisters in the household, many joined the military or gone off to work in defense jobs. The government looked to the schools to provide vision and supervision for the youth of America. The children would get moral, physical, and mental education from the schools littering the American landscape. Oh, and while they are in school, the government decided that they would create a curriculum that would benefit the idealism of the war effort. This too would serve as a problem. In areas where war industries and shipyards flourished a boom in school becoming overcrowded was seen. In 1943 Portland, Oregon’s grade schools had to make room for seven thousand new students. The crunch was felt particularly acutely in North Portland near major shipyards where three schools went on “double shifts” to cope with the influx. This meant that thousands of youngsters, particularly in the nine to twelve year ranges, suddenly had all morning or all afternoon off. The Answer : The American High School Victory Corp – organized at the request of the leaders of our national government.

To Students “Your government has asked your cooperation in the Great War effort. Prior to graduation, you will be asked to contribute portions of your time to community service. Upon graduation you may be needed to serve either in the armed forces or in industry. The High School Victory Corps is designed to aid you in both instances and prepare you to fill positions in which you are best fitted and most needed. This is your Program. It is developed to meet your needs.” The program listing this excerpt was taken from was a school district in Portland, Oregon. The government felt that the Victory Corp would serve several roles – one being 4

5 getting the youth of American off the streets and back in the classrooms; secondly the program was designed to promote community service; thirdly this program would mold the minds of the youth of America in an effort to complete the total war in the event this war lasted longer than planned; and lastly prepare the generation of soldiers for military duty whether it be on American soil or abroad. The Victory Corp program was placed in the hands of the students to determine the various courses that were available to prepare the students to do their part in the war effort. Each student would create their own program to meet their individual needs. The five divisions were constructed to train the children for certain positions in the armed forces. It was the opinion of the U.S. government that the American high school student should be appropriately trained to aid in the war effort. One of the main goals of the Victory Corps’ high school curriculum aims on developing a strong body. Strong, healthy men and women capable of withstanding the stress and strain of war and industrial life are needed during this time like never before. As a result of this situation, the government felt that physical education should be stressed above all other subjects for those who are eligible to enter the war within the next two years. This meant that as students reach their junior year of high school, daily physical education classes would be required. These stipulations were devised for both girls and boys. Freshmen and sophomores were expected to engage in intramural sports or at least follow a program outlined for personal training at home. In the communities, especially those in rural areas would have demands placed on them like never before. Aid in harvesting crops, emergencies in canning industries, and drives of various kinds would

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6 all require the help of the Victory Corp. School clubs would also be driven by the goals of the war effort. Daily exposure to military drill would also be incorporated into the daily physical education classes. The state guard even offered after school training to those students wishing to continue their military aspirations. Government officials felt that because of the lack of professional military instructors made the training in physical educations all that more important. Students were also asked to work collaboratively with their teachers in other classes such as mathematics to devise a program that would be serviceable to the military. What I mean by this is that the government felt as though the military training in its own way could work on military based instruction in the mathematics curriculum. Their were several “special courses” that were offered through the Victory Corp. All of these classes were geared towards preparing the American student for war specific trades. These courses: Pre-Induction to Fundamentals of Auto Mechanics, Radio, Electricity, Pre-Flight Course, and Machinery were all offered as one semester courses. Each course was designed as an introduction to basic armed force occupations. The requirements for general membership in the Victory Corps program were pretty simple. It was open to all students in secondary schools. The United States Office of Education has stipulated that candidates for membership in the Victory Corps Program must meet some simple requirements. The first being the student must be participating in the physical education program devised by their particular school. The second requirement is that the student must also follow the regular curriculum crated by their school. And finally the student must be actively participating in one of the wartime activities previously listed. In accompaniment with the wartime classes the candidates

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7 also must participate in civilian defense activities such as the U.S.O volunteer activities, Red Cross, farm aid, and school-home –community activities. Other school-based clubs were also acceptable such as Girl Scouts, Camp Fire Girls, and the Boy Scouts. Through reading this article I was able to see a concrete plan for servicing the youth of America through education and discipline. In a way I believe it served several purposes. It aided the children who were being neglected at home with a purpose. It created a platform for the young people of America to aid in the war effort. And it prepared the next generation of soldiers if the war continued longer than previously expected.

Reemphasis of patriotism in the Houston Schools Houston’s schools reacted calmly to American entry into World War II. Many of the city’s students and teachers listened to President Roosevelt’s war message in stilled classrooms on Monday December. 8. However, for the most part, school schedules and routine continued largely undisturbed for a number of weeks. Only later did people notice the intense advocacy for participation in war-related school activities. Then, Houston schools responded with enthusiasm. I accordance to my research questions surrounding the concept of school efforts during World War Two I took a look at a particular school district in Houston, Texas and their attempts at fostering patriotism amongst their student body. Particularly visible was the work of Parent-Teacher Associations within the district. For example, throughout the 1940-41 school year, the Lamar High School PTA focused on the theme of “Training Youth for Democratic Citizenship.” Also, a speaker addressed the Almeda School PTA on

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8 the topic, “Helping the Child Adjust in a Changing World,” and the Taylor school PTA heard an address on “War Relief as it Touches Women in the National Defense. Just a week before Pearl Harbor, Milby High School PTA members discussed how to develop strong citizens who can rebuild the world after the war. Routinely, school children sang patriotic songs at PTA meetings and banquets featured patriotic colors. Students at Alexander Hamilton Junior High School performed in a play, “How Democracy Is Being Taught in Our School.” During the 1940-41 school year, most Houston schools organized Junior Red Cross chapters. All students at the Harvard School became members. They contracted games for soldiers in a nearby camp and toys for English children. Students at Kincaid School knitted afghans for Red Cross distribution. Teachers also performed volunteer civic, patriotic services. They began to serve without pay on the city’s draft advisory boards. Their service was especially needed because Houston’s draft call for February 1941 was expected to take 600 men. Graduation exercises and other events prompted special patriotic observances. For example, at Jack Yates High School’s last mid-term commencement, graduates observed senior night with an open forum on “What America Means to Me.” Reagan High School promoted the “Pageant of America” at which Uncle Sam made an appearance. Sixth graders at Poe School gave a benefit observance and donated the proceeds to the Houston War Fund. Similarly, a high school pep squad sold flowers to aid the relief of disabled World War I veterans. In the final weeks prior to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Major Charles R. Weeks, head of Houston’s city defense department, appealed to the superintendent of

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9 schools and to the public to place increased emphasis on patriotism in the schools. One response was the observance of American Education Week in November 1941. In that observance, daily themes included “Seeking World Order” , “Building Physical Fitness” , “National Morale” , and “Learning the Ways of Democracy.”

While many of us go through twelve years of primary education without glamour of attrition the country’s “Greatest Generation” lived through some of the toughest and best of times. They rallied to collect tin, rationed their bicycle tires, and surrendered their socks and sweaters –for what? Their government had asked them to give up many of the guilty pleasures of childhood for a cause. This purpose, this cause, was democracy. Many of the students during this era saw school as a way out, a place of refuge. The government and their teachers prepared them physically and mentally for world war. Many of these children did not even know what war was and certainly did not know what this war was about. But what they did learn was a lesson in life. What self-sacrifice and community truly meant. They had to overlook the anxiety created by a nation that feared invasion. They were asked to bypass the tendency to be afraid or in many cases loneliness and fight the good fight. Were they preparing themselves to be great soldiers? I believe they were. They sacrificed traditional education to prepare for a war that for all intensive purposes could possibly end not just in areas of the world they had only seen in movies, but maybe even in their backyard. The country looked at this war with a win at all costs mentality. The men had to fight, the women had to work, the young men had to rally for democracy, and the young girls had to sew until their hands bled. But education remained, for the most

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10 part, the same as it always was and will always be. Whether its military training in the schools with a focus on physical fitness or a traditional twelve -year private school with a college prep curriculum. Education remains the same. The teachers may change, administration may change, goals may change, but in the end education always will be the opiate of the masses. I have researched school districts from the west coast in Portland, Oregon to the southern tip of Texas. I will now look and focus on a rural town in the river city of Cincinnati. This farm town, a suburb located on the east side of Cincinnati was affected just like every other part of the United States by the events of World War II. Like thousands of school districts throughout this great country, Milford City Schools, rallied to provide the members of its community and its students a true meaning. That meaning…….a quest for democracy or at least a chance at feeling safe and a part of something bigger than a school district.

INTRODUCTION I have touched on the educational goals of American school districts throughout

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11 this great country during World War II. The efforts of the “third army” comprised of children that make up America’s greatest generation. I will now look at a particular school district in a community that had true pride in their country and had meaning behind everything they set out to accomplish. This school district in Milford, Ohio is located in what was once considered to be rural Cincinnati. My research questions revolve around the specific efforts by Milford students to aid in the war effort. What did they do to help? What did they sacrifice? How did the aspirations of democracy resignate through the schools in Milford? How did the students react emotionally, physically, and socially to the events of World War II? How did the community rally around the schools in an effort to do their part in he war effort? I researched records from as far back as 1937 in the Milford Historical Society located in the legendary Promont House in downtown Milford. I looked through cardboard boxes in search of stories from the school children as they lived through one of the most traumatic times in American history. I search the basement of the old Milford Main High School in search of Board of Education minutes and receipts from purchases made on behalf of the school district and in some cases the federal government. I went to the Clermont City Library in search of old newspaper stories of Milford High School students and their remarkable efforts to show their pride in their country. What did I find? A story that every student in America should have to read about today. It is a story of a group of students that sacrificed for the freedoms that we enjoy today. A school district that sacrificed like no other while maintaining the sanctity of the public education system we value so dearly. The class of 1944 was a class like no other. I have read through all four of their

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12 yearbooks, “The Drofilm (which by the way is MILFORD spelled backwards), “ to recollect their experiences during World War II. The class of 1944 at Milford experienced more than anyone could ever imagine. The purpose is to pay homage to the class of 1944 and the entire Milford School District for their mental, physical, economic, and sometimes personal sacrifices during WWII. This paper will be donated to the Promont House archives for Milford residents to read for centuries to come. Hopefully no one will ever forget the sacrifices made by the Milford Community Schools and more importantly the sacrifices of the “Greatest Generation.”

A Prelude to Global War World War II was truly a global conflict. The range of geographic names where

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13 Milford men were fighting developed knowledge of formerly little known or unknown places. On the home front things were changing. Civil defense was considered very important, maybe even essential, to victory for the United States during World War II. High school students were taught to be plane spotters on the coasts, residents on the East and West Coasts were required to have blackout curtains. Everyone collected foil from cigarette packs, and grease, and used metals – all of which could be used in the war effort. Gas, rubber, shoes, sugar, coffee, and meat were all rationed. In the following excerpt taken from “Milford Remembered,” Magee Adams explains local blackout tests: “The fun of sort, that made WWII endurable, came when Civil Defense staged blackout tests. The first, in the summer of 1943, was promoted as an “area wide” test. When the sirens wailed, the lights went out with smooth precision. I remember Blythe Jones trying to cross Main Street at our corner blundering around in the dark. The sole exception to inky blackness was the Civil Defense headquarters in the National Hotel.” When reading through the archives of old yearbooks during World War II there was very little mention of the war itself. The students of Milford High School went about their business as typical high school students do. Proms, clubs, plays, and sporting events went on as scheduled. But what I did see was a common theme that pertanated throughout all the classes. A self-sacrifice and prideful attitude towards their country. Not a fear for their lives but a resignation to do their part in aiding the country’s patriotic vision.

I did however find this explicit excerpt from the Drofilm as it closed for another school year: “Now, gentle reader, the preceding lines are by no means the full account of the happenings of our class. Many little incidents have been left out that would seem trivial to you, but these incidents have helped to mould our characters. The picnics, hayrides, parties, and dances – these and many more will forever remain a part of each and every

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14 one of us. To relate these would be only a futile attempt, for the pen could never describe them as they really happened. Our senior year was a momentous one. It was in December 1941, that the Japanese declared war on us and cinched a Second World War. With an optimistic outlook, we threw ourselves into defense of the homeland. So with these words the class history nears a heroic end; we hope everyone tries as hard as we did.” (Drofilm, 1941)

How did Milford students and schools aid in the war effort? Mr. Holmes guided the school through World War II, a time when schools were required to make sacrifices just as the rest of the country. Boys left school before graduation to join the armed forces. This was not necessarily the goal of the United States government though. Students collected tin cans, scrap metal, paper and rubber, which were piled on the school ground for pick-up by large tractor-trailer trucks. High School boys were released from school to help local farmers harvest their crops before frost. Girls knitted and rolled bandages. Defense stamps and bonds were sold in classrooms and ration books and stamps were distributed from the school. Mr. Shelly taught a military training course, which could be substituted for physical education. Mr. Shelley also served as Milford high school’s head basketball coach. The United States government to control the home front devised the third army or children’s army. Milford students, like those throughout the United States, would have to do their part. Classrooms were used as rallying headquarters for bond sales. Contests were held amongst grade levels and quotas were set in order to sell mass amounts of war bonds. Students even had to collect milkweed pods to provide floss for navy life jackets. The children would receive twenty cents per bag of pods. This job was opened up to the Girl Scouts, Camp fire groups, 4-H clubs, and all school children. The students found these jobs to be tedious but very worthwhile. They were

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15 aiding a greater cause – their country and its patriotic fight for democracy. The sale of war bonds provided the biggest push by the U.S. war commition. Students in the Milford school district completed war bond quotas by canvassing the homes throughout Clermont County. The purpose of the canvassing of neighborhood homes was to secure the promise of every person with an income earned or otherwise, to purchase extra war bonds. Another purpose of the canvassing was to find out as accurately as possible what amount the government can count upon receiving from Milford residents through the purchases of Seventh War Bonds. Lastly, to find through the student-to-home contact to carry the story of the vital part of war bond investments play in winning the war and the peace. Statewide the goal was to sell four hundred and three million dollars worth of war bonds. The interesting thing about this mission to sell bonds is the fact that the town of Milford is not one of your more affluent parts of Cincinnati. The residents of Milford are farmers and small business owners with a pride in their community and their schools. Even though it was believed that rural children were “seriously handicapped” (Miami Valley April 1942) because rural schools are inferior to urban schools. This was the contention of many people in the area. The proof – the average salary of rural teachers is $967.00 compared to the $1,937.00 for urban teachers. Largely because of inadequate salaries, nearly sixty percent of all teachers in rural elementary schools having one or two teachers have had less than two years education beyond high school. Over half the nation’s children are educated in rural schools, yet they have only thirty-eight percent of available funds for support of schools. Of farm youth between 16 and 17 years old, only fifty-eight percent were attending high school in 1940, and it was estimated that fifty thousand rural children of

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16 elementary age are not enrolled. Many rural buildings were deemed unhealthy by health regulatory standards. Throughout the United States more than thirteen thousand rural classrooms were vacant in 1939 because teachers could not be found. Teachers from Milford High School also did their parts in helping foster a more democratic attitude amongst their students. As I previously noted, throughout the United States a Victory Corp was created to ensure all high school students began pitching in for the war effort. Well Milford High School would be no different. The establishment of the Victory Corp in Milford Schools in the year 1942 saw a drastic change in the curriculum that was being taught at Milford. According to the Miami Valley News December 3, 1942, “Summarizing the contacts made by schools and teachers during last year, the association announced that during the school year 1941-42, teachers gave 20,000,000 school hours and 18,000,000 non school hours throughout the country to rationing and similar activities.” These efforts supplied by the backbone of the educational system also involved additional time spent in such activities as Red Cross work, participation in First Aid canteen and production service, civilian defense duties such as those of air raid warden, auxiliary police, and airplane spotters. Under the supervision of the teachers the Victory Corp, made up of 30,000,000 school children, during the school year 1942-43 sold more that $80,000,000 worth of bonds and stamps, sponsored and cultivated 169,000 acres of victory gardens, and produced 300,000 model airplanes for the armed forces through tin collections country wide. They were also participants in the salvage campaign during which they collected 150,000 tons of waste paper alone. American Junior Red Cross membership in the schools now totals more than 13,000,000.

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17 Milford high school students eager to volunteer in the war effort would gather daily in the basement of the Milford National Bank building with its entrance steps on Garfield Avenue. Their initial effort at rationing was complicated by timing. In those days, home canning or jelly making or preserving was a big thing, especially encouraged by the war effort. Although fruit was plentiful, women had to get rationing certificates for sugar from the rationing office. The result was a crowd that engulfed the bank corner with lines that stretched a half block along Main and Garfield. Moreover, all this was under a June sun that fairly broiled the unwary. Because of inexperience and confusion, the ordeal went on for weeks. That is the way it was handled the first year of the war. Come the next year things were changed. All rationing was handled through the Board of Milford by mail. Shoe, coffee and meat rationing were also pushed by the government’s pleas for self-sacrifice. You were required to have coupons or points for these. This was a very active Civil Defense outfit. I mean they had a lot of busy work and some of it was quite all right. The Milford Girl Scout troops also created what was called the “Victory Fund” drive. During this drive, established to help troops world-wide, each Girl Scout will be asked to increase her regular purchases of war savings stamps and to send at least one of them to National Headquarters through her leader. This Victory Fund also served two other, and in my opinion, more important goals: To help win the war NOW and to help spread peace and understanding later on after the war. Milford high school sent many young men and women off to war. The draft and volunteers provided people for every service. The size and scope of World War II experiences littered the yearbooks and newspapers of the Milford community, to many to

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18 mention. This research paper alone could never do justice to the efforts of so many of the Milford citizens. But there was an effort by the Milford community to honor these people by the establishment of the Memorial Park on Main Street.

What could administration, the board of education do to keep the school district? working amongst a time of turmoil?

Through the years 1940 to 1941 the Milford Board of Education had a significant role. They were the glue that held this proud community’s educational system in place. I read dozens of stories from teachers who felt resignation was the only way to cope with their experiences with the war. Wives, sisters, and mothers alike all sent letters of resignation because of reasons like their husbands were being transported to different cities for military purposes to they were taking higher paying jobs in the civil defense industry. The most controversial issue in my opinion was the Board’s decision to fire women teachers who decided to get married while they were employed with the Milford City School District. How could the Board fire women teachers during a time when there was a significant teacher shortage? The answer was simple; it was time to amend the policy. And that is exactly what the Board did. This excerpt was taken from the Board of Education minutes from April 6, 1943 and it reads as follows: “Motion by Mr. Doll seconded by Mr. Fley that the following resolution be adopted – Resolved that the Milford Exempted Village Board of Education does not favor the marriage of lady teachers during the term of the contract but owing to the war situation the regular policy of the Board concerning married lady teachers is hereby suspended for the duration and the question of procedure left with the Superintendent of Schools”

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The Milford Board of Education also adopted a national plan known as the “Wartime Allowance Fund”. This resolution would entice more teachers to go back to work with school districts by raising their salaries by $155.00 per contract year. This did help the Milford City Schools drastically as several teachers returned to teach in the 1944 calendar year. Other facets of the educational system in Milford pitched in to help with the cause. The PTA sponsored a Halloween Dance that collected can goods and raised money through dance sponsorships. All of the proceeds went towards the war effort. The Milford Board of Education donated ten typewriters to the WPB. Even though the WPB mandated that all school districts throughout the country donate at least twenty-five typewriters per school it was still thought of as very helpful. The bus companies in the Milford school district advised all students with a two mile radius begin walking to school as the number of bus trips were going to be drastically limited due to gas rations. This also affected the sports teams dramatically. The Milford City Schools sports teams no longer would play teams outside the Clermont County boundaries. Long trips meant more gas, and even in some cases, more buses which at the time had been cut almost in half because of tire/rubber rations. The U.S. Rationing Board was sure to bring to the attention of all high school principals that the use of buses to transport athletes or students to athletic contests is strictly prohibited bus OPA regulations. School bus drivers were also responsible for upkeep on their bus tires. The Board called the attention of all drivers, as well as school bus drivers to the rule that if cars or buses are operated past the point where tires can be recapped, they will be denied certificates to operate vehicles of transportation for the

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20 schools (The Clermont Courier September 1942). I do want to share a few bits of research that I thought were very pertinent to this paper. When researching through the yearbooks from 1939 to 1944 I found it interesting how they encouraged patriotism amongst their students. Here are a few examples from the Drofilm calendar. 1942 November 11 – Armistice program. President Roosevelt gave us a stirring speech – by radio December 7 – Japan declared war on the United States. New slogan: “Remember Pearl Harbor.” December 15 – Bill of Rights Day. I’m proud to be an American February 8 – Tonight we went on wartime. An hour’s sleep was lost somewhere

1943 November 11 – Armistice Day. Mr. Holmes talked on the “Importance of Education in the War.” November 30 - $540.00 worth of defense stamps sold this month December 1 – Gas rationing is now in and those moonlight drives are out – for the duration

December 5 – Joanne wins $25.00 War Bond 1944 September 21 – Are you doing your part? We receive pep talk on bond buying. September 24 – No more absenteeism without a signed excuse from home. State Department of Education says so, kids. October 1 – Mr. Thirey’s assembly. Mr Hartsock gives us some idea of how we can be patriotic and help speed victory

But the stories from the local newspapers and school publications were never negative towards the Axis Powers like Germany or Japan. The messages were always positive. I believe this to be essential in fostering proper democratic ideals especially in a

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21 school setting. These messages were very different then the ones they may be hearing at home, seeing on propaganda posters, or watching on the big screen at the local movie theatres. The next story came from the Miami Valley News on December 14, 1944. The headline read, “Travel Kits Presented As Youths Leave School To Enter Service.” What was interesting about these travel kits, which were bags of first aid supplies, toiletries, pens and paper, gum, etc. were actually made in the basement of Milford Main School. They made so many of them that there still remains about twenty-five bags stored away in a cardboard box. I actually took one home with me. It is amazing how well the bags have kept for sixty-five years. This article talks about three Milford high school juniors who were called to service. PFC William M. Myers was a starting guard on the Milford basketball team. On December 13, 1944 he would play his last game, a victory over neighborhood rival Madeira High School 36-33. Dick Mitchell a junior in the high school band played trumpet and was very popular amongst his fellow Milford classmates. And Bobby Setty, a former Milford High School student who had recently dropped out to help with his father’s farm while he fought in Europe. All three young men were honored at the December 13th basketball game versus Madeira with a standing ovation, well wishes from the crowd, and a presentation of these travel kits made in the basement of the high school from the school’s principal. The Mentality of Milford’s Students: Value of Education vs. War : can we foster high self esteem through education instead of work? One of the biggest obstacles in American education, especially in the rural town

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22 of Milford, was how to keep young men and women from dropping out of high school in order to aid in the war effort. High paying war jobs were recruiting children to work full time in their factories and abandon their posts as high school students. With children in homes where they are required to fend for themselves the lure of instant gratification was very tempting. We have to remember we live in a capitalist nation where the government’s laissez-faire attitudes towards businesses aided in creating the option to drop out. But, what was the opinion of the U.S. government on this subject? Ohio became one of the first states in the country to be completely organized for a concerted drive to get employed children back into their classrooms. In 1944 “Ohio issued the greatest number of work permits, vacation and part-time in its history. Young people within the next few weeks will have to decide whether to give up school or a job that means ready money “ (Clermont Sun August 1944). The lure of the military was also very strong. But…their focus was on high school graduates of Milford and not their present day students. I researched an article in the Clermont Sun from August of 1944 whereas the headline proclaimed, “ Tell Students of Navy’s Air Training Group.” Lieutenant G.E. Giesecke, U.S. Naval Aviation Unit, of the Cincinnati area was in Milford last week, visiting school and talking with school leaders about the Navy’s V-5 pilot officer training program. He encouraged Milford high school graduates to consider the possibility of enlisting for such courses. So what happens to the millions of high school aged students who dropped out of school to work in munitions factories when the war is over? Those jobs will be given mainly to the adult men and women who served abroad and the young people will begin losing their jobs. The Ohio Board of Education took a proactive stance on this issue. They

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23 began a “back to school” drive with the purpose of keeping in school and getting back school aged boys and girls who have not completed their high school education. During the war some three million boys and girls, 14 to 17 years old, were at work. Half of them have dropped out of school entirely and about half were employed in part time jobs. Why would this plan be appealing to teenagers who have dropped out or are thinking about dropping out of high school? The Department of Education began selling the long time values of education: “Invest in Yourself.” Learning in school can increase your economic security, make you a more useful citizen, give you better understanding of the world, develop your leadership qualities, and lay the foundations of healthful living.” (Miami Valley August 1944) In September 1941’s issue of the Clermont Sun the headline was “Stay in School is Advice To Young People of Ohio.” The article states that it will become student’s patriotic duty to continue schoolwork until need is imperative. “Whatever the future may hold, this country will need well-educated and intelligent citizens to help in the solution of its problems. Patriotism isn’t confined to those who enlist in the army and navy, and those who work in shipyards and munitions plants. Any boy or girl who prepares himself for constructive citizenship is serving his country. It was encouraged for the children of the United States to begin thinking long term. Citizens of Milford especially needed to think beyond the opportunities that have inhibited them for decades. How could the farming towns of the United States survive without European markets to trade with? It was pointed out in this article that even the President of the United States is beginning to address the problems created by a lack of educated citizens. Dean Stradley points out that president Roosevelt has taken recognition of this need in a recent

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24 statement that “we must have well-educated and intelligent citizens who have sound judgment in dealing with difficult problems. We must also have scientists, engineers, economists, and other people with specialized knowledge to plan and to build for national defense as well as for social and economic progress” (Clermont Sun). It was also believed that a warning should be sent to the youth of America that taking jobs in war industries could seriously handicap them for the future. What happens when the war ends and those jobs disappear. These young people will have no education and no formal training to do anything else. The question is a difficult one to answer. How does a young person say no to a job when the economy and their families are saying yes? I believe it boils down to leadership in our schools and communities to positively influence our youth to value education. The next question is, “Is it possible to create an educational environment with a curriculum that prepares for war? The answer is yes it can. In Milford High School a class was created with the premise of preparation for civilian defense. Can you imagine taking a class like this? Instead of art third period students would learn how to survive in the event the war spilled onto the home front. The initial goal of the class was to enroll twenty-five students. The objective of the class would be to present a general outline of the possible means and methods available for communicating in an emergency of local extent. While this course would not be detailed enough to suffice for vocational training, it was believed that it would offer very useful information that is beneficial to the studentcivilian, who, though perhaps hopefully never called upon to put this to a test, will be a better citizen for having this potential aid.

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Conclusion In concluding the final aspects of this patriotic tale I quote the Drofilm from 1944 in its final epilogue to the Class of 1944. “As you, the class of 1944, pass through the school portals for the last time, you enter upon the threshold of a new cycle of your life, a life that is becoming increasingly complex and ever changing, a life that will challenge all your energies for every forward stroke you take. Our hope is that you will make the fullest use of the ideals, friendships, loyalties, and knowledge your school has endeavored to supply you, for the purpose of the attainment in life of that which you most desire. As our nation is going through a most critical period, most of the boys of your class and a number of the girls will enter directly into the service of our country. We know that the ensuing months will be trying ones for you and your parents, but we know that you are endowed with the same spirit and ideals that have made our nation great and that you will do your part in bringing a victorious and lasting peace. Your school extends to you its best wishes for your success and happiness.” (Drofilm 1944). The World War II years made life difficult on many levels for everybody in the United States. President asked the citizens of the U.S. to conserve, volunteer, and sacrifice for the home front. These requests may have been simple for a generation of people who lived through the onset of military and economic disasters of the previous two decades. But what about the school children that were asked to sacrifice not only their education but also a sense of safety and positivity that usually comes in the early years of the cognitive development. In the town of Milford, where citizens young and old alike, fostered patriotism and self-sacrifice that was unparrelled anywhere in this great country. How could a town, a school, a social group sacrifice when they had nothing? How could a school cut teachers and bus drivers when they were short-handed already? How could a child who

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26 had no money give up a job? How could a family that had no resources begin donating things that were essential to keep their lives going? It is simple – for freedoms that have lasted until today and will last forever. Children throughout this country need to read these tales of school children from this community. There are not many children today that would go to work on the farm two hours before school then go back to work hours after school was over in today’s world. But they did it, and why, because that was the call of duty during World War II. And that is why they are referred to as America’s, “Greatest Generation.”

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