War work in the Oakland Public Schools during 1918 was considered one of the most essential items in the curriculum by both the school administration and the teachers.
They felt the first duty of the schools was to aid the national government in winning the war to the best of their ability.
Service became the keynote of all work. Oakland’s boys and girls realized that they had a particular part to play in making the world a safe place to live in.
Sewing and Knitting Classes
During the summer vacation, thousands of garments for refugees were made by the children as part of their regular classwork.
Board of Education 1919
Boys and girls of all ages learned to knit, and tireless little hands were busy every spare moment making garments for sailors, soldiers, and people of stricken countries.
Oakland Tribune August 25, 1918
School and Home Garden Army
The urgent need for higher food production led to the organization of the School and Home Garden Army in Oakland. Fifteen thousand children enlisted, and 6,00 brought their gardens to successful harvests.
Board of Education 1919
Jackson Furniture Company offered two silver loving cups as prizes, one for the school having the best school garden, and one for the best home garden.
Luther Burbank visited Oakland and personally inspected many of the war gardens.
Jefferson School won the School Garden Cup, and Lakeview School won the Home Garden School Cup.
The Art Department devoted its time propaganda of publicity of the was needs through posters.
The Manual Training shops worked closely with the Red Cross. They created items needed for hospitals.
Liberty Loans
The schools helped raised money through the various Liberty Bond/Loan Campaigns.
More Info
Looking back at a 1918 parade that helped spread the deadly flu, leaving nearly 13,000 dead – SF Gate – September 22, 2019
1918 Flu Pandemic – Oakland Local Wiki
- Free war Garden Primer – Oakland Tribune March 13, 1918
- Jackson’s War Garden Cups – Oakland Tribune March 27, 1918
- Liberty Loan Parade – Oakland Tribune April 07, 1918
- Luther Burbank Inspects Schools – Oakland Tribune May 15, 1918
- War Garden Page – Oakland Tribune August 25, 1918
- Annual Report of the Oakland Public Schools 1919