Welcome to the vineland elementary school district. In 1939 leo hart was elected superintendent of kern county schools, and he built a school next to weedpatch camp just for the children of the migrants. Panamabuena vista union school district 661 6641296 contact info. This true story took place at the emergency farmlabor camp immortalized in steinbecks the grapes of wrath. In september of 1940, the arvin federal emergency school was created by the county superintendent of schools, leo b. Hart proved that the migrant workers children could learn. The true story of the school at weedpatch camp final test medium, including multiple choice, short answer, short essay, and indepth essay questions. Check out other translated books in french, spanish languages. Weedpatch camp children of the dust bowl the true story. Leo hart set out to provide the unwanted children with better educational experiences. Leo hart, then superintendent of kern county schools, watched the dustbowl refugees accumulate in migrant camps, under bridges and in ditches throughout his jurisdiction. From the heart wrenching triumph of this educational experiment, the current crop of teachers in the united states could learn five valuable lessons in how to change lives with the right mix of chalk and challenge. Mar 03, 2014 it is one mile from weedpatch and two miles from lamont. This book, while written as a childrens book, is a valuable look at the arvin federal emergency school, the conditions of the dust bowl, american attitudes about the poor, and leo hart, the man whose vision for a broader curriculum among his students was so.
At the core of the book is the story of a remarkable man, kern county school administrator leo hart, who spearheaded an effort to build weedpatch school, a special institution just for migrant children. Set in the 1930s at the emergency farmlabor camp immortalized in steinbecks the grapes of wrath, stanleydetails how the children of migrant dust bowl farm laborers went without schooluntil. This man, leo hart, got some staff together, gathered some suffering children, and made a school for these people. Name 2 things done by the residents to show that they didnt approve of the. It tells how leo hart, a caring educator fighting stiff opposition from local school. The true story of the school at weedpatch camp kindle edition by stanley, jerry. Maybe his convictions grew as he fought in france during world war i, then battled tuberculosis in a sanitarium. This book, while written as a childrens book, is a valuable look at the arvin federal emergency school, the conditions of the dust bowl, american attitudes about the poor, and leo hart, the man whose vision for a broader curriculum among his students was so influential and inspiring. Leo hart gathered fifty ragtag youngsters with a group of dedicated teachers and built weedpatch camp school. Leo hart won the office of superintendent for the school district, leased 10 acres of land beside the camp, hired the best teachers, and started weedpatch school in 1940.
The story is inspiring, and stanley has recorded the details with passion and dignity. Hart, to serve the children from a large migrant labor camp that had been established in the area. I introduction a true story about a man named leo hart. A fifth grade class listens to children of the dust bowl by jerry stanley and then discuss whether is was right for the educator leo hart to start a separate school for the okie children rather than let them suffer the unfair treatment in their local california school. Ostracized as dumb okies, the children of dust bowl migrant laborers went without school until superintendent leo hart and 50 okie kids built their own school in a nearby field. The true story of the school at weedpatch camp by jerry stanley 1993, paperback at the best online prices at ebay. Overall, the book relates the brutal conditions of the dust bowl, the migration over the mountains and desert, taunting and prejudice from settled californians, and eventual attainment of excellence, as revealed by the construction and maintenance of the weedpatch school, which eventually became a model school in the community. It was so impressive to the community that nonresidents wanted their children to attend too. Leo hart was a magnificent educator, so he went on to start the first school for handicapped children, be an educational consultant to the korean government, and be the superintendent of the pondham union school district before retiring in 1959. Hart, central to the beginnings of the school in 1940, are photographed and documented people who were essential in origination and operation of the weedpatch camp schooling throughout its existence. Students will discuss the role of education in the 1930s and why oakie students were easily discriminated against. This schooling was in practical base survival skills.
Hart elementary homepage panama buena vista union school. Leo hart got donations from others, and along with the teachers and okie children, actually built the school themselves. The weedpatch camp school was born out of school superintendent leo harts desire and determination to educate all children. Illustrated with photographs from the dust bowl era. Were an independent nonprofit that provides parents with indepth school quality information. Students of leo harts weedpatch school for oakies of the. The arvin federal emergency school better known as the weedpatch school didnt only teach reading, writing, math, science, history and geography, it taught the kids carpentry, masonry and every other skilled labor needed to make. Frank bassett were two pivotal players in spearheading the duke football campaign, which was the fundraising effort for the yoh football center.
In 1939 leo hart was elected superintendent of kern county schools, and he built a school next to weedpatch camp just for the children of the grapes of wrath. The true story of the school at weedpatch camp ebook. He became interested in the plight of the children of the okie migrant farm workers. Ostracized as dumb okies, the children of dust bowl migrant laborers went without schooluntil superintendent leo hart and 50 okie kids built their own school in a nearby field. Expand product details illustrated with photographs from the dust bowl era. Leo hart had seen the effect of the okie children attending public school. Over the next year, the students and teachers and even leo himself, built the school with donated materials and their own hands.
The true story of the school at weedpatch camp ebook at. Vineland elementary school, which serves students in grades kindergarten through fourth grade. The school eventually merged with the vineland district, and ceased to be an emergency school. The school was built and managed by the okie children. Ostracized as dumb okies, the children of dust bowl migrant laborers went without schooluntil superintendent leo hart and 50 okie kids built their own school in.
Interviews with hart and the school s former teachers and pupils make children of the dust bowl useful to students of oral history, as well as of the depression. After leaving the hospital, hart attended arizona state university, graduating with a masters degree in education. This play is set during the years of the great depression, when a family from the dust bowl region falls on hard times and travels out to. The wicked weather and winds that cursed the oklahoma panhandle became unbearable in the late 1930s. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read children of the dust bowl. Hart elementary school located in bakersfield, california ca. Teaching at phoenix high school, a d school forgotten by most and unknown to many, is a struggle. Children of the dust bowl, the true story of the school at weedpatch camp, by jerry stanley, illustrated with actual photographs from the era, is the story of the migration of okies from the oklahoma panhandle to the land of promises in california. They were constantly treated with disdain by students, parents and even teachers, who made them sit on the floor at the. The families had moved from the dust bowl in the oklahoma panhandle due to the unbearable conditions they lived under there to a better life in california.
Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Maybe leo hart, superintendent of kern county schools in the 1930s, developed his own faith growing up in rural godfearing iowa with a school teacher mother and hardworking father. This school, nicknamed weedpatch school, brought joy to the people who had come from oklahoma. Lawrence university, and doing a summer fellowship about the works of john steinbeck. Leo hart and the weedpatch school a radio drama script for the classroom. Who is the actor to play as leo hart in the weedpatch school. Leo hart, the kern county school superintendent, greets james and expounds on the origin of the weedpatch school. Leo hart, then superintendent of kern county schools, watched the dustbowl refugees accumulate in migrant camps, under bridges and in ditches. Right to education responsibility to educate the story. This true story took place at the emergency farmlabor camp. She started working at vineland school teaching third grade then taking a bus down the street to weedpatch school a school developed by leo b hart for the children of the dust bowl living at. Children of the dust bowl by jerry stanley scholastic. In 1940 leo hart decided to build a school for the okies. Mar 14, 1989 in 1939 leo hart was elected superintendent of kern county schools, and he built a school next to weedpatch camp just for the children of the migrants.
Jerry stanley this true story took place at the emergency farmlabor camp immortalized in steinbecks the grapes of wrath. The true story of the school at weedpatch camp ebook written by jerry stanley. A compelling book about the children of homeless okie migrant workers and the school they built at a farmlabor camp in dust bowlera california. Hart became a school administrator and counselor in the kern county school district in california. The true story of the school at weedpatch camp online books in format pdf. This book describes the plight of the migrant workers who traveled from the dust bowl to california during the depression and were forced to live in a federal labor camp. The core of the book is the story of a remarkable man, kern county school administrator leo hart, who spearheaded an effort to build weedpatch school, a special institution just for migrant children. Ages 8 and up a migrant family by larry dane brimner. The true story of the school at weedpatch camp and read children of the dust bowl.
Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading children of the dust bowl. He was offered a job in bakersfield, taught high school there for awhile, then. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. Leo hart is remembered as an amazing educator who served as the kern county superintendent of schools. The vineland school district encompasses 33 square miles in ruralagricultural southeast kern county and is composed of two schools. The focus will then turn to the children at the weedpatch camp. Leo harts faith led him to reach out to the disheveled children living in the tents of weedpatch camp with belief in the potential of these ragtag waifs. How were residents convinced to donate to the school. Children of the dust bowl the true story of the school at weedpatch camp. Conclusion the true story of the school at weedpatch camp.
Barbara sabovich obituary ca bakersfield californian. It taught more than regular subjects it taught sewing, aircraft mechanics, and more along with the regular subjects. Vineland school was near the camp and therefore the arvin federal school became the second school in the district. Social studies and the young learner 2005 national. The weedpatch camp school was born out of school superintendent leo hart s desire and determination to educate all children. The students here are not expected to become anything more than fishermen. The weedpatch camp in bakersfield, california is an example of how a government run camp was different where it allowed all the migrants to live more like human beings. Ostracized as dumb okies, the children of dust bowl migrant laborers went without school. Students will also discuss how leo hart was able to create a selfsufficient school at the weedpatch camp and why many of its students were successful. That a new school would remove okie kids from the public schools. Right to education responsibility to educate the story of. Hart recognized the communitys responsibility to educate all children and used federal funds to open the arvin federal emergency school in 1939.
Apr 15, 2016 students of leo hart s weedpatch school for oakies of the 1930s included classes in an airplane and a chance to drive the plane down the runway and back. It was successful and locals soon demanded their children be included. The book builds up to the school where it was in existence for five years. In addition to learning the traditional curriculum, students at weedpatch learned how to grow. He spent afternoons playing with these kids in a field next to weedpatch camp, and he knew that with the right opportunities, they would go far. Ostracized as dumb okies, the children of dust bowl migrant laborers went without school, until superintendent leo hart and 50 okie kids built their own school in a nearby field. Hart in 1959,when he was honored at a local track meet on the field where he played with the camp kids. Leo hart and the weedpatch school 18971989 this story takes place during the great depression and focuses on the lives of the dust bowl immigrants who came to california seeking a better life, but who found instead harsh treatment and poverty wages.