Contractors doing construction at Emerson High School in Oklahoma City unearthed chalkboards from 1917, showing classroom life from 98 years ago.
In making way for new white boards, the contractors removed chalkboards only to find another set of chalkboards — with the preserve writing and illustrations — underneath. It looks like the 1917 lessons were covered up during Thanksgiving/Christmas break, since every classroom had a lesson on the Pilgrims in it. And at least one classroom was counting down to Christmas.
Thankfully, the district and the city are working to keep the discovery intact, including the multiplication wheel that Principal Sherry Kishore had “never seen that technique in my life.”
Here are some more of the chalkboards:
Counting down until Christmas 1917. Drawings nearly 100 years old found during MAPS construction. pic.twitter.com/2nV7hq8foL
— OKC Public Schools (@OKCPS) June 5, 2015
You find a lesson on pilgrims in every classroom. There was #aligned curriculum in #1917. pic.twitter.com/MurjKd8n6i
— OKC Public Schools (@OKCPS) June 5, 2015
Music lesson from 1917. pic.twitter.com/bVRqU2hmT0
— OKC Public Schools (@OKCPS) June 5, 2015
Stuck in time. Drawings from 1917 uncovered during MAPS renovations at #Emerson pic.twitter.com/QDd2IlL3Sx
— OKC Public Schools (@OKCPS) June 5, 2015
Incredible historical discoveries found inside Emerson High School during renovations!! #OKCPS pic.twitter.com/Uf3qL1NhAn
— ChristineVanTimmeren (@C_VanTimmeren) June 5, 2015
Check out the date on this blackboard!! It's been hidden for almost 100 years! #OKCPS pic.twitter.com/q9DiP1wLk4
— ChristineVanTimmeren (@C_VanTimmeren) June 5, 2015
[via the Washington Post]
Contact the author at [email protected]. Top image: Oklahoma City Public Schools
