Campus Access Only

All rights reserved. This publication is intended for use solely by faculty, students, and staff of University of the Pacific. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, now known or later developed, including but not limited to photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author or the publisher.

An investigation of some problems affecting elementary schools of a small city in a defense area during World War II with particular reference to San Leandro, California

Author

Harry E. Shaffer, University of the Pacific

Date of Award

1946

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (M.A.)

Department

Education

First Advisor

J. William Harris

Abstract

During the period from April of 1940 to April of 1944, the population of the City of San Leandro increased from 14,601 to 22,903, or approximately 56.8%. Farmland and other undeveloped properties, to the extent of 215 acres, mostly far removed from the former residential sections, have been turned into closely built residence areas. Some 1500 houses have been built in one such section, alone, and the total, to January 1, 1945, included 2,504 residences and 171 multiple unit dwellings.²

War activities, within the city and the neighboring communities, have attracted large numbers of defense workers and these have been augmented by the families of men or women in the various armed services. Several thousand of the San Leandro residents have been employed in the military and naval establishments, shipyards, and the machine, food, and other industries of Alameda, Oakland, Richmond, San Francisco and other nearby cities, in addition to the four to five thousand who are manning the war industries within San Leandro.^{1 The great number of working mothers, with dependent children, has created the need for child care centers and nursery schools. The twenty-four hour operation of industry has upset the normal schedule of family life, and led toward serious problems in the direction of child delinquency.}

War conditions have placed new and greater burdens upon the schools. The normal problems of securing an adequate and effective personnel have been intensified by the scarcity of trained teachers and the difficulty of securing uncertificated help. Problems of providing housing and equipment have been increased greatly.

Including these various problems in the field of this investigation, it is planned to analyze each, so far as may be found practicable, indicate the method used and the progress made toward the solution of each, and make suggestions for future action, as indicated by the anticipated needs of the district during the fifteen year period to 1960.

Pages

108

Recommended Citation

Shaffer, Harry E.. (1946). An investigation of some problems affecting elementary schools of a small city in a defense area during World War II with particular reference to San Leandro, California. University of the Pacific, Thesis. https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/uop_etds/1038