Children of the Dust Bowl: The True Story of the School at Weedpatch Camp

This is a true account of a grass-roots school built in an emergency encampment for poor farmers during the Depression Era. The book outline the circumstances leading to absolute poverty for the "Okies" and how they survived their desperate situation until the intervention of a creative and

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generous politician named Leo Hart. The school they built was a testament to their endurance and dedication, and an example of what people can do even with little resources.
I would use this book for young readers to learn about this difficult time in American history. It could be assigned as summer reading, or a several week long unit in conjunction with other sources about the Depression.
I only wish that there had been more first-person accounts such as quotations from personal journals to make the story more personal. The use of quotations and photographs did help to bring this story alive, I just wish I had gotten to know some of the characters more.

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In the Children of the Dusk Bowl, Jerry Stanley (Ph.D.) documents the lives of migrant Okies (poor farmers and families of the Oklahoma and Texas panhandles) as they sought escape from the debilitating pressures of the Dusk Bowl and the Great Depression. Food prices fell and farm products became

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unprofitable. Many families lost homes due to foreclosures.The promise of new opportunity in California drove the migration of these individuals, yet California became a place of despair and broken dreams. Stanley captures the sense of community among the Okies and as they sought to overcome discrimination and poverty. With the determination and creativeness of Superintendent Hart, the Okie children proved they can have ownership of their success through the building of Weedpatch School.

Stanley pulls insight for this work from interviews with Superintendent Leo and others associated with the workings of the school, including students. The use of document books, news articles during the 50th anniversary of Grapes of Wrathe, scholarly resources/ journals provide for a healthy historical context. Photos add significant detail to express and give visual aid to readers and conditions of poverty and discrimination.

Teacher across the photography, sociology, history and ELA content areas will find this book useful for drawing references and comparison with other historical periods.

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A book of the children and their families who escaped the dust bowl. This book is of their journey and how they are made fun of. This would be great to incorporate in a history lesson when teaching about the dust bowl.

This specialized photographic essay examines the plight of "Okies," farming families who moved from Oklahoma and Texas to California as a result of the Great Depression and Dust Bowl of the 1930s. While the text addresses the hardship of the move to California and the discrimination suffered by

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Okie adults and children, it largely focuses on the establishment of the Weedpatch School. For this reason, I think middle and high school students would be very interested in this text. At Weedpatch, Okie children were given the opportunity to learn what they needed to, how they needed to. They prepared their own meals, built the school from scratch, learned how to pilot an airplane, and even dug their own swimming pool. This story is incredibly inspiring, and presented in a compelling, well-researched way. This would make a great accompaniment to a reading of Steinbeck's Grapes of Wrath.

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Children of the Dust Bowl: The True Story of the School at Weedpatch Camp was an excellent read about how the "Okies", people from the panhandle and Oklahoma area that migrated to California during the crisis of the Dust Bowl. The book tells the story of the hardships the Okies faced in their

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travels to what they thought would be the promise-land. They drove jalopies that broke down, had flat tires, ran out of gas and many other problems which made their journey very long and very rough. The story told how determined the Okies were and the adversity they faced during their journey. They were not welcomed guests in any of the towns through which they traveled and when they finally made it to California, they realized they were unwanted there as well. The Okies and their children faced discrimination and prejudices everywhere they went. They formed a tent city in the county where they settled, which led to many health and sanitation issues. The government had to step in and help build "Weedpatch Camp". It had better sanitation systems and was more livable conditions than the tent city. The children still had the issue of not being accepted into the schools in the county to which they were staying. With the help of a gracious man, Leo Hart, the superintendent of the county schools, he helped the children build their own school, the "Weedpatch School". This story was moving in the way the children helped with everything from the construction to the plumbing to building a swimming pool for their school. The school also taught children life skills and manners to help them ease into society in California. The children were amazing in the obstacles and prejudices that they had to work through, and still made a successful school run with the help of a few adults that believed in them. The story taught lessons in discrimination, determination and how hard work can help children to succeed. The message the book told was very powerful and very moving.

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A breath-taking look at the lives of those driven out of Midwest during the years of the horrible Dust Bowl, Children of the Dust Bowl: The True Story of the School at Weedpatch Camp follows families as they make their way from the affected areas and settle in San Joaquin, California, pulled there

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by the promise of work. Arriving, they find nothing but empty promises and a hatred that grows into a raging inferno of discrimination of the migrants, known as "Okies". Readers follow along as families settle and the issues arise of what to do about educating their children and one man rises to the challenge, stepping in where all others turn away. It is a compelling story that left me with chills about how much a single person can do and the pride that all can feel when they have something they can believe in. For these children, parents, and the entire community, that belief was in the school at Weedpatch Camp.

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A good read although a misleading title, instead of children of the dust bowl it should have been titled children of Kern County. Very little of the book speaks of the dust bowl, most covers the migration of farmers and their families across route 66 and into California. Once there they are faced

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with starvation intimidation and discrimination. Their saving grace was the love and strength and Leo Heart the new school superintendent. Mr. Heart removed the okie children from the public schools where they we terrorized and build with his own two hands and help from okie children and parents a new technical school that was soon to become the envy of Kern County.

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Chidren of the Dust Bowl: The True Story of the School at Weedpatch Camp tells of the exodus of thounsands of dust bowl residents during the devistating drought that struck the western plains of the United States between 1936-1940. The intoduction, entitled Mr. Steinbeck's Book, puts forth a

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secondary theme that will wind throughout the book: social justice and class discrimination. Jerry Stanley tells of the heated response to John Steinbeck's novel, The Grapes of Wrath. While The Grapes of Wrath is now considered a great American novel, at the time of its publication, it was considered one-sided, obscene, "untrue" and called by one congressman "the black, infernal creation of a twisted, distorted mind." Stanley presents this controversy and backlash to highlight the negative opinions and feelings regarding the migrant Okies. These sentiments are echoed throughout Stanley's book in the reaction of California residents and school system to the Okies and their struggle, in many cases, for existance.
The first half of the book is dedicated to explaining the human and geological factors contributing to the migration, as well as life pre and post migration. The hardships faced are exemplified in the photos included in the book, photos taken by the Farm Security Administration (FSA) during this time period. The photos capture the absolute destitution and squalor encompasing the lives of the Okies.
The second half of the book narrows its scope and focuses on Leo Hart, a man determined to improve the education of the Okie children, an unwanted element in California at the time. Jerry Stanley follows Hart's creation of Weedpatch school, a school intended for the outcast Okies, outlining the trials and successes of his endeavor. In Children of the Dust Bowl, Leo Hart is the representative of social justice, fighting for those without a voice.

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Though the last half of the text focuses on the school at Weedpatch Camp, Jerry Stanley spends the first half of the text developing the reader's understanding of the events that drove the "Okie" people to California. He begins by defining a key term of the text, "Okie" as it was used by the

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immigrants, and reacquaints the reader with a familiar text, Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath, before telling the plight of people effected by the Dust Bowl. With the farming hardships caused by the Dustbowl and promise of work in California, many farming families sold everything they had to take the dangerous 2,000 mile journey from the Oklahoma panhandle to southern California. Hopeful arrivals were met by hateful locals who refused to hire any "Okies," and though they hoped to escape the harsh conditions of the dustbowl, families found themselves living in squalid conditions, and this had a particularly negative impact on the children. Halfway through the text, we meet a key figure, Leo Hart, who uses his position as school board Superintendent to help the Okie children. Using people's prejudice against them, Hart convinces the school board to pull the Okie children out of the public school system and place them in their own school, and what follows is a moving account of how caring teachers and community members can positively impact the lives of children. Students learned practical courses, like sewing and horticulture, in addition to traditional reading and arithmetic courses, and the school's success soon has parents, the very ones demanding the removal of "Okies" from the classroom, seeking permission for their children to attend the school at Weedpatch camp. The school is eventually absorbed into the public school system, and the book concludes by tracing the successes of former Weedpatch School students and teachers. In this way, the text moves from the general to the specific, and the richness of the text is enhanced by photographs from the likes of Dorothy Lange and Leo Hart. Stanley's bibliography expresses gratitude toward those who consented to interviews, including Mr. and Mrs. Hart, as well as former teachers and students, so it appears Stanley used primary sources to write this text. While this was his first novel, the subject matter fell within his credentials of Southwest American history.

I could see using this text in conjunction with Steinbeck's novel, The Grapes of Wrath, or, if there isn't time for the novel, to use this piece with some of Steinbeck's short stories that focus on the plight of Dustbowl migrations like "Breakfast."

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Children of the Dust Bowl tells the story of the school at Weedpatch Camp in Kern County, CA. The book begins with the story of migrant workers (Okies) leaving Oklahoma to look for work out west. Upon arrival in California, the majority of migrants are discriminated against while their families

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struggle to survive. Leo Hart, the school superintendent, was able to build an emergency school for the children of migrant workers that grew to be one of the most successful schools in the county. Lots of powerful photos compliment specific accounts and stories. This book would be valuable in many content areas: history, social sciences, biology, etc. Comparisons between this and other similar events in American history is always a base for discussion (i.e. civil rights, Katrina, oil spill).

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Jerry Stanley uses a mix of interviews, journal articles, and Steinbeck's "Grapes of Wrath" to weave a narrative of the dust bowl experience for the children of the Weedpach School. The use of primary sources such as interviews is evident throughout the book with quotes from various Dustbowlers

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throughout.

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Children of the Dust Bowl takes a broader look at this era of American history than the classic most commonly associated with this era, namely John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath. My understanding of this era drew largely from this fictitious work, but I was happy to learn of the more intimate,

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true stories, particularly of the development of the school at Weedpatch Camp. The book's meshing of various stories of different families throughout the book was both enriching, by providing a broad spectrum of experiences, and at times confusing as the reader attempted to connect each family's fragmented story lines. The photography wonderfully complemented and enhanced my understanding of the story. Many of the pictures were quite moving, as much or more so than the famous Dorathea Lange's "Migrant Mother." I think this book would provoke great discussion, both for teachers in alternative schooling methods, and for Louisiana students in particular in describing evacuation experiences during Hurrican Katrina.

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I love this book. I am familiar with Steinback and his look at migrant workers, but this book provided much more insight. The book is well written and the a historical account becomes very person for the reader. As someone who was displaced by Hurricane Katrina, I identified with those who lost

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their homes and move to a place where others had preconceived notions about you and treat you as an outsiders. The photographs are thoughtful, including the iconic Depression era photo of the worried mother. Overall, the book is bittersweet- although the Okies endured great hardship, their determination and the help of the superintendent (and other concerned citizens), resulted in a school where they could recive the education we are all entitled.

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This book was informative and provided a point of view of the Great Depression that I was not familiar with. Families from the Dust Bowl in this time had it extremely difficult. This book addresses the loss of farms, the arduous journey west, the discrimination the Okies faced, and how the bigotry

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against them ran so deeply that California residents did not want their children in school with the Okies. I would have liked for there to be a bibliographic list along with notes about sources that the author used in creating this book as searching through the text could cause a lack of clarity. There is an index in the book that appears to be thorough. It was obvious that he used some 1st person resources via interviews with people who attended the school in the camp, and also with school officials, so the lack of a bibliography is somewhat mitigated by the validity of his sources.

In terms of organization, the author provided an introduction referring to the Grapes of Wrath before presenting a mostly chronological story. By starting at the beginning before the Dust Bowl truly existed, Stanley is able to provide a clear view of what changed in terms of the weather and exactly how the farmers fell into dire financial straits. He does not gloss over the fact that it was hard period in which to live, nor does he overly romanticize the idea of abject poverty. The build up from having nothing to having a school with a swimming pool shows just how much can be accomplished by a community that works together.

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Children of the Dust Bowl by Jerry Stanley is well researched, moving, and illuminating. The book owes much to John Steinbeck and the author acknowledges as such. Taking on the emotional journalistic style of Steinbeck, Stanley weaves a narrative that begins at the height of the Dust Bowl in the

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Oklahoma pan-handle region. He expertly describes the conditions of poverty and drought in an area already ravaged by the Great Depression. Taking the reader along for the cross-country ride to California, the author leads us to the camps of "Okies" built on desperation in central-California.

Using an impressive amount of first-person accounts and stunning photographs, Stanley paints a picture of racism, bigotry, and destitution in the once-promised lands of California. Enter Leo Hart, the hero of the story. Leo Hart, along with many others, begins construction of a school that aims to not only raise the Okie children out of their poverty, but to empower them. The accounts of the children are heart-wrenching and the success stories of the children that attended the Weedpatch School are nothing short of miraculous. Leo Hart is well-deserving of all the praise that the author heeps on his work.

This book touches on a variety of topics suitable for a classroom, including: racism, bigotry, and most of all, atruism. So many people give to the Weedpatch school selfessly at a time when there was already very little to go around.

The concept of race is well-presented in this book with the quote from an alarmed Californian, "The Okies out-number the white people". Considering that the vast majority of Okies were indeed white, this single line demonstrates perfectly the permeability of race and how it is routinely abused by the powerful, the wealthy, and the majority.

I recommend this book for ages 10&up.

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Stanley, J., (1992). Children of the dust bowl. New York: Crown.
This book is the true story of how Leo Hart helped to build a school next to "Weedpatch Camp" for the children of migrant workers that fled the Dust Bowl during the 1930s. The author is able to write with accuracy about the events of

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this time period because of his research and interviews with Leo Hart and some of the former teachers and students of the school. This book is more suitable for old readers from at least 6th grade and up. There are a couple of times that language is used to describe the "Okies," that might not be suitable for younger readers, although certain information could be gleaned from the book to supplement 4th grade California history. The text is supplemented with black and white photographs taken of the migrant workers, the camp, and the school. The first four chapters are devoted to information about the "Dust Bowl," why the "Okies" made the trek to California, and the hardships they faced along Route 66. The photographs definitely bring the situation and the people to life, putting names to the many faces that experienced life at Weedpatch Camp as most of the photographs have captions. The author includes an afterward that follows up the story and life of Leo Hart. Bibliographic notes and picture credits are given in the last few pages. The index is well organized with pages of illustrations in bold type. There is information about the author on the last page.

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“Children of the Dust Bowl” by Jerry Stanley is an excellent chronicle of a story about discrimination in the midst of oppression. The “Okies” were tough migrants from Oklahoma going to California to seek a better life. The Depression and Dust Bowl left many lives in Oklahoma in shambles.

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Unfortunately, like many newcomers to a group or area, they were not accepted. Some Californians did not even consider them “white” people. Leo Hart changed the scene when he decided to create a school for Okie children. The story is incredibly powerful and demonstrates how well people can adapt and prosper when faced with challenging situations. Stanley also tells the story in an eloquent tone that keeps readers on their feet. He uses a lot of quotes and stories from the migrants themselves so the reader can better empathize with them. He also does not sugarcoat how hard life was, both economically and politically for the Okies.

This text is important for our students because it demonstrates other forms of discrimination that they may not be familiar with. I was not familiar with this saga and I am a history buff with a history degree. Our students need to know the different forms of historical prejudices so they can better address our current societal forms of discrimination. Books like these are great for opening up that conversation.

The picture on page 35 really hit home. It shows two Okies being escorted out of California. Shocking.

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This book is a specialized look at the migration of farmers and their families from the great plains to California during the great depression and their plight before and after arrival. The book focuses specifically on the formation of a school in Bakersfield California for the migrants that came

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to be called Weedpatch School. The scope of this book is narrow and the depth is considerable. The writing is clear with a middle school level of language. The background information leading up to the formation of the school is comprehensive. The book is well organized into nine chapters with an introduction and afterward. The information is complimented by photographs from the time.

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Groups of families living in the Dust Bowl struggle to move to California to start their new lives. California is supposed to be filled with available jobs, but when the Okies get there they find out that it was just a rumor. The people of California discriminate against the Okies by putting up

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signs telling them to leave. The government opens a camp where Okies can live there for $1 per week. When the schools become over crowded with children the Okies build their own emergency school on the lot next to the camp. The Okie children learn many different things at their school that other schools do not learn. This is an incredible story for children to read to help them understand what other children, who grew up in the Dust Bowl, had to go through. This would make a group book to do a group project on.

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Children of the dust bowl is about families that moved from the mid west to find a better life. They moved to California in hopes of escaping poverty. However in California they were not treated the way they would have hoped. They were treated very badly and ostrasized by the natives. This book is

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a non fiction depiction of the way the oakies were treated during the Great Depression.

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This book dedicates half of the book as background information on the topic of interest: the school at Weedpatch Camp. It is necessary to include substantial background knowledge before getting into the topic of the school for migrants during the Dust Bowl. However, the book rushes through some of

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the factors that led up to the plight of Okies. The first few pages mentions the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl, but doesn't go into any details on the causes of these two major events in American history. To use this book in a US history course it would be important to cover this material before exposing children to the book. Likewise, John Steinback's Grapes of Wrath is frequently referenced in this book, and it would be much more enriching for students to be already familiar with this book before reading Children of the Dust Bowl. Perhaps this book could be taught alongside an English study of the Grapes of Wrath for cross-discipline collaboration.
There are a lot of songs, quotations and photographs in this book. While I think students will appreciate these additions, at times I think that they tend to dominate and not leave enough room for text that could be used for more detailed background information. Also, the formatting of text seems like a waste of space. Why are there pages which have more white space than text?

Despite these criticisms, I think that the books approach may be very engaging for high school students. The story itself is also very interesting. While this book teaches about class conflict, it also engages in a discussion about service, and solutions to economic problems. Hart's decision to built the Weedpatch School stresses the importance of fighting the stereotyping of Okies which was due in part to their perceived burden on taxpayers. Also, the schools model of teaching academics as well of life skills is helpful for engaging in the discussion of the holistic approach to poverty alleviation. Reading the description of the class offerings actually made me jealous- I wish I could have gone to a school with such hands on learning activities! I think there is also a lot to be gained from the student's building their own school. There is a lot to learn from the Weedpatch school which could lead to critical thinking around the issues of class, activism and education. For this reason, I think this would be a good book to expose students to high school students.

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This book captures the story of how the Dust Bowl children were discriminated in California. Hart solved a problem, by creating a school for these children. The school had a rich curriculum, that taught them agriculture, machinery, and reading/writing. These students were given self-confidence, and

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thrived to be successful individuals. I found this book uplifting. These students came from a very poor background, and were able to strive into talented,independent people. I would assign this book to a 5th grade class. I would have students read "Out of the Dust", and then this non-fiction piece. We would have fishbowl discussions, as well as journal writings.

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This story is about kids who grew up in the dustbowl, and people who left Oklahoma.

this book is about the kids stuck in the dust bowl. when the migrate, they are labled as out casts so a teacher and his students start their own school and form a sense of togetherness. this would be a great book to use in a history lesson about the dust bowl or the great depression.