BUILDING FOR SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY - Kennedy Bibliothek

this process that an on-going procedure is established for working
together on all community issues."(l)
5. The development of specific educational, cultural, recreational or
other programs is not ignored in this approach, but is secondary to the
development of this new community-school relationship and a new attitude
on the part of school officials as to the school's responsibility within
the community. Increased use of school facilities, for instance, might
contribute to these goals, but it would not necessarily be of primary importance
in this approach.
6. The community education concept, then, is changing quickly. What
follows are brief outlines of the history of the trends in American education
as they relate to community education, a brief history of the
development of community education in the United States and a description
of the role of the U.S. Office of Education today. The changes which are
occurring have their roots in this history and in the unique problems confronting
American education today.
AN OVERVIEW OF THE AMERICAN EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM
7. In American educational history, schools have been used for many
different activities. As the western half of the United States was being
settled, schools served as sites for church services, town meetings, courts,
and many other purposes. Often the school was the only public building
in a town. During the period of economic depression of the 1930's,
schools housed communal food preserving activities, programs of hot meals
for the poor and vocational retraining programs for adults.
8. During both World Wars, volunteers packed bandages and made clothes
for soldiers in the schools. Schools also served as collection points
for recycling materials needed in the war effort. During the Cold War
period of the 1950's, many schools served as emergency fallout shelters
and housed food and medical supplies. Schools have been continually used
as emergency hospitals, refugee centers, and communications centers during
periods of natural disaster.
9. Most of these uses of the schools were and are considered separate
from and outside of what is considered the schools' only function by most
people - teaching the young. While the use of school facilities by many
l) J. Minzey and C. LeTarte, "Community Education: From Program to
Process", Community Education Research Monograph, vol. 1, N° 3, p.3,
Pendell Publishing Co., Midland, Michigan, 1972.
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