Community Efforts
What the Schools can do to Help Win the War : Report of the Wartime Education Commission for Georgia, 1942. Courtesy of the University of Georgia Libraries via Digital Library of Georgia.
World War II was seen as the war to uphold democracy, and commanded almost universal participation, including members of local communities who served on the home front. Voluntary efforts by civilians during World War II unified citizens at home and enhanced the morale of both civilians and soldiers.
Like many other Americans, Georgians supported the war effort in many ways: by purchasing war bonds, recycling scrap iron, planting victory gardens, supporting government programs for civil defense, and working with service organizations like the USO to support and entertain military personnel.
Schools were asked to develop ways that they could organize and motivate children to serve the war effort. Georgia educators were provided with lesson plans that instructed students on how to produce and preserve food, conserve raw materials, raise funds to finance the war, promote democratic citizenship, and encourage health and physical fitness.
