Abstract From 1935 to 1942, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) ran two educational initiatives—the Schools of Philosophy and the Group Discussion Program—to engage farmers and agricultural leaders in subjects such as history, philosophy, and economics. These programs sought to foster informed, participatory policymaking and democratic engagement in planning by inviting farmers into policy discussions. Drawing on USDA program office archives and site-specific records, this study examines variations in content and delivery across time, region, and audience. It reveals important differences between events for predominantly white audiences and those for Black participants, with the latter featuring explicit antiracist themes. The analysis also reveals a shift in program focus around 1940, from broadly educational goals toward rallying patriotism, mobilizing early defense production, and addressing the threat of war. These findings illuminate how federal educational programs adapted to political pressures and wartime imperatives while shaping civic discourse in rural America.
Amanda B. Biles (Fri,) studied this question.