Most Slovak immigrants who arrived in America before World War I could not read or write. Our ancestors were no different. They came from rural farming communities and became industrial laborers. It is likely that children also worked.
The value of educational achievement cannot be overstated. Education helped springboard our family into the middle class, leading to better-paying jobs and homeownership.
During the early 1900s, very few students advanced beyond grade school. In 1900, only 11 percent of children ages fourteen to seventeen were enrolled in high school—and even fewer graduated. —Encyclopedia.com
The effort to identify educational achievements¹ across 29 surnames is still in its infancy. We invite everyone to help document this important part of our family history.
Slovak Immigrants and Education
Slovak culture traditionally placed less emphasis on formal education. Hungarian Magyarization policies, combined with the agricultural nature of Slovak society, worked against developing a culture that valued schooling.
— June Granatir Alexander