White Oaks Schoolhouse was built in 1895. It’s only open on weekends, so I did not get to go inside. White Oaks, New Mexico is 17 miles northeast of Carrizozo, New Mexico. The White Oaks webpage is at http://whiteoaksnm.com/index.html. There is also a wiki on White Oaks, NM: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Oaks%2C_New_Mexico.
It has a three-hole outhouse.
A safe from the old post office and bile of mystery metal. Although there is an old tricycle on the concrete slab.
View from the west side of the school.
The south side of the school.
The east side of the school.
Off Center & Not Even 
Those kids sure had a beautiful view of the countryside all around them. Thanks for a view of the old school, Tim.
I was thinking the same thing, Lavinia. There must have been much staring out the window daydreaming.
Thanks, Liz. As I commented to Lavinia, At least it had windows. The schools I went to didn’t have windows. Those were the days when it felt like schools were nothing more than preparing us for prison. I never regretted dropping out of high school. I loathed school back then.
You’re welcome, Tim. All the schools I attended had very large windows. My high school was of the same era as the school in your photos. The classroom windows were huge–and they opened (no air conditioning).
You were lucky and it helped make you smart sans criminal sensibilities.
😀
I’ve read some sources saying that the public school system model used today was originally developed to train students for factory jobs, in which case the prison feeling isn’t too far off (I’ve also read sources saying this is not really the case- I’m not an expert)
In any case, way to take it old school!
I don’t know about the intent on the buildings, but the out-dated teaching methods and curriculum are certainly factry/office job oriented. Thanks, JYP.
That’s a good point. I’ve seen more about the methods than the buildings. So maybe the connection to prison is purely accidental!
It really comes down to budget and allowing architects to design stupid buildings.
Yikes! I took a graduate course in the history of education in the US–and I don’t remember! I just remember the history of higher education.
I mean, I don’t know how reliable these sources are and not to mention, the people most excited to share them are the proponents of homeschooling and so on. In other words, people with an agenda. And then proponents of the public school model say these sources are inaccurate. It’s an interesting question none-the-less.
Curriculim in public education is all about who wins the fight to indoctrinate children with there politics and special agendas.
You know, I hadn’t thought of it this way, but that’s a pretty spot-on description.
They did. At least it had windows. The schools I went to didn’t have windows. That was the days that if felt like school was nothing more than preparing us for prison. Thanks, Lavinia.
I love old buildings. Awesome pics, Tim.
Thanks, Jeff.
Welcome, Tim.
An old school out in the middle of nowhere. Love it!
This one is quite as middle of nowhere as Three Rivers School, but it’s out there. Thanks, Dale.
I hear ya…
I didn’t want to go to school m-f Tim so doubt I’d ever visit on Sat. just sayin…. This one is so cool though and visiting without having to study which is my kind of school! Love the old building and history!
Thanks, Cindy.
You’re welcome Tim!
Beautiful old school!
Thanks, Inge.
Fantastic 👌👌👌
Thanks, Meli.
I love the way these old schools are sitting there with all the flat open land. We are so hilly here.
And White Oaks is in the hills. Yet there are still wide vistas. That’s the way it is in NM. Thanks, Shey.
That is what is amazing, the vistas.
Warum baut man eine Schule so weit außerhalb der Stadt?
That school is in the middle of town, actually. Things are spread out here. Thanks, einfachtilda.
That rusty pile of metal could very well pose as a contemporary sculpture! Lovely views of the old school.
That is true. Like the old saying “One man’s pile of junk is another man’s contemporary art.” Or something like that. Thanks, Marina.
Surely worth much more than this: https://news.artnet.com/art-world/italian-artist-auctioned-off-invisible-sculpture-18300-literally-made-nothing-1976181
Even nothing has its price.
A fascinating piece of history!
It is.
Wonderful post, Tim. This is our kind of place to find and explore! The website’s collection of old photos is just remarkable as well. Thanks for sharing.
You are welcome, Maj and Sher. There are a lot of treasures like this around NM, but they are spread so far and wide.
The school has a nice entrance and view.
Thanks, Roberta.
A three-hole outhouse? How fancy! 😆 Interesting photos.
I thought is was pretty thoughtful to minize the lines. Thanks, Michele.
People faced so much challenges back then, yet they persevered and even managed to build a school. I hope those kids had good memories going there. They had magnificent views, that’s for sure!
I’m sure they had great memories. Thanks, Emmblu.
Definitely do not see many small school houses from the old days. It’s a real treat.
That’s true. Thanks, Holly.
Excelent photography here, Tim.
Thanks, Inchcock.
Tim, your shots, they remind me of photography.
Photography they are. Thanks, Enuice.
You are welcome.
I mean l didn’t have much interest in it before …
I’m happy you are developing an interest in photography. The world is there to be photographed.
Yes, yes.
Beautiful! And that view!
Thanks, Nancy.
Old school houses are definitely indicative of education & life in the past, especially compared to now.
Our family had a…. setback ….. when I was a young teen. We had to move to a rural area. I was bussed into the city, so went to a normal school with flush toilets. That was the norm.
However, my little sisters went to a local one story, 2 room school house on the prairie.
Grades 1,2 & 3 were in one room. 4,5 & 6 were in the other room.
Not good memories. I ran away from home.
I have no good memories of public school. It was torture. Thanks, Resa.
Hard for me not to think seeing your schoolhouses, how much more those kids learned on a given day than students today. Probably not quantity, rather usefulness. I see where Oregon removed the ability to read and do math for condition of graduation.
I don’t think they ever had those two requirements in New Mexico. Thanks, Brian.