I gather the school itself is gone, but there is an active Facebook group for alums: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1219721161462592

The 102 by 80 foot building was still quite new in this picture, having opened in 1940. No mention if any of those feet were unshod.

Many have commented on the youthful enthusiasm, but a 1929 article on attendance hints at the challenges in a poor, rural school of the period; the class sizes - first 51, second/third 32, fourth/fifth 30, sixth/seventh/eighth 47, HS 7 - might seem bizarre until one realizes why: people dropped out (the huge dip after first shows how many and how early.) Unlike today, where school is seen as a place to escape from, it must have been a place to escape to...albeit briefly.

I notice that several kids are running toward the camera barefooted. Would this be something common in the 1940's in Missouri. Might be fun, but in a crowd of running kids with mostly shoes on, I would have been worrying about my feet!

Wow, those kids are exploding out of that school! Such a high degree of happiness in every single face. What a crazy amount of energy. And I love the bare feet, too.

A smile on every face! As old as I am, I can still remember the feeling of bursting out of the schoolhouse for summer vacation. Wonderful feeling. What a variety of kids here. Some barefoot, some in bib overalls and all of them trim and slim.

TV, phones and computers will change that.

Enjoy the summer kids.

[Actually these kids are just starting school. - Dave]

I certainly went barefoot in the summer on occasion as a kid but I don't remember anyone without shoes in school, and I lived in Louisiana! The barefoot kids aren't carrying any shoes so I assume they came to school unshod?

for a rural area. From what I could find, the school building, and the school district is gone. But its memory lives on in its own Facebook page, Bucoda Public School District No. 57. Interesting reading.

Not much more to say than what a fabulous shot this is! A truly timeless photo especially when you consider it is over 80 years ago!