School Stamp Project
Much of the money that students donated to the war effort was used towards buying military equipment. In 1943, a nation-wide campaign entitled “Stamp out the U-Boat” encouraged students to raise funds through War Stamps for the purchase of anti-submarine weapons known as Depth Charges. This weapon is composed of a range of devices that are meant to weaken, submerge or destroy ‘enemy’ submarines. Other types of military equipment that required funds were war planes. “Save and Speed Our Planes to Victory” was another such campaign which promoted fund raising. Through their schools, students all across the country engaged in games and contests that were meant to promote War Stamp purchases and thus, raise funds. One Depth Charge was equivalent to ninety dollars worth of War Stamps.
Every school was to make a war-related poster. Every student was to add a detail to the poster - for a charge. This is the way War Stamps were collected. For example, the most common type of poster was a picture of a soldier, sailor or fighting pilot who needed to be dressed and equipped. Students were required to raise money in order to clothe or equip the man. Another commonly made poster was one with a picture of a submarine. The picture was divided into 25 squares – each one representing a stamp value in increments of 25 cents, one dollar or four dollars. It was in this way that money was translated into War Stamps.
Competition between classes and even grades were often used to keep the students interested in raising money. Teachers would assign a sum for each grade to raise. The goal sum accommodated grade levels. Lower grades had to raise less money than higher grades.
It is through a collective school effort and the War Stamp program that children were able to contribute to the national war effort and help their country soar to victory.