Crime, Children, Truant Schools: United States. Massachusetts. Oakdale. Worcester County Truant School: Worcester County Truant School, Oakdale. 4-Jan

Curator: This piece, entitled "Crime, Children, Truant Schools: United States. Massachusetts. Oakdale. Worcester County Truant School: Worcester County Truant School, Oakdale," presents a collection of handwritten documents mounted together. The date is unspecified, and it's attributed to various authors. Editor: It's hauntingly sparse. The stark white background emphasizes the fragility and vulnerability of the children's work. The presentation is so minimal, so clinical. Curator: Indeed, the layout seems to highlight the raw, unedited nature of the children's writing and drawings. Consider the textural qualities of the papers, their varying states of wear, pinned up, almost like specimens. Editor: It speaks volumes about the institutional context. These documents, likely records of children deemed 'truant,' offer glimpses into lives shaped by social and economic factors. Curator: I agree. The composition highlights the visual elements, the penmanship, and rudimentary drawings, to show how these children were learning to express themselves within the confines of the school. Editor: Yet, it’s difficult to ignore the systemic forces at play. What does it mean to label children as "criminals" for their truancy, especially given the social inequalities of the time? Curator: I see your point, and I find the layout to be an interesting juxtaposition of the formal and the informal. Editor: This piece urges us to reflect on how society treats its most vulnerable and what responsibility we have to address systemic injustices.