From School From School DesegregationDesegregation

to Open Schoolsto Open Schools

By : Heather PetzBy : Heather Petz

& Jennifer Thompson& Jennifer Thompson

The 1950’sThe 1950’sPost War School Systems Post War School Systems

““Separate But EqualSeparate But Equal” ” Profound inequalities within Profound inequalities within

schools: schools: women women African AmericansAfrican Americans

Students with Disabilities Students with Disabilities Mexican AmericansMexican Americans

Women:Women:

School sports teams unavailableSchool sports teams unavailable Scholarships not providedScholarships not provided Professional schools and many colleges Professional schools and many colleges

not open to women not open to women All readers were gender bias All readers were gender bias Girls were steered away from math & Girls were steered away from math &

science science

African AmericansAfrican Americans 17 states still segregated schools 17 states still segregated schools desegregated schools were still desegregated schools were still

separating students within the buildings separating students within the buildings and classrooms (separate proms, student and classrooms (separate proms, student governments, sports teams, classes, etc.)governments, sports teams, classes, etc.)

Unequal facilities- no gyms, no science Unequal facilities- no gyms, no science labs, no foreign language teachers, old labs, no foreign language teachers, old books (typically 4-5 years behind)books (typically 4-5 years behind)

Classrooms were in poor conditionClassrooms were in poor condition

Students with Disabilities:Students with Disabilities:

-72% of students with disabilities were not even enrolled in -72% of students with disabilities were not even enrolled in schoolsschools-Before the start of the Civil Rights Act, Most children were -Before the start of the Civil Rights Act, Most children were institutionalized institutionalized

  -Special Education legislation started as part of the Civil -Special Education legislation started as part of the Civil Rights Movement in the 60'sRights Movement in the 60's

  -Government made grants available to state schools for -Government made grants available to state schools for children with disabilities children with disabilities 

-In the mid-seventies, The Individuals with Disabilities -In the mid-seventies, The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act IDEA began.  This allowed children with Education Act IDEA began.  This allowed children with disabilites to an appropriate education including disabilites to an appropriate education including developing Individual Education Plans (IEP) and placing developing Individual Education Plans (IEP) and placing them in Least Restrictive Environments (LRE)them in Least Restrictive Environments (LRE)

Schools were Separate but Schools were Separate but UnUnequalequal Segregation was legal if schools were Segregation was legal if schools were

proved to be “equal.”proved to be “equal.”

African American Schools were vastly African American Schools were vastly inadequate compared to white schools.inadequate compared to white schools.

1941- Georgia1941- Georgia

The NAACP had traveled The NAACP had traveled through the south to uncover through the south to uncover the inequalities between the the inequalities between the white and African American white and African American

schools. schools.

N.A.A.C.P.N.A.A.C.P.“ School is the place to bring “ School is the place to bring

down segregation in America!” down segregation in America!”

It all began in Topeka Kansas.It all began in Topeka Kansas.

The NAACP asks 13 black families to The NAACP asks 13 black families to enroll their children in their enroll their children in their neighborhood white school.neighborhood white school.

Film- segment #3Film- segment #3

Linda Brown Linda Brown In the fall of 1950, Linda Brown’s father tried to In the fall of 1950, Linda Brown’s father tried to

enroll her in her neighborhood “white school.” enroll her in her neighborhood “white school.” They, along withThey, along with 12 other families,12 other families,were not allowed were not allowed enrollment.enrollment. The NAACP filed The NAACP filed A lawsuit againstA lawsuit againstThe Board of EducationThe Board of Education in Topeka.in Topeka.

Topekahttp://www.pbs.org/kcet/publicschool/innovators/brown.htmlTopekahttp://www.pbs.org/kcet/publicschool/innovators/brown.html

After the RulingAfter the Ruling Black teachers were not considered or Black teachers were not considered or

“integrated”“integrated” 30,000 African American teachers lost 30,000 African American teachers lost

their jobstheir jobs Most southern states refused to comply to Most southern states refused to comply to

new lawnew law Students and adults petitioned in the Students and adults petitioned in the

streetsstreets Many African American students who did Many African American students who did

integrate felt unwelcome, isolated, and integrate felt unwelcome, isolated, and discriminated against discriminated against

((

President Lyndon Johnson:President Lyndon Johnson:A Desegregation ChampionA Desegregation Champion

““An equal chance at education An equal chance at education is an equal chance at life.”is an equal chance at life.”Pres. Johnson signed the Pres. Johnson signed the 1964 Civil Rights Act-1964 Civil Rights Act- banned discrimination in allbanned discrimination in allpublicly funded programs publicly funded programs (including schools)(including schools) Provided 4 billion dollars to public school systems to Provided 4 billion dollars to public school systems to

help disadvantaged youthhelp disadvantaged youth Money was used to help integration: school would loose Money was used to help integration: school would loose

funding if they did not comply to integration rulesfunding if they did not comply to integration rules Film #5Film #5

Film: #5Film: #5

Mexican Americans-Mexican Americans- average schooling 5.4 yearsaverage schooling 5.4 years

Books portrayed Mexican Americans Books portrayed Mexican Americans as “Lazy” and “always taking a siesta”as “Lazy” and “always taking a siesta”

Students were paddled or received Students were paddled or received detention for speaking native detention for speaking native languagelanguage

Put down by teachers Put down by teachers Commonly told they would not go Commonly told they would not go

anywhere in lifeanywhere in life

1968 Chicano Civil Rights 1968 Chicano Civil Rights MovementMovement

Crystal City High SchoolCrystal City High School

87% Hispanic student body87% Hispanic student body

Principal and 3 out of 4 teachers were Principal and 3 out of 4 teachers were whitewhite

Film #7 25.28Film #7 25.28

Through the segregation period, Through the segregation period, many reforms were created to many reforms were created to provide opportunities for an equal provide opportunities for an equal education in America for all children education in America for all children no matter their race, disability, and no matter their race, disability, and gender. gender.

Open SchoolsOpen Schools1965-19751965-1975

Schools ranged from having 2 classrooms joined with no Schools ranged from having 2 classrooms joined with no walls to enormous spaces housing up to 200 students.walls to enormous spaces housing up to 200 students.

What was it about?What was it about?

Several teachers per “classroom”Several teachers per “classroom” Large groups of students, of all ages, Large groups of students, of all ages,

with diverse academic levelswith diverse academic levels Mostly small group & Independent Mostly small group & Independent

studystudy Minimal whole group instruction Minimal whole group instruction

Goal and TheoryGoal and Theory

Open schools had an understanding Open schools had an understanding that children learn in various ways that children learn in various ways and at their own pace.and at their own pace.

Children learn best using their Children learn best using their environment and by incorporating environment and by incorporating their interests.their interests.

Promoted creativity, higher order Promoted creativity, higher order thinking skills, and active learners. thinking skills, and active learners.

What happened to the fad?What happened to the fad? Classrooms were noisy and disorderlyClassrooms were noisy and disorderly Inadequate ventilation Inadequate ventilation Difficult to implement successfully – because Difficult to implement successfully – because

of unclear definition of “Open Education” of unclear definition of “Open Education” and lack of professional knowledgeand lack of professional knowledge

The theory of “Open Schools” sounded The theory of “Open Schools” sounded effective but many of the key aspects were effective but many of the key aspects were never truly implemented.never truly implemented.

10 years later – walls returned and more 10 years later – walls returned and more traditional teacher-directed learning traditional teacher-directed learning continued. continued.

The End!The End!

References:References:

Cuban, L. (1993). How teachers taught. NY: Cuban, L. (1993). How teachers taught. NY: Teacher’s College Press. Pp. 149-204Teacher’s College Press. Pp. 149-204

Films on Demand: A Struggle for Educational Films on Demand: A Struggle for Educational Equality: 1950-1980Equality: 1950-1980

Tyack,D.B. (1974). The one best system: A history Tyack,D.B. (1974). The one best system: A history of American urban education. Cambridge, MA: of American urban education. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University press. Pp. 217-229 Harvard University press. Pp. 217-229

OpenClassroom. Wikipedia. OpenClassroom. Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_Classroomhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_Classroom. . November 28,2011. November 28,2011.