The Hive Is Alive!A Brief History of Lincoln

1949• Lincoln opened as a 7th and 8th

grade school. • High school levels were added as

the 8th graders advanced.• The first class to graduate from

Lincoln was the class of 1955.

1954• Lincoln was still functioning as a

“separate but equal” school. • Brown vs. The Board of Education

ended segregated schools.• This caused “White Flight.”

1969• Student make up of Lincoln is 80%

Black, like most inner city schools, but The staff remained predominantly White (75 of 77 teachers).

• In April, students walked out for 10 days demanding higher educational standards, black history courses and holidays in honor of black and Latino heroes.

1976• During the Vietnam era, Lincoln’s

JROTC units earned numerous marksmanship titles.

• That era was also when Lincoln High's glory on the gridiron peaked. Only one other high school in the country has produced more NFL players than Lincoln.

• Yet the school can't play any night home games; its field has no lights.

1980• A judge identified Lincoln and 22

other schools as racially isolated and ordered their improvement.

• Lincoln remains among the lowest-scoring high schools in the district on standardized tests. Its record has been one of ups and downs influenced by, "a revolving-door system of curriculum revision and innovation."

1991• Only about one-third of the high

school-age students in the area attended Lincoln High.

• 1991 students walk out again to protest the replacement of the head Counselor, considered a role model for students and community members.

2003• The school was demolished after

low attendance and academic scores.

• Finally, after over 50 years of advocating for their right to education and representation, Lincoln begins a $129 million dollar rebuild.

2007• 2400+ students arrive for the

promised, “world-class education that would ensure minority and poor students are prepared for both college and life.”

• Instead, in March 2008, Lincoln students march in protest of California state budget cuts to education.

2012• State budget cuts to education

result in nearly 1500 teachers being pink slipped, 33 of those teachers are from lincoln, and have been here since the doors reopened in 2007.

• Lincoln Students organized and conducted their own protest, to voice their opinions about the teachers they supported.

Today• Do you notice a trend in the

history of Lincoln High School?• Have we really come that far in

50+ Years?• What can we do to stop the

cycle of malfunction at this school and in this society?

The Choice…• choose to prove the pessimist’s

right by failing academically, by destroying the campus and materials, by acting disrespectfully and violently… or …Choose to prove the pessimist’s wrong by proving your intelligence, pride, respect for the community.

…is Yours

Pledge• In 1-2 detailed and solid

sentence(s) explain your choice. – do you plan on building negative

stereotypes by behaving irresponsibly?– are you going to change minds by

achieving academically, socially, or physically?