In a Jim Crow society, the ability to seek equality was near impossible. The inequality among blacks and white bled into each and every institution, especially education. The immense disparities between the white schools and blacks schools were quite alarming. The white students received new course materials, school equipment, better quality facilities, and bus transportation to and from school. The black students watched on the sidelines as the white student were showered with a number of advantages over black students. The black community was opposed to the growing disparities between the two communities and found ways to supply the materials they could to resource their students. As the black community continued to rally around the schools students in support, finally in 1954 the legal system took notice.
In 1954, the Supreme Court ruling of Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka influenced public education in an extreme manner. The ruling pointed to the disparities between black and white education and found that black students were being deprived of an equal education. From this ruling the implementation of integrated schools arose. All across the country schools were told to integrate their students. Specifically in the South, school systems chose to take their time with this ruling. However as pressure rose, the ability to stay segregated became harder and harder.
The integration plan that Little Rock, Arkansas chose to instill began the integration process with the high school and then would systematically work its way down to the lower levels. In Little Rock nine black high school students chose to attend Central High School, an all white public school. These first nine students were embraced with hostility and rage. The first day that the nine black students arrived at Central High School they were faced with angry mobs of students and community members. The students were also confronted by the Arkansas National Guards upon the instruction of Arkansas’ Governor Orval Faubus, preventing their entry into the school. Following the national press this received, President Eisenhower commanded over 1,000 troops from the 101st Airborne Division to be stationed as protection for the nine black students. This local concern rapidly became a national matter, and with action provided by the federal government changes began to occur. The following year, one of the original nine graduated from Central High School as the first black graduate. This graduation marked the beginning of a new hope for fair and just education for both blacks and whites.
Now, fast forwarding to our present day, the question I then pose is this: Are school systems considered fair and just today? When I think about our education here in Memphis, I can immediately recall public schools that are under funded and lack resources. Instead of specific disparities between blacks and whites in the education systems like the 1950s, today’s society has enormous disparities between social-economic levels. I feel like there are still struggles that we face as a nation that represents segregation within the education system, and the question then is: Is there a way to provide fair and just education for all members of society?
Today, I believe that school systems still struggle with disparities between white and black education systems. However, its no longer because the school is a "white" school or a "black" school, it has more to do with the social-economic levels of the United States. If you look at race economic levels in the United States you will see that african americans have the highest unemployment rate and live in poorer areas. Public School systems are run by the government and are given a certain amount of money based on standardized scores of the students. Schools that score lower levels receive less funding. It is because of this that there is such a disparity between the school systems. Especially in texas this a huge problem in public schools. A lot of illegal immigrants are placing their children in public schools and their children are bringing down the standardized scores and in return hindering the funding the government. I do not think that there will ever be a way to provide equal education for everyone in our society. Taxes and government funding pays for public school systems. The poorer the neighborhood the less the school will receive. There will always be economic levels within and society and therefore, there will be schools that are more or less fortunate than others.
ReplyDeleteI believe what Hana said about the problem with schooling being a socioeconomic issue, but I also think it is a race issue. In his article, "Hitting them Hardest when they are Small," Jonathan Kozol discusses the education of the average city child. Most white children live in middle to upper class neighborhoods, and their public schools could rival a number of private schools in the quality of education. Their parents have the means to give hefty donations, and the government sends them the best most experienced teachers.
ReplyDeleteHe also talks about the schooling most African American students receive. Because they come from lower income families and live in poorer neighborhoods, there is no real benefit in their education. Black students in the article even claim that having white students attend their school would help get them the teachers and the funds they need to succeed.
I don't think there is a way to provide fair and just education because parents will do whatever it takes to see their child succeed. If they have the means, they will sends students to private schools or give donations to public schools. While that is an economical concern, it also falls under the category of race. Black parents want to watch their children succeed but they are unable to provide help.