Takin’ You to School:

Issues in Education from a Historical Perspective

AHTC Summer Institute Lesson—2009

Marshall Schacht

To download this lesson in PDF format, click here.

Part 3: Racial Inequalities in Education
Primary Source 1: Personal letter from Mrs. D. DeBaum to Cobden, IL Board of Education, June 7, 1905; Illinois State Archives, Springfield, IL. (Page 1 Page 2)

Description: An African American mother is requesting that something be done to further the education of her daughter, Ruth.

Prompts:

· How does Mrs. DeBaum describe the “colored school”?

· Would you infer from this statement that the white schools would be different? How?

· What is the fundamental difference between white and black schools in Cobden?

· What options does Mrs. DeBaum have regarding her daughter’s education?

· She gives the board two options. What are they? Are these reasonable?

· How has the school dealt with Mrs. DeBaum before? What does this say about her?

· According to her mother, what goal does Ruth DeBaum have? What does this letter imply about Ruth?

· While schools today are integrated, do they provide an equal educational experience? What factors determine the quality of a school? How can there be equity?

Primary Source 2: “Cobden’s Race Problem”, unknown newspaper (1905); Illinois State Archives, Springfield, IL.

Description: This article summarizes the case and the issues before the school board regarding possible school integration.

Prompts:

· What does the first paragraph say about the past policies of Cobden School District?

· What does the article say is the position of the State Superintendent of Public Schools?

· Is Ruth alone is this experience? What does that signify about the future relevance of this issue?

· How does the author predict that this situation will be resolved?

· Is Cobden the only district dealing with this issue in Illinois?

· Is there bias in the tone of the reporter? Pick out specific sections to support your claim.

· Is the issue of school equality still in the news today?

· What are the issues?

· Do the media seem to take a particular side in terms of their reporting?

Primary Source 3: Letter from A. F. Hunsaker (Principal of Cobden High School) to Alfred Bayless (Superintendent of Illinois Schools), Sept. 15, 1905; Illinois State Archives, Springfield, IL. (Page 1 Page 2)

Description: This letter (one of three from school personnel to the state office) defines the school’s clear stance on the issue of accepting Ruth DeBaum.

Prompts:

· How does the principal explain the school’s position to the superintendent?

· What are the fundamental differences between the school’s position and that of the DeBaum family?

· Do you think that testing to earn a diploma is appropriate and fair?

· How does the school argue that it is being fair?

· How does the principal describe the “colored school”? Does it sound equal?

· How should the Superintendent of Public Schools respond to this letter?

Enrichment:

Examine the differing decisions in Plessy v. Ferguson and Brown v. Board of Education. Why did the courts rule in 1954 that “separate” was not “equal”, especially as it applied to schools?