Dr. Alwin Spence
As a little boy, one morning I was slow to get started readying for school. My father must have picked up that the usual rush on my part to get out and run to school was not there that morning. He never investigated what might have been the problem,he put his arm around me and said, ” Son, we do not ask you to fetch water, we do not ask you to gather fire- wood, we do not ask you to sweep the yard. All we are asking you to do is to go to school every day, school is good for you.” What my father was echoing that day, like so many other Black parents were saying, the absolute importance of school and learning, and furthermore,
that Education was the only tool or avenue to lift one-self,especially Black people out of poverty, to become equal and into a
better and higher standard of life. At that time I might not have understood all he was saying, but I knew he wanted me to do something that he wanted . Later on, as I remembered this conversation, I recognized also that he wanted me to do something good and beneficial for me, me, me. I passed down this very same message to my very own children and others. As simple as it seems, my father was handing to me the concept that Education is at the cutting edge of our broad social changes, and it is the
most effective route to upward mobility.
Historically speaking, during slavery, there were restrictive codes against the teaching of educational skills to slaves. However many white individuals and philanthropic groups violated these restrictions as they donated large sums of money to existing white schools so that they could accommodate the rapid growth of Black students. Many Black leaders felt that they were heading toward full incorporation into the Educational structure of American society, but it was not to be.
PLESSY V. FERGUSON.
Undoubtedly, the most serious blow to this optimistic outlook by Blacks was the momentous decision rendered in the Plessy v.Ferguson Supreme case of 1896. It enunciated the principle of ‘separate but equal.’ Surprisingly, this decision justified racial segregation, legitimated educational apartheid and institutional duality. It also reestablished the traditional white superiority with Black inferiority, and the structure of privileges based upon color. Plessy v. Ferguson resulted in a dual system that was indeed separate but manifestly unequal.
Inequalities existed, for example,new schools and facilities were given to white students while the Black students would have to be content with the old dilapidated ones handed down to them. Black students had to walk many miles to get to school ,as buses with white students would drive by going to nearby schools. Inequity also existed in the availability of educational material such as text books,
reading materials,Libraries, musical instruments and Physical educational facilities . Very often outdated and discarded material were given to the Black students. When it came to learning with limited resources, Black students were at a disadvantage. How many Blacks had the opportunity to learn the rudiments of Physics and Chemistry in a well equipped lab.. or classroom from a qualified teacher?
This dual and unequal system led to separate curricula for Blacks and Whites. This was designed to maintain and perpetuate a systemof segr superordinate–subordinate relationship between the two races. Hence Whites were offered a college preparatory curriculum, while Blacks were given a less developed liberal arts program, adequate for entering into Black colleges but not in predominantly white ones. Also the Black program was enough for them to enter into industrial and vocational education, thus ensuring skilled workers were available for the growing industrial white community. The stigma existed that Blacks could not handle the rigorous academic programs in colleges so why waste time and money. Separate and unequal was also demonstrated in the fact that much more was spent on the education of white students than on Black ones, a ratio sometimes as high as 1–7. Also Black teachers were paid far less than white ones with equal qualification, and very often the Black teacher is given a heavier teaching load. It was not until 1954 that the salaries of Black teachers approached parity with their white colleagues.
Was open Segregation part of the Canadian Educational system? Has Segregation been cleaned up? How has its ugly head survived?
In Canada and the United States, Blacks are holding important administrative educational positions. Most schools are desegregated, but education for Blacks is far from perfect. More work needs to be done.
