US History through the African American Experience

Integrating schools and the student movement

Compare and contrast the experiences of students, parents and government in integrating schools in Little Rock, Arkansas (1957) and Boston (1974). Does your education reinforce democracy and equality at Conard and in West Hartford?

2011warriorssyl

“The task that remains is to cope with our interdependence–to see ourselves reflected in every other human being and to respect and honor our differences”~ Melba Pattillo Beals, Warriors Don’t Cry

2007 marked the 50^th anniversary of the students integrating Central High School in Little Rock Arkansas.  On September 25, 2007, the Little Rock 9 gathered at Central High School to commemorate their heroic and tragic school year.  You will read a memoir by Melba Patillo Beals called Warriors Don’t Cry.  We will also study the history of integration in the schools in Boston Massachusetts and think about how integration affects your schooling here at Conard, in West Hartford, and in the Hartford region.

All assignments should be completed by the day listed for credit the next day.  As we read Warriors Don’t Cry, you will complete 11 learning journals .  Each night you will complete the following assignment:

• Record start and end times when you read, what chapters  you read.
• Write a summary of what you read including the best quote in this section and then a reaction to what you read. Your summary can be in bullet form.
• In class, we will discuss the information, pose questions, and draw connections with the context of the the times in the Jim Crow south.
• The result of your learning log should be information about the integration of schools and your reaction to the book and its issues.

9/1	Photo for front page of textbook	Read Carol Swann’s interview, “Like Little Tortures Everyday,” from My Soul Looks Back in Wonder by Juan Williams, p. 65-71. Prepare for a Harkness Discussion.	Why was integrating schools  so difficult for the students?
9/2	Warriors Don’t Cry	Chaps 1-2, to 23 – learning log #1
9/6 WEEK 2	Warriors Don’t Cry	Chaps 3-4, to 46 learning log #2
9/7	Warriors Don’t Cry	Chaps 5-6 to 68 learning log #3
9/8	Warriors Don’t Cry	Chap 7 to 89 learning log #4
9/9	Warriors Don’t Cry	Chap 8 106 learning log #5
9/12	Warriors Don’t Cry	chaps 9-10, to 123 learning log #6
9/13	Warriors Don’t Cry	Chaps 11-12 to 150journal entry #7 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=14563865	Begin your educational narrative -250 words
9/14	Warriors Don’t Cry	Chaps 13-14, to 173journal entry #8	Continue educational narrative 250 words
9/15	Warriors Don’t Cry	Chaps 15-16 to 194journal entry #9	complete rough draft of educational narrative
9/16	Warriors Don’t Cry	Chaps 17 to 203journal entry #10
9/19WEEK 3	Warriors Don’t Cry	Chap 18 and Epilogue to 226 journal entry #11
9/20	Speakers – In school field trip	How do you define your racial identity?
9/21	Boston	On pbs site, read http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/eyesontheprize/story/21_boston.htmlRead intro, context and watch the video On pbs site,
9/22	Boston	Read advice to Boston’s black students from 1975 on how to avoid trouble. Prepare for exam	Final draft:  EDUCATIONAL NARRATIVE DUE
9/23	Boston	Prepare for exam
9/26		Write Essay Exam	ESSAY

Why Education?  Your Educational Narrative

In this assignment, you will write about what role education plays in your life.  Melba was willing to sacrifice a lot for what she thought would be a better education.  People still question whether she learned more at Central than she would have learned at Dunbar.

How and why is education important to you?  How aware are you of how you learn?  Did your feelings about school change from elementary to middle to high school?  What caused the change?

Do you perceive of yourself as a hard worker?  Do you think you are naturally intelligent?  Are you the type of person who likes a good challenge, or are you more likely to give up when the work gets difficult?  Why?  Do you think teachers perceive that you are a good student? Why or why not?

How could you improve as a student and are you willing to take the steps needed to do so?  When have you taken risks as a student and what were the results?

As you answer these questions, you need to use specific examples from your education that support your position.

In your essay, include the following details:

1. Names and years of schools you attended
2. Your favorite teacher and why
3. Your parents’ and sibling’s educational achievement
4. Where you think you will be in five years in relationship to your education and why
5. What is the key to motivating you in school

Your paper should be word-processed and should be a minimum of 750 words.  You should illustrate this memoir.  You should be sure to proofread your paper for spelling and grammar.  Think about the order in which you want to present the information.  This paper should make you reflect on what education means to you and how you relate to “the life of the mind.”

Integrating Schools:  Little Rock and Boston

Essay Question:

Compare and contrast the attempts to integrate schools and provide an equal education for blacks and whites in Little Rock  (1957) and Boston (1974) in two of the following categories

• Role of federal government
• Role of state government
• Role of local school board
• Role of black and white students
• Role of parents
• Role of African American organizations like the NAACP

In your paragraphs, use specific examples to support your position.  Your examples must include names and dates.

¶ 1 Introduction – Restate the question and tell the time period.  State the two categories you will compare and contrast and give an overview of how they are similar or different and why.

¶ 2   Use the first topic you chose to compare and contrast the experiences of African Americans and whites in Little Rock and Boston:

• Little Rock
• Boston

Make sure to explain the cause and effect of peoples’ actions and identify the time periods. Use specific examples.

¶ 3   Use the second topic you chose to compare and contrast the experiences of African Americans and whites in Little Rock and Boston:

• Little Rock
• Boston

Make sure to explain the cause and effect of peoples’ actions and identify the time periods. Use specific examples.

¶ 4  Conclusion

Do you think that by 1974, the role of the two groups you chose changed and why? Is there equality today or do problems still exist? How do these events affect your life as a student today?  Be specific.

Essay organizer

¶ 1 Introduction – Restate the question and tell the time period.

State the two topics you will compare and contrast:

1.

2.

How are they similar or different? Why?

Similar	Different
Topic 1	Topic 1
Topic 2	Topic 2

¶ 2   topic sentence telling whether this is a compare or contrast:

• Little Rock – specific example:

• Boston– specific example

Clincher sentence – overall are they more alike or different and what lesson can we learn from it?
¶ 3   topic sentence telling whether this is a compare or contrast

• Little Rock – specific example:

• Boston– specific example

Clincher sentence – overall are they more alike or different and what lesson can we learn from it?

¶ 4  Conclusion

Do you think that by 1974, the role of the two groups you chose changed and why?

Is there equality today or do problems still exist?

How do these events affect your life as a student today?  Be specific.