Running head: American Education Equality 1

Schools: The Story of American Education Equality 1950 - 1980

Genevieve Weems

Dr. Isbell

EDU 210

December 9, 2017
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1. Why was Topeka, Kansas targeted as a place to obtain educational equality?

The decision to make Topeka the place to obtain educational equality hinged on race.

Topeka’s million-dollar high school was integrated, but the activities were segregated. At

the elementary level schools were segregated.

2. What instigated Brown v. Board of Education?

The separate but equal movement was more separate and unequal. Black school were

dangerously inadequate. The N.A.A.C.P gathered information on these schools and

brought this to court. However, the case that was the tipping point was Brown v. The

Board of education. Brown tried to enlist his daughter in a white school, to get her the

more updated education white students got.

3. What were the main points of the Brown v. Board decision? Explain.

Brown v. the Board of Education spoke for black students. The court ruled that it is

unreasonable to expect a student to succeed when they are denied the opportunity of an

education. That an education must be allowed to everyone, on equal terms. Meaning that

segregating these black students was taking away their chance to succeed and that was

unconstitutional.

4. What were the education-related initiatives that grew out of Johnson's War on Poverty?

There was a wide range of federal programs in Johnson’s War on Poverty, aimed at

helping disadvantaged students. Everything from “Head Start” to low cost college loans.

5. Which groups did the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ultimately impact?
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The groups the Civil Rights Act of 1964 impacted segregated elementary and secondary

students.

6. Why was the Civil Rights Act of 1964 more effective in promoting desegregation than

the Brown decision?

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was more effective than the Brown decision because it

threatened to take away federal funding from schools who refused to integrate. While

another bill offered more money to elementary and secondary school

7. What was the key to achieving equality in education for Mexican Americans in Crystal

City, Texas?

A former student of Crystal City High, Hose Angel Gutierrez, who had earned his

masters in political science and become a leader in the Chicano Civil Rights Movement

came back to the school to help students draft a petition. In 1969 the petition was given to

the school board, demanding the teachers stop calling the students names, and that a

program be made that respected their heritage as Mexican Americans. The school board

would not hear their demands. The next day 500 students preformed a school walkout.

Federal administrators were sent as mediators. The school board election of the next year

saw that four seats were given to Mexican Americans, and saw that Gutierrez became

School Board President.

8. Why did leaders from the women's movement focus on the educational system?
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Women wanted equal opportunity in employment. However, the schools would not teach

women, graduate schools would not admit women. This made getting good jobs hard for

women.

9. What was the logic behind court ordered busing?

Bussing students within city limits away a way around segregation. Bussing students

would help to integrate students, as well as equalizing minority groups in schools across

city limits.

10. To what extent do the national and state governments control public schools?

The national and state governments control everything in public schools. There is much

debate on whether this has helped or hurt our public schools.

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References

Mondale, S. (Director). (n.d.). Schools: The Story of American Education Equality 1950 -

1980 [Video file]. Retrieved December 9, 2017, from

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