"The History of Education" Episode 3 Reflection

This episode focused mainly on discrimination and inequalities within the American schools system between 1950 and 1980, as well as the various reforms and legislative efforts that were put into place in order to mitigate them.  I wasn’t necessarily surprised by how racially segregated American schools were, particularly in the ‘50s and ‘60s, because this is a topic covered in many American history courses.  However, I was unaware of the severity of much of this segregation.  I also did not realize that once schools did become integrated, the majority of black teachers who taught at segregated schools became displaced due to the color of their skin despite the fact that they were competent and effective teachers. 

This is seems so ironic, since the episode states that schools were “the place to bring down segregation in America.”  And, while subsequent legislation was ultimately successful, the process was long and hard.  This fact made me think of how we still experience segregation in our schools today, although generally not at such an extreme.  For example, I recently wrote a research paper on the passing of Title IX and its implications for female athletes, and quickly realized that while it has provided a great many opportunities to female athletes of all ages, these athletes are still not revered in the same way male athletes are.  In fact, many of these girls and women become targets of microaggressions and sexualization and do not receive as much positive media coverage as their male counterparts.  Who is to say that similar inequalities (gender, racial, religious, etc.) do not exist within our schools?  I am certain that they do, despite the efforts that have been made to diminish them.  Thus, as a teacher, I going to do my very best to control my immediate environment, my classroom, and ensure that it is safe space in which all students are treated equally.