Literacy History

Chapter three just so happens to be the chapter that I enjoy the most this far in the book.  This chapter is one that explains something that we hear about often, and I think this is why it caught my attention so much.  The word stands out to you as clear as day, "Separate and Unequal" and right away you get the feeling of what era this involves.  It's always nice learning about the way the American school system, but most importantly, the serious facts and events that took place as well. The integration of schools is probably one of the most important events that has happened in Americas history, and I strongly feel like it should be something everyone would take the time to learn about.   

Imagine being an outsider at school. Imagine not being able to get the proper education you deserve. The case of Brown vs. Board of Ed was a United States Supreme Court case that initially declared integration in schools across the United States. Of course, the reaction would be people not reacting to it in a positive way.  

The "Little Rock 9" was a test of the Brown vs. Board of Ed case. A group of nine African American students were sent to a school in attempt to integrate a high school in Little Rock, Arkansas. This caused a lot of controversy in America, the students were harassed, and sent death threats everyday as a result. 

Bilingual education is very important in the school system. It is beneficial to everyone that we all learn the same things instead of singling out a race and having them set up to do nothing more in life then to fix a car, sew, or do maintenance work for others.  

Americanization has become the purpose for bilingual education for these specific reasons. Everyone has this idea that we have to do things the "American way" but who are we to say what way is the right way. People during this time were convinced that individuals of a minority were incapable of doing certain tasks for reasons such as someone not being able to speak English. Because of this, people thought it was unfair to separate people for these reasons, and soon after it was pointed out that people all need equal education regardless of what race they are, and what language they speak. In today's society people believe that you are better off finding a good job if you are bilingual. 

Communities play a major role when it comes to making sure, people get equal education.  there are various groups and people that make sure the children in their community get as much education as anyone else. For example, I myself have had to face educational inequality, but with the help of teachers, Other students as well as myself were able to get the education we needed. 

I was lucky enough to attend a performing arts high school, but because I went to high school in Newark New Jersey and was predominantly black and hispanic, people assumed we weren't as talented as everyone else and would cause problems with other schools if we went to recitals and performances. My band teacher went out of his way to make sure we were able to perform in recitals with some of the best bands in the state, even when people didn’t want us to.  My senior year, although it was frowned upon, he did everything in his power to make sure we were able to get an AP music theory class ensuring that if we wanted to continue playing music after high school, we would be prepared for the real world. These are teachers that we need everywhere. Whenever there are people looking down on minority, there should always be a group, or an individual willing to help us get equal opportunity.