Curatorial Project 1 – The History of Urban Education Book: Tyack, David B. The One Best System: A History of American Urban Education

Preview Questions Have you ever taught in an urban school? If yes, for how long? What was your experience? What schools are considered to be urban, in your opinion? Is an urban school different from an inner-city school? If yes, how? What kind of images come to your mind when you hear the phrase “urban education”?

Have you ever taught in an urban school? If yes, for how long? What was your experience?

What schools are considered to be urban, in your opinion?

Is an urban school different from an inner-city school? If yes, how?

What kind of images come to your mind when you hear the phrase “urban education”?

This is now… Video “Savage Inequalities” by Jonathan Kozol, East St. Louis http:// www.youtube.com/watch?v =8mdlYaCjf2I

Video “Savage Inequalities” by Jonathan Kozol, East St. Louis

http:// www.youtube.com/watch?v =8mdlYaCjf2I

Part I: Rural Education – Where It All Started First there were single-room rural school houses Community control of the rural school “ The rural school problem”

First there were single-room rural school houses

Community control of the rural school

“ The rural school problem”

Part II: From Village School to Urban System The need for coordination – Harris p.29 Creating one best system (factory model) – social engineers Teachers and the male mystique Compulsory public education

The need for coordination – Harris p.29

Creating one best system (factory model) – social engineers

Teachers and the male mystique

Compulsory public education

Part III – The Politics of Pluralism ( end of 19 century) Critics of public school system Configurations of control Teachers and school politics Cultural conflicts: Religion and Ethnicity A struggle lonely and unequal: The burden of race

Critics of public school system

Configurations of control

Teachers and school politics

Cultural conflicts: Religion and Ethnicity

A struggle lonely and unequal: The burden of race

Part IV - Centralization and the Corporate Model, 1890-1940 By 1923 urban school boards were composed mostly of business and professional men Business corporation – blueprint for reform Conflicts of power: case studies of centralization Political structure

By 1923 urban school boards were composed mostly of business and professional men

Business corporation – blueprint for reform

Conflicts of power: case studies of centralization

Political structure

Part V – Inside the System: The Character of Urban Schools, 1890-1940 Helen Todd’s survey, p. 177 Teacher education/certification and improvements of urban schools (beginning of 20 th century) Science – education equals opportunity Victims without “crimes”: Black Americans Americanization: match and mismatch Urban ladies educators and activists

Helen Todd’s survey, p. 177

Teacher education/certification and improvements of urban schools (beginning of 20 th century)

Science – education equals opportunity

Victims without “crimes”: Black Americans

Americanization: match and mismatch

Urban ladies educators and activists

Epilogue: The One Best System under Fire, 1940 - 1973 American public education in crisis by 1960s: does equality in education equal equality in opportunity? Shortage of teachers: poor conditions, low pay, crowded classrooms Urban migration patterns create poverty and unemployment in central cities The Brown desegregation decision and disappointing struggle for racial justice AFT and teachers’ struggle for power

American public education in crisis by 1960s: does equality in education equal equality in opportunity?

Shortage of teachers: poor conditions, low pay, crowded classrooms

Urban migration patterns create poverty and unemployment in central cities

The Brown desegregation decision and disappointing struggle for racial justice

AFT and teachers’ struggle for power