ENGL 120 SDSU Taking a Look at the History of Education Discussion

Directions:

Step 1:

In our video yesterday, we saw some ways that our systems function in a way that is racist towards people of color. One of our biggest social systems is education.

Our education system, as it stands, is builds of decades of rules and regulations that have shaped the system and contributed to inequalities we may see today.

To help us see how that works, I ask that you carefully look through the timeline below.

Check out the Historical Timeline of US Public Education & Segregation.

Step 2:

Once you have carefully reviewed the timeline, think (and write) about the questions below.

1. What feelings arose from reading the timeline? Did anything make you sad? Did anything surprise you? Why?
2. Write down two dates from the race history timeline that made an impact on you. Explain why these dates seemed particularly important?
3. How might this timeline showcase the idea that the education system itself was build upon racist or discriminatory ideals?

Remember that this is a sensitive topic, and while we may all be a little nervous to participate in this kind of conversation (I am), it is important that we do, but also that we remain thoughtful and respectful in our responses. The idea here is not necessarily to show what we know, but to question what we know.