Jim Crow Era Education Education Divide Separate but

Jim Crow Era Education

Education Divide • Separate but equal • Just like trains, bathrooms, water fountains etc. • Laws in place for divide were up to administrative discretion for anyone who was perceived to be black-1 drop rule • Argument was that the 14 th amendment provided equal protections but not abolish distinction between white and black

Separate but Equal • Gave precedent to courts to rule on the side of segregation and hard to repeal • Segregation argument • Many argued segregation was in the best interest of all children • Equal protection does not apply to education which argued was a state and local issue • Prejudice of white voters were not created by law and cant be changed by law

Jim Crow Schools • 1900 - 90% of blacks lived in former confederacy • 6 of 10 work on farms • 3 of 10 were servants/ housekeepers • 2% held professional jobs • Jim Crow schools taught aricultural and domestic work • Booker T. Washington’s argument was whites will only vote for funds in proportion to the value of black education

Jim Crow Education • 1890 literacy rates 40% • 1930 literacy rates 80% • Large increases but many did not stayed based primary school • Schools spent 3 times as much on each white students as black student • Teacher pay was much lower in black schools • In some cases by nearly 40% • Education levels of educators was close to high school education at best

Jim Crow Education • • 10 -20% of 15 -19 were enrolled in southern states Teachers were also Principals Little class offerings Used out of date hand me down resources to teach