Segregated Schools in the North


Figure 1.--

The situation concerning access to education in the North varied over time. Some communities excluded blacks from public schools. This was especially true before the Civil war> Black parents had to take local school authorities to court to gain access to the public schools. Even after Emancipation, some states northern and western states still excluded black children. This became less common with the passage of the 14th Amendment. Overtime blacks were admitted although the time frame varied from state to state. As a result, segregation in the north is a very complicated subject and one which we have not yet investigated to any degree. It is an interesting question and one that we would like to better understand. We note black children in public schools during the late 19th century. An example is the Onarga School in Illinois during 1882. We know that there were segregated schools in Kansas. The land mark Suprme Court decesion was in part aimed against the Topeka Board of Education. We think that segregation in the North, however, was not mandated by state law, but rather an option available to individual school districts. We are not sure at this time about Pennsylvania, but apparently the state allowed school districts to maintain seggregated schools. An example is the Hygienic School in Steelton.

Chronology

The situation concerning access to education in the North varied over time. Some communities excluded blacks from public schools. This was especially true before the Civil war> Black parents had to take local school authorities to court to gain access to the public schools. Even after Emancipation, some states northern and western states still excluded black children. This became less common with the passage of the 14th Amendment. Overtime blacks were admitted although the time frame varied from state to state.

State Trends

Education in the United States is a state function. There is no natiojnal education system. As a result, segregation in the north is a very complicated subject and one which we have not yet investigated to any degree. It is an interesting question and one that we would like to better understand. We think that segregation in the North was not mandated by state law, but rather an option available to individual school districts in some states.

Illinois

We note black children in public schools during the late 19th century. An example is the Onarga School in Illinois during 1882.

Kansas

We know that there were segregated schools in Kansas. The land mark Suprme Court decesion was in part aimed against the Topeka Board of Education.

Pennsylvania

We are not sure at this time about Pennsylvania school regulations. Apparently the state allowed school districts to maintain seggregated schools. This appears to only have occurred when thre were large numbers of African Americans in a local community. For the most part there were not very many blacks in Pennsylvania untill the Great Migratioin, especially beginning in the World war I era. . An example is the Hygienic School in Steelton. One Pennsylvania source writes, "It appears that the school district had the upper hand on how it wanted the children to be schooled. In Steelton it was the schools were always intergrated, but the available black teachers were not allowed in the district until a committee was formed to create a school for Afro-American children were the Afro-American teachers could teach. Pennsylvania for the most part, at least in central Pennsylvania had integrated schools.






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Created: 4:09 AM 3/28/2007
Last updated: 4:09 AM 3/28/2007