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An African American One Room School

Link: http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/twhp/wwwlps/lessons/58iron/58about.htm

Pierre Samuel du Pont and Delaware's African-American Schools The early 20th century in America, a period characterized by nationwide social reform, is often referred to as the Progressive Era. During this period, more and more people recognized that education was the best guarantee of economic success for young people. Delaware's educators were eager to reform their schools, which were often old, too small, and in very poor condition. In fact, according to a 1915 federal study of the quality of education in the states, Delaware ranked in 39th place out of the then 48 states. Reforms were interrupted by the country's involvement in World War I, but in 1919 Delaware adopted a new school code. Among other changes, the code established that schools for African Americans would receive some of the money collected from white taxpayers. The new school code also supported the rebuilding of schools for white students. There was no provision for rebuilding schools for African-American children, however. Concerned about the condition of education in Delaware, philanthropist Pierre Samuel du Pont decided to help pay to have schools in the state rebuilt. This lesson is based on the National Register of Historic Places registration file "Iron Hill School Number 112C," interviews with former pupils, and other source materials. The lesson was written by Susan Brizzolara Wojcik, Historic Preservation Planner, New Castle County Department of Land Use. TwHP is sponsored, in part, by the Cultural Resources Training Initiative and Parks as Classrooms programs of the National Park Service. This lesson is one in a series that brings the important stories of historic places into the classrooms across the country. Where it fits into the curriculum Topics: This lesson could be used in teaching units on the Progressive Era, or on the themes of segregation, education, and the evolution of civil rights for African Americans in the first part of the 20th century. Time period: 1919-1954 Relevant United States History Standards for Grades 5-12 Relevant Curriculum Standards for Social Studies

This resource is cataloged under:

• Educational Type: Activity
• Educational Type: Artifact
• Educational Type: Catalog record
• Educational Type: Curriculum
• Educational Type: Curriculum support
• Educational Type: Data set
• Educational Type: Educator's guide
• Educational Type: Image set
• Educational Type: Lesson plan
• Educational Type: Reference
• Network/channel: Technology Applications for Learning: facilitate collaboration or resource sharing
• Network/channel: Technology Applications for Learning: develop or access curricular content

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