Your comment about tracking struck a memory chord. I had a similar experience at P.S. 28, an elementary school in the Bronx, N.Y., in the late 1950s. There were six classes of approximately 30 students per class for every grade. The classes were numbered, e.g., in third grade it was 3-1, 3-2, 3-3, etc., down to 3-6. 3-1 was virtually all white and all Jewish; 3-6 was virtually all Black and Puerto Rican. Children were separated and segregated in this way beginning in first grade, going straight through to sixth grade. If a child started in 1-6, they finished in 6-6. There were no real chances to change lanes or to recognize improvement by students in 3-4 or 3-5 or 3-6. The curse of limited expectations for dark-skinned children was set in stone at the age of six, and for white-skinned, mostly Jewish children, the sky was the limit. This concrete example of how racism operated is heartbreaking; how could the parents of the children of color upend such a system? However, some did struggle mightily to do so; watch the incredibly inspiring segment in Eyes on the Prize on the Ocean Hill/Brownsville community's fight to transform their schools in Brooklyn in the late 1960s. Thank you, Susie, for digging this sordid piece of reality out of the dirt of oblivion.
I recall that de facto segregation very vividly and am certain that it made a lasting impression on my life. The only Puerto Rican child I knew by name (in a school with a majority Puerto Rican population) was a boy who was famous because he drowned in Central Park lake. I taught school briefly during the Ocean Hill/Brownsville period and crossed the picket line for the first time in my life when the teacher's union tried to close down the schools rather than entertain any idea of community control. That was profound and a foreshadowing of what it feels like now in the light of the Gaza war.
Amongst my many concerns, education has risen up to be one of the most compelling. Would you like to write something out of your experience as a teacher. At the end of May, I'm posting a piece by a reader in Oregon and almost see this as a series. What do you think?
I was one of the kids in the Catholic school down the street - a different street, but, nevertheless, same desks and all. And we survived! That required strength. Strong girls become strong women.
From the outside, it looked the same but sooooo different. The uniforms, the nuns in their habits. I wanted very much to understand it, but I didn't. What do you think accounts for the strength.
I feel that strength grows from having to sort the wheat from the chaf and I found plenty of both. Your writing sounds like you did, too.
And to manage to do all that sorting without dying of spiritual malnutrition or spiritual gluttony, no mean accomplishment! Except, of course, it's never "done"...
Susie, enjoyed your thoughts. I grew up the same way in Minneapolis, Mn public schools.
Always felt that I learned a lot from our multicultural classmates. Our teachers were excellent in all subjects. We are entering a period which none of us have entered before in this country. I shall keep fighting these folks until they are gone.
Daryl....Not sure if we've shared this before. I live in the Twin Cities now. I moved here (eight months a year) two and a half years ago and really like it. Thanks for reading my work.
Yes the AI thing (assuming g it’s true and not an AI boost) is shocking but some human had to give it a prompt. Or several prompts if it was GenAI. Therein lies our humanity. The “prompts” have moved civilization along for thousands of years, changed minds, inspired greatness or colluded with evil.
I wish I had a better grip on it, but alas....it feels like there's too much to take in nowadays and AI never rises to the top of the pile for me. If you can recommend something on the order of AI for Dummies, I'd be interested and grateful.
Susie, this may be your most powerful post. The AI reveal was shocking; I had read it sent by a friend and found it very moving, so I hope that it is but a rumor. My public elementary school had desks like yours but we had “cloak rooms at the back of every room and a sink for handwashing and two little toilet cubicles(for then we only had two genders). Thanks for a great read!
Your comment about tracking struck a memory chord. I had a similar experience at P.S. 28, an elementary school in the Bronx, N.Y., in the late 1950s. There were six classes of approximately 30 students per class for every grade. The classes were numbered, e.g., in third grade it was 3-1, 3-2, 3-3, etc., down to 3-6. 3-1 was virtually all white and all Jewish; 3-6 was virtually all Black and Puerto Rican. Children were separated and segregated in this way beginning in first grade, going straight through to sixth grade. If a child started in 1-6, they finished in 6-6. There were no real chances to change lanes or to recognize improvement by students in 3-4 or 3-5 or 3-6. The curse of limited expectations for dark-skinned children was set in stone at the age of six, and for white-skinned, mostly Jewish children, the sky was the limit. This concrete example of how racism operated is heartbreaking; how could the parents of the children of color upend such a system? However, some did struggle mightily to do so; watch the incredibly inspiring segment in Eyes on the Prize on the Ocean Hill/Brownsville community's fight to transform their schools in Brooklyn in the late 1960s. Thank you, Susie, for digging this sordid piece of reality out of the dirt of oblivion.
I recall that de facto segregation very vividly and am certain that it made a lasting impression on my life. The only Puerto Rican child I knew by name (in a school with a majority Puerto Rican population) was a boy who was famous because he drowned in Central Park lake. I taught school briefly during the Ocean Hill/Brownsville period and crossed the picket line for the first time in my life when the teacher's union tried to close down the schools rather than entertain any idea of community control. That was profound and a foreshadowing of what it feels like now in the light of the Gaza war.
Everyday Christian Nationalism is inching into education. OY!
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/04/30/us/supreme-court-charter-schools
Amongst my many concerns, education has risen up to be one of the most compelling. Would you like to write something out of your experience as a teacher. At the end of May, I'm posting a piece by a reader in Oregon and almost see this as a series. What do you think?
I was one of the kids in the Catholic school down the street - a different street, but, nevertheless, same desks and all. And we survived! That required strength. Strong girls become strong women.
From the outside, it looked the same but sooooo different. The uniforms, the nuns in their habits. I wanted very much to understand it, but I didn't. What do you think accounts for the strength.
I feel that strength grows from having to sort the wheat from the chaf and I found plenty of both. Your writing sounds like you did, too.
And to manage to do all that sorting without dying of spiritual malnutrition or spiritual gluttony, no mean accomplishment! Except, of course, it's never "done"...
I've always been partial to the idea that it's never "done." The discoveries are so wonderful. I just want to continue to learn and to feel.
I cannot imagine you otherwise! Unless I have to....
Susie, enjoyed your thoughts. I grew up the same way in Minneapolis, Mn public schools.
Always felt that I learned a lot from our multicultural classmates. Our teachers were excellent in all subjects. We are entering a period which none of us have entered before in this country. I shall keep fighting these folks until they are gone.
Daryl....Not sure if we've shared this before. I live in the Twin Cities now. I moved here (eight months a year) two and a half years ago and really like it. Thanks for reading my work.
"Public education was a shared culture but not everyone was permitted a portion." (realism rears its truthful head)
The children I shared a classroom with never rubbed elbows with the "other" children.
I don't see how it would be an improvement to have an educated upper class and an ignorant peasantry. Hasn't that been tried before and found wanting?
Absolutely right. Is that how you read my essay?
I read that as the logical outcome of the current policies.
I get that. I thought you meant I was advocating for that. Glad we cleared that up!
Amen
Maybe you'd like to write something on this subject from a teacher's point of view for me to publish on seventysomething?
Yes the AI thing (assuming g it’s true and not an AI boost) is shocking but some human had to give it a prompt. Or several prompts if it was GenAI. Therein lies our humanity. The “prompts” have moved civilization along for thousands of years, changed minds, inspired greatness or colluded with evil.
I wish I had a better grip on it, but alas....it feels like there's too much to take in nowadays and AI never rises to the top of the pile for me. If you can recommend something on the order of AI for Dummies, I'd be interested and grateful.
Sent you a DM
Sorry. I'm a little lost. Where would I find that?
Susie, this may be your most powerful post. The AI reveal was shocking; I had read it sent by a friend and found it very moving, so I hope that it is but a rumor. My public elementary school had desks like yours but we had “cloak rooms at the back of every room and a sink for handwashing and two little toilet cubicles(for then we only had two genders). Thanks for a great read!
Thank you. It struck me as a huge subject that I hadn't engaged so I went for it.