Julie Fletcher

March 25, 2003

 

Grade Level

Secondary

Subject Area

History/Social Studies

Unit Description

Education Reform in Boston

Essential Questions

·        What does it mean to have schools that are equal?

·        How can we improve education?

Enduring Understandings

·        Individual and collective action is effective for bringing about social change

·        Schools reflect neighborhood demographics.

·        Education is used to promote equity.

Objectives

Learning Objectives:

·        Students will understand how neighborhood demographics influences schools

·        Students will understand that individuals and groups in Boston helped bring about reform.

·        Students will understand why people opposed/supported school desegregation.

·        Students will understand connection between the Roberts v. City of Boston and the Plessy  v. Ferguson case.

Standards

Contemporary U.S. (1945-Present): Rising demands for desegregation; Brown v. Board of Education, Plessy v. Ferguson case and '60's busing; civil rights struggles and laws; 80’s and 90’s: racial tensions and culture wars; debates over immigration.

Assessment

Lesson Activities:

  1. Mapping Neighborhoods – students use maps to understand neighborhood demographics
  2. Abiel Smith School – students host speaker from Museum of Afro American History
  3. Plessy  v. Ferguson case - students review and learn how Roberts case has been referenced by the Supreme Court
  4. Articles/Letters – students read articles and debate reasons people opposed/supported school desegregation