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Black Politics and Education Reform in Chicago: Justice, Power, and the Struggle for Equality

Josh Carter

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Published in A Political Education: Black Politics And Education Reform In Chicago Since The 1960s (Justice Power And Politics)

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A Political Education: Black Politics and Education Reform in Chicago since the 1960s (Justice, Power, and Politics)

by Elizabeth Todd-Breland

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	8187 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	329 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported

The relationship between black politics and education reform in Chicago is a complex one, marked by both progress and setbacks. Since the 1960s, black politicians have played a major role in pushing for reforms to improve the quality of education for black children. However, their efforts have often been met with resistance from white politicians and other stakeholders.

One of the most significant challenges facing black politicians in Chicago is the legacy of segregation. For decades, the city's public schools were segregated, with black children attending schools that were underfunded and overcrowded. Even after the Supreme Court ruled that segregation was unconstitutional in 1954, Chicago's schools remained largely segregated.

In the 1960s, black politicians began to challenge the city's segregated school system. They organized protests, boycotts, and lawsuits. In 1966, the Chicago Board of Education finally agreed to desegregate the city's schools. However, desegregation did not solve all of the problems facing black children in Chicago. Many white parents fled the city, taking their children with them. As a result, many black children were still attending underfunded and overcrowded schools.

In the 1980s, black politicians began to focus on reforming the city's schools. They lobbied for increased funding, smaller class sizes, and better teacher training. They also supported the creation of charter schools and other alternative schools. However, these reforms were often met with resistance from white politicians and other stakeholders.

In the 1990s, the federal government became more involved in education reform. The Clinton administration passed a number of laws that were designed to improve the quality of education for all children, including black children. However, these laws were often underfunded and poorly implemented. As a result, they had little impact on the lives of black children in Chicago.

In the 2000s, the No Child Left Behind Act was passed. This law required states to test students annually and to hold schools accountable for the performance of their students. The law was controversial, and many critics argued that it was unfair to schools serving low-income students. However, the law did lead to some improvements in the quality of education for black children in Chicago.

In recent years, there has been a growing movement for school choice. This movement supports the creation of charter schools and other alternative schools. School choice advocates argue that these schools provide parents with more options and that they can improve the quality of education for all children. However, critics of school choice argue that these schools can lead to segregation and that they can divert funding from traditional public schools.

The debate over black politics and education reform in Chicago is likely to continue for many years to come. There is no easy solution to the problems facing black children in Chicago. However, black politicians have played a critical role in pushing for reforms to improve the quality of education for black children. Their efforts have helped to make some progress, but much more work remains to be done.

A Political Education: Black Politics and Education Reform in Chicago since the 1960s (Justice, Power, and Politics)

by Elizabeth Todd-Breland

5 out of 5