PBS Episode Three: "The Story of Schools"

In Episode Three of PBS “Story of School” public education was put into the national spotlight, highlighting many inequalities occurring in schools at that time. For example, 72% of students with disabilities around the country were not even enrolled in schools. When the Brown ruling transpired, African American teachers were not integrated like their students, leaving a complete gap in representation for their students. The national drop out rate for Mexican students was 75% by the eighth grade, and those to did stay in school had no support for a higher education. Textbooks contained many gender biases towards women, who were repeatedly steered away towards occupations in the field of math and science.

From the 1950’s to the 1980’s schools underwent many federal changes to begin to make schools more inclusive and culturally representative of its student body.  Among those changes was the Brown vs. Board of Education ruling of 1954, allowing African American students were finally allowed to go to school with white students, desegregating schools all over the country. Another crucial change was in 1968, when students who were bilingual were granted representation of their culture, and language in the schools they attended. To combat other inequalities, the Headstart campaign was established and the lowering of the cost of college loans helped students prepare for their future. Federal funds now were helping with the cost of school, and with the introduction of ESEA, four billion dollars was put towards schools, materials, and the increase in equality students were receiving. During a time period of change, schools were influenced greatly during this period of time, making it easier for students of all ethnicity to receive a quality education in the United States.