That date probably doesn't ring a bell. What about May 17, 1954? Still no? Well, these two dates represent landmark supreme court cases involving the board of education. Walter S. Mills, the Principal of Parole Elementary School for 46 years, made history on November 22, 1939. In Mills v. Board of Education of Anne Arundel County, Mr. Mills, with the help of his lawyer Thurgood Marshall (you may have heard of him!), won his case against the Anne Arundel County Board of Education for purposely paying "colored" educators less than White educators. This case was not only important for Black educators in Anne Arundel County, but served as a precedent to equalize pay for ALL Black educators in the South. Isn't that incredible?! I can't believe that I didn't learn about Mr. Mills' courage and bravery until just a few years ago. THIS should be taught in our local public schools! A history maker with deep roots in Annapolis- sounds like a win-win to me. Last year, during Black history month, I made a point to teach my class about Walter S. Mills and his amazing contribution to our local history. The kids were fascinated to know that the "Mills" in "Mills Parole" was much more than just a name.
May 17, 2024 will mark 70 years since the supreme court ruled segregation illegal in public education. Known to most as "Brown v. Board of Education," these cases changed the landscape of our public education system in our nation. There were 5 cases in all that made up the Brown v. Board of Education ruling. Citizens from Kansas, Delaware, Washington, D.C., South Carolina, and Virginia fought against the system and WON.
I've been thinking a lot about the important role our local school board plays in determining the educational outcomes of our kids. This year, we have several new faces running for the Anne Arundel County School board. Some districts already have a contentious race on their hands, while several candidates, including Dr. Joanna Tobin here in District 6, seem to be running unopposed. As much as I am a passionate educational advocate, I admittedly had written off our school board. I have rarely reached out to anyone on the board; always thinking why? What's the point? They don't represent me. They don't represent my kids. If I need something done, I'll do it myself or I'll use my connections in AACPS to help me get it done. I don't need them. In the deep recesses of my mind, I am leery of them. These are the same school boards that decided to underpay Black educators until the 1930s, keep de jure segregation in place in our county until at least 1971, and ban books in certain districts as recently as last year. Why would I ever look to them for help or guidance? But the fact remains that our board of education is an important body that makes really important decisions about our education system. If we want to see systemic change happen in our school district, we have to pay attention to who is making these decisions.
2024 could be a revolutionary year for education in Anne Arundel County. What if someone joins the board and, instead of maintaining the status quo, works to UPEND the system as we know it?!? Fights to right all of the wrongs that we've seen throughout history; fights for the students that are suffering the most; is an unapologetic advocate for our kids and our amazing educators. Wouldn't that be a sight to see... Let's stay tuned...
***If you haven't already, I highly recommend you read Philip L. Brown's book "A Century of 'Separate but Equal' Education in Anne Arundel County." A must read for Anne Arundel County educators, historians, parents, and advocates.***
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