The History of Education on North Avenue, Baltimore: A Story of Desegregation and Transformation
North Avenue in Baltimore, Maryland, has been a significant location for the city's educational landscape, witnessing pivotal moments in the history of desegregation and the evolution of its public school system. The story of education on North Avenue is intertwined with the broader narrative of Baltimore's struggle with racial segregation and the long journey toward equality in education.
The Landmark Case of Brown v. Board of Education and its Impact on Baltimore
The 1954 Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education marked a turning point in the fight against segregation in American schools. This landmark case, which included Oliver Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas, challenged the "separate but equal" doctrine established in Plessy v. Ferguson (1896). The case of Oliver Brown was brought by the father of a third-grade girl forced to ride a bus to a “colored” school rather than be allowed to walk to a closer-and better-white elementary school. The Supreme Court's ruling declared state-sponsored segregation in public schools unconstitutional, paving the way for desegregation efforts across the nation.
In Baltimore, the Brown v. Board of Education decision prompted a series of changes within the city's public school system. The city’s school board, led by new president Walter Sondheim Jr., acted quickly. With lawsuits to desegregate Western and Mergenthaler Vocational-Technical high schools already working through the legal system, the Board approved a policy on June 10, 1954 “removing the race of pupil” from school admission consideration. This policy aimed to eliminate racial barriers in school admissions and create a more integrated school environment.
Early Experiences with Desegregation
The initial stages of desegregation in Baltimore were met with both hope and resistance. Some African-American students were selected to attend previously all-white schools, marking a significant step toward integration. Keiffer Mitchell Sr. recalls being one of 16 students selected to attend Baltimore Polytechnic Institute (Poly) in 1952, two years before the Brown decision. The Urban League and the NAACP attorneys, including Thurgood Marshall, had argued before the city’s school board there wasn’t anything comparable to Poly’s ‘A’-course curriculum in the black schools. He recounts the challenges and opportunities he faced as one of the first black students at Poly, which was then located on North Avenue where school administration headquarters are now: "There were three huge buildings-Poly used to be on North Avenue where school administration headquarters are now." Despite initial opposition, Dr. Wilmer DeHuff, the school’s principal, ultimately supported the integration effort and ensured that the black students upheld the standards of "Poly Boys." Although Mitchell found the experience academically enriching, social integration remained limited.
Carolyn Holland Cole's experience reflects the stark realities of segregated education prior to Brown v. Board of Education. Cole recalls attending a two-room schoolhouse on Denmore Avenue, P.S. 157, which was the only school African-American children could attend in her area. The school lacked basic facilities such as a library, gym, and cafeteria, which were available at the nearby Arlington Elementary, the white school. In the summer of 1954, Cole's father arranged for her to attend Arlington Elementary for fourth grade. Despite being academically advanced at her previous school, Cole found herself behind in math at Arlington, highlighting the disparities in educational resources between black and white schools.
Read also: Constraints on Georgia's Education Board
Navigating Integration: Challenges and Triumphs
Desegregation was not without its challenges. Some white families fled to the suburbs and private schools, leading to a decline in integrated city school system. Keiffer Mitchell Sr. notes the irony of families fleeing integrated neighborhoods for predominantly white areas, only to see those areas eventually become more diverse. Some parents felt they were going to lose their local schools. There was conjecture, too, that black teachers were afraid that desegregation meant they’d lose their jobs. The black schools were run as a completely separate school system, had their own school headquarters, and there was so much uncertainity at the time.
Despite these challenges, many African-American students persevered and thrived in their newly integrated schools. They excelled academically, participated in extracurricular activities, and went on to achieve success in various fields. Their experiences paved the way for future generations of students and contributed to the ongoing struggle for equality in education.
One individual who experienced both hostility and opportunity during desegregation was an unnamed student who attended Gwynns Falls Park Junior High School after the Brown decision. Encouraged by his parents, Clarence Mitchell Jr. [NAACP chief lobbyist for nearly 30 years and in whose honor the Baltimore City Courthouse is named], and mother, Juanita Jackson Mitchell, who became the first black woman to practice law in Maryland, he sought access to the school's superior art resources. The black schools didn’t have equal supplies as the white schools, and, later, I did win a citywide art competition. However, he faced hostility from neighborhood residents and was even beaten up by white teenagers on the school's playground. Despite these challenges, he persevered and eventually graduated from City College.
Even after desegregation, social integration remained a challenge for some students. Separate African-American churches and Girl Scout troops persisted.
The Baltimore City Public School System: Evolution and Challenges
The Baltimore City Public Schools (BCPS), also referred to as City Schools, has a long and complex history. Established in 1829, it initially operated as part of the Baltimore City Government. However, in 1997, partial control was ceded to the State of Maryland in exchange for increased funding and an expanded partnership. The Mayor now solely appoints the revamped Board of School Commissioners (School Board) that oversees the BCPS system, and which in turn interviews and hires the C.E.O. (Chief Executive Officer) and C.A.O.
Read also: Highlights of the recent BOE meeting
The BCPS headquarters are located at 200 East North Avenue, in the Dr. Alice G. Pinderhughes Administration Building. As of 2012, it was the fourth-largest school system in Maryland, serving approximately 84,000 students in the 2014-15 school year.
Throughout its history, the BCPS has faced numerous challenges, including fiscal crises, budget cuts, and debates over school closures. In late 2003, City Schools was discovered to be in a severe fiscal crisis, with a deficit estimated to be anywhere from $54-64 million. As a means of reducing the gap, extensive layoffs of teachers and staff took place and new controls were enacted to ensure that spending was more closely monitored. A loan from the city temporarily ended the deficit and City Schools paid the loan back over a two-year period. In March 2006, students held a three-day strike to protest the planned consolidation of high schools. A recent poll conducted by The Baltimore Sun and Annapolis pollster OpinionWorks July 8-10, 2007 recently revealed Baltimore citizens grim opinion of the system. Asked to grade the Baltimore public schools, 2 percent of respondents gave the system an A; 10 percent gave it a B; 32 percent chose C; 22 percent D; and 20 percent Fail, with 15 percent unsure.
Historic Schools on North Avenue: Eastern High School and Baltimore Polytechnic Institute
North Avenue has been home to several historic schools that have played a significant role in Baltimore's educational history.
Eastern High School
Eastern High School, founded in 1844, was one of the first public secondary schools for girls in Baltimore. The city had decided to start two such high schools for women: Eastern and Western, which would serve their respective side of the city. Throughout its history, Eastern High School moved to several locations, including 1701-1735 North Avenue in 1906, before settling at 33rd Street in 1938. The curriculum also continued to develop and expand to cover subjects that were requirements in the male curriculum. Students also began to participate in extracurricular activities and clubs. The new building had all of the modern educational accoutrements, including typewriting rooms, and was wired to with a broadcast system throughout the entire school. The school population had expanded to over 2,000 students. Eastern High School eventually closed in 1986 due to declining enrollment and costly renovations.
Baltimore Polytechnic Institute (Poly)
Baltimore Polytechnic Institute (Poly), conceived in 1883, opened its doors on March 3, 1884 as a free vocational institute known as Baltimore Manual Training School. In 1909, the School Board bought the Maryland School for the Blind Building, located on North Avenue and Calvert. In 1931, the Center Wing replaced the original Maryland School for the Blind building; the auditorium adjacent to Guilford Avenue and the front terraces were added at the same time. Poly moved to its present location on Falls Road in 1967, much of the character and spirit of Poly, as well as the richness of the school's legacy, were formed and fostered by this building, the adjacent "Duck Pond" on Calvert Street, and the surrounding neighborhood.
Read also: HPBOSE: A Detailed Look
The North Avenue Poly Building MarkerInscription reads: "You didn't go to Poly, you joined it." Such is the proud attitude of many Baltimoreans associated with this school, long considered to have one of the best college preparatory programs in the country.
tags: #board #of #education #north #avenue #history
