High School Unit I

Activity 2: New Opportunities in Education

Have students read the legislation that desegregated schools in Massachusetts and discuss the differences there might be between change that comes about as a result of legislation and change that comes about as a result of court rulings.

Have students read the story of Charlotte Forten and discuss the following questions:

1) How did Charlotte's experiences in Salem affect the future course of her life?

2) How did her education benefit African Americans who did not have her advantages?

3) How might her presence in the Normal School have affected white students there?

Document HS I-14: The Legislature Takes Action: Massachusetts Chapter 256, Desegregating Public Schools, 1855

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

Section 1. In determining the qualifications of scholars to be admitted into any public school, or any district school in this Commonwealth, no distinction shall be made on account of the race, color, or religious opinions, of the applicant or scholar.

Section 2. Any child who, on account of his race, color, or religious opinions, shall be excluded from any public or district school in this Commonwealth, for admission to which he may be otherwise qualified, shall recover damages therefor, in an action of tort to be brought in the name of said child, by his guardian or next friend, in any court of competent jurisdiction to try the same, against the city or town by which such school is supported.

Section 3. In filing interrogatories for discovery in any such action, the plaintiff may examine any member of the school committee, or any other officer of the defendant city or town, in the same manner as if he were party to the suit.

Section 4. Every person belonging to the school committee, under whose rules or direction any child shall be excluded from such school, and every teacher of such school, shall on application by the parent or guardian of any such child, state in writing the grounds and reasons of such exclusion.

Section 5. This Act shall take effect from and after the first day of September next (1855).