Give Them Flowers Today
On April 29, 2023, Ms. Esther Long, and the heroes of the 1932–1934 Berwyn School Fight, were formally honored by the Tredyffrin/Easttown School District and the African American Student Union. Ms. Long, 98 and the last surviving student, was acknowledged for her courage and sacrifice.
1932–1934 Berwyn School Fight
In March 1932, the Easttown Township school district built a new elementary school in Berwyn, Pennsylvania. The Tredyffrin school district closed its old, dilapidated school and decided to send their white students to the new elementary school in Easttown. Both districts agreed to keep the old Easttown elementary school open for their Black student population. In June 1932, 212 Black students boycotted the school districts in Easttown and Tredyffrin townships. African Americans from the two townships met at the Mount Zion A.M.E. Church in Tredyffrin to plan the protest. When the new elementary school opened in September 1932, Black parents brought their children to the new school, but the families were refused enrollment despite previously attending integrated schools the previous school year. The districts’ refusal to integrate led to the Berwyn School Fight.
The boycott lasted for almost two years. Black families were jailed and fined for not returning their children to the school district. Some families sent their children to live with other relatives in neighboring communities to get an education. African American lawyer Raymond Pace Alexander led the efforts pro bono and employed a strategy of lawsuits, protests, and boycotts. His efforts led to a victory after more than 300 days of protesting. In 1935, the Philadelphia NAACP, led by the civil rights attorneys Raymond Pace Alexander and his wife Sadie T. M. Alexander, successfully lobbied the Pennsylvania Legislature to pass the 1935 Pennsylvania Civil Rights Act banning racial discrimination in public accommodations in the state. This legislation is just one of many cases that set precedence for The 1954 landmark Supreme Court case Brown vs. Board of Education.
Planting Seeds of Hope
My school district took the right step in acknowledging the pain and harm that impacted Black families in the community. It only took 90 years. I sat in the atrium with gratitude. Because of Ms. Esther Long’s and the families’ sacrifice, they planted seeds of justice for future generations to harvest. Their sacrifice ensured that all children were deserving of a high-quality education. The school board honored Ms. Long with resolutions and the African American Student Union honored Ms. Esther Long with a bouquet of flowers. Ms. Long thanked us by saying “I am glad that I received my flowers while I am alive so that I can smell them.”
Give Teachers Their Flowers
The education profession is experiencing challenging times. Disparities in educational opportunities and outcomes continue to be a challenge. Factors such as socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, and geographic location (cough Florida) contribute to inequities in access to quality education, resources, and support. Teachers and students’ mental health and well-being are not adequately supported. Lastly, many regions have been experiencing a shortage of qualified teachers in underserved communities. This shortage can strain resources, increase class sizes, and impact the quality of education.
Giving teachers their flowers is essential for many reasons:
- Motivation and Morale: Recognizing and appreciating teachers boosts their motivation and morale. Feeling valued and appreciated for their hard work and dedication enhances their job satisfaction and encourages them to continue making a positive impact on students’ lives.
- Retention and Recruitment: When teachers feel appreciated, they are more likely to stay in the profession. High levels of recognition and support can contribute to teacher retention, reducing turnover rates and maintaining a stable and experienced teaching workforce. Additionally, a positive reputation for appreciation can attract new teachers to the profession.
- Professional Development: Recognizing teachers’ efforts and achievements encourages their professional growth. When teachers feel appreciated, they are more inclined to engage in continuous learning, seek opportunities for development, and implement innovative teaching practices.
- Teacher-Student Relationships: Appreciating teachers models positive behavior and creates a supportive classroom culture. Students witness the value placed on their educators, leading to improved teacher-student relationships, respect for authority, and increased engagement in the learning process.
To ensure teachers are appreciated in the profession, several actions can be taken:
1. Establishing recognition programs at your school
2. Fostering a collaborative and supportive learning environment
3. Celebrating educators’ achievements
4. Supportive leadership
I would like to give flowers to the following educators for shaping and molding me into the person and educator I am today: Ms. Ann Mersmann (Kindergarten); Ms. Melanie Crane (Elementary); Ms. Adrienne Bogan (5th grade); Mr. Michael Pendleton and Ms. Rubie Moore (Middle School); Mr. Jonathan Barr, Mr. Jesse Kelley, Mrs. Nicole Crenshaw-Hill, and Dr. Julon Eatmon (High School); Dr. Amanda Walker-Hanes (Baylor University Professor); Mrs. Tricia Ebarvia, Dr. Kim Parker, Dr. Oscar Torres, Dr. Chandra Singh, Mrs. Leashia Lewis, Mrs. Keri Phillips, Steph Matula (CHS Family); Dr. Nicole Jolly, Tori Hall, and Seth Dixon (The Coalition).
Thank you!
This blog post is part of the #31DaysIBPOC Blog Series, a month-long movement to feature the voices of indigenous and teachers of color as writers and scholars. Please CLICK HERE to read yesterday’s blog post by Joel Garza. Please CLICK HERE to be uplifted by the rest of the blog series.
