Movement Toward Inclusive Education
The Movement Toward Inclusive Education installation is an interactive art piece that seeks to engage the Lesley community in ongoing conversations around equity, inclusion, and diversity movements in education.
Artist Contributions
Timeline Events
2021 – Texas law limits discussion of race and racism in the classroom
A new law in Texas was passed in 2021 that limits the way teachers can discuss racism in Texas classrooms.
1869 – Maritcha Lyons is the first Black graduate of Providence High School
After being denied entry to a Rhode Island high school, Maritcha Lyons testified before the state in a campaign effort to desegregate RI schools. The campaign was successful and in 1869, Maritcha became the first Black graduate of Providence High School.
1975 – Indian Self Determination and Educational Assistance Act
The Indian Self Determination and Education Assistance Act authorized government agencies to make grants directly to federally recognized Native American tribes. This rejuvenated tribal governments and allowed tribes to operate their own schools.
1945 Mendez v. Westminster School District of Orange County, CA
Because she was Mexican American, Sylvia Mendez was not allowed to attend a nice school of her choice, but had to attend a run down school with poor conditions with other Mexican American children. Boys were taught vocational skills, and girls were taught sewing and home economics. The Mendez family opened a lawsuit that challenged…
1862 – Mary Jane Patterson graduates from Oberlin College
Mary Jane Patterson is the first African-American woman to earn a B.A. degree at an American university. She graduated from Oberlin College in 1862 and went on to become an educator herself.
1847 – Sarah Roberts vs. City of Boston
On her long walk to school, five year old Sarah Roberts passed by several other schools that were only for white children. Her father applied to the Boston Public School Committee to allow her to attend a school closer to their house but because his daughter had Black skin, his daughter was denied four times.…
1833 – Oberlin College is founded
From its founding, Oberlin college accepted Black students and women and has a long history of dedication to African-American education. Oberlin has a long history of commitment to the fight for social justice, and was a stop on the underground railroad.
1823 – Alexander Lucious Twilight is the first Black man to graduate from an American University
He received a bachelor’s degree from Middlebury College in Vermont.
1635 – Boston Latin opens
Boston Latin is the first public school in the United States. When it opened, the school only accepted white boys.
1831 – 1834 – Canterbury Female Boarding School
Also known as the “Forgotten School”, the Canterbury Female Boarding school made history when Sarah Harris, a young african-american woman wrote to the principal requesting to attend the school. The principal, Prudence Crandall agreed, which caused protests among the white residents of the town of Canterbury. In response, Crandall closed the school and re-opened it…
2022 – “Don’t say gay” or “Parents rights in education” Bill
In 2022, Florida passed the ‘Parental Rights in Education Law’ which limits teachers in grades K – 3 classrooms from discussing LGBTQ+ issues in school. Several other states have passed or proposed similar “don’t say gay” laws of their own.
2016 – Historic Curriculum Re-write
California Department of Education revised the K–12 history/social science framework in the spirit of the FAIR Act.
2014 – Protections for Transgender Students
The Department of Education issues official guidance to clarify that transgender students are protected from discrimination under Title IX, a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against students on the bases of sex/gender in federally funded education programs and activities.
2011 – Fair Act passed
The Fair Act adds lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans and persons with disabilities to the list of those including men and women, Native Americans, African Americans, Mexican Americans, Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, European Americans and members of other ethnic and cultural groups whose contributions must be included in classroom instruction and materials.
2003 – Harvard Civil Rights Project
A study by Harvard’s Civil Rights Project finds that schools were more segregated in 2000 than in 1970 when busing for desegregation began.
2003 Affirmative Action Cases
In court cases, Grutter v. Bollinger and Gratz v. Bollinger the Supreme Court upholds diversity as a rationale for affirmative action programs in higher education admissions, but concludes that point systems are not appropriate.
2001 – No Child Left Behind Act
The law, which reauthorizes the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, holds schools accountable for student achievement levels and provides penalties for schools that do not make adequate yearly progress toward meeting the goals of No Child Left Behind
1999 – National Schools Climate Survey
GLSEN conducts its first National School Climate Survey to assess the experiences of LGBTQ youth with regards to their experiences of school-based harassment and victimization, the frequency with which they heard homophobic language in their schools, and their overall comfort in school. The survey is the first of its kind to examine the specific experiences…
1999 – Utah–East High Gay/Straight Alliance v. Board of Education of Salt Lake City School District
This ruling found that denying access to a school-based gay–straight alliance was a violation of the Federal Equal Access Act giving students the right to use facilities for extra curricular activities at any school that receives public funding—regardless of private standing or religious affiliation.
1999 – Anti-bullying law passed in GA
In 1999, Georgia passed the first school bullying law in the US.[ The rest of the US states followed suit, with the final state—Montana—passing its school bullying law in 2015.
1990 – Capitol Crawl
In March of 1990, over 1000 people marched from the White House to the US capitol to demonstrate their support of the Americans with Disabilities Act. At the capitol, people with physical disabilities removed their mobility aids and wheelchairs and crawled up the Capitol steps to create a physical representation of the urgent need for…
1998 – Proposition 227, CA
Proposition 227 was passed, making it illegal for teachers to speak Spanish in California public schools and by default, outlawing bilingual education in California.
1988 – Gay/Straight Alliance
First Gay-Straight Alliance was formed at Concord Academy in Concord, MA by a history teacher named Kevin Jennings.
1988 – School integration at a high
School integration reaches its all-time high; almost 45% of Black students in the United States are attending majority-white schools.
1984 – Project 10, LA
Project 10 is widely recognized as the first organized effort to provide support for LGBTQ+ youth in schools across the United States.
1982 – Bob Jones University vs. US and Goldboro Christian Schools vs. US
The Supreme Court rejects tax exemptions for private religious schools that wish to discriminate based on race.
1978 Briggs Initiative, CA
The Briggs Initiative was a ballot measure in California in 1978 that would have prohibited “the advocating, soliciting, imposing, encouraging or promoting of private or public homosexual activity directed at, or likely to come to the attention of, schoolchildren and/or other employees.” The measure was defeated when California residents voted no on the measure.
1973 – Section 504
Section 504 prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities.
1972 – Title IX
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits discrimination based on gender in all aspects of education. No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.…
1971 – Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenberg Board of Education
The Court approves busing, magnet schools, compensatory education and other tools as appropriate remedies to overcome the role of residential segregation in perpetuating racially segregated schools.
1970 – Public Law 91-230
Public Law 911-230 made it a requirement that both students with and without disabilities were given a free, appropriate public education. The law required funds to be spent on gifted and talented students as well.
1969 – Children with Specific Learning Disabilities Act
Law passed that required federal funding for training teachers to teach children with learning disabilities
1968 – Loyd Dun Article
Loyd Dun publishes “Special Education of the Mildly Retarded” where he makes the argument that minority and low income students were being classified as mildly mentally disabled more than was justified by their potential for learning or for their success that could be achieved with appropriate teaching in regular classrooms
1964 – Civil Rights Act
The Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination based on race, color, sex, religion or national origin. It provided for the integration of schools and other public facilities.
1960 – Ruby Bridges attends William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans
First grader Ruby Bridges is the first African American to attend William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans. She becomes a class of one as parents remove all Caucasian students from the school. Suggested Reading: Bridges, R. (1999 ) Through my eyes. Scholastic Press.
1957 – Central High School, Little Rock, AR
A federal court orders public school integration and Governor Orval Faubus sends his National Guard to physically prevent nine African American students from enrolling at all-white Central High School. Reluctantly, President Eisenhower sends federal troops to enforce the court order, not because he supports desegregation, but because he can’t let a state governor use military…
1955 – 1960 Desegregation Hearings
between 1955 and 1960 federal judges will hold more than 200 school desegregation hearings.
1954 – Brown vs. Board of Education
On May 17th, the U.S. Supreme Court announces its decision in the case of Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, ruling that “separate educational facilities are inherently unequal,” thus overturning its previous ruling in the 1896 case of Plessey v. Ferguson. Brown v. Board of Education is actually a combination of five cases from…
1936 – University of Maryland vs. Murray
The Maryland Supreme Court orders the state’s white law school to enroll a Black student because there is no state-supported law school for Black people in Maryland.
1930 – Alvarez vs. Lemon Grove
The Lemon Grove school board decided to build a separate school for children of Mexican heritage without giving notice to their parents. On January 5, 1931, Lemon Grove Grammar School principal Jerome Green, acting under instructions from school trustees, turned away Mexican children at the schoolhouse door, directing them to the new school, which came…
1896 – Plessy vs. Ferguson
The U.S. Supreme Court rules that the state of Louisiana has the right to require “separate but equal” railroad cars for Black people and white people. This decision means that the federal government officially recognizes segregation as legal. One result is that southern states pass laws requiring racial segregation in public schools.
1893 – The Industrial School for Crippled and Deformed Children
The first school for students with physical disabilities is opened
1890 – Frist Jim Crow law passed
In 1890 Louisiana passed the first Jim Crow law requiring separate accommodations for White people and Black people.
1965 – 1877 African Americans bring public education to the South for the first time
After the Civil War, and with the legal end of slavery, African Americans in the South make alliances with white Republicans to push for many political changes, including, for the first time, rewriting state constitutions to guarantee free public education. In practice, white children benefit more than Black children.
1864 – Columbia University for the Deaf, Dumb, and Blind opens
The first degree- conferring university for people with disabilities is opened at Columbia University
1864 – Gallaudet University Founded
Gallaudet University became Congressionally funded when President Lincoln signed the charter bill into law; President Ulysses S. Grant attended the first university commencement in 1869. Gallaudet University is a private federally chartered research university in Washington, D.C. for the education of the deaf and hard of hearing. It was founded in 1864 as a grammar…
1864 – Congress outlaws teaching children using their native languages
In 1864 Congress made it illegal for Native Americans to be taught in their native languages. This law led to the founding of off-reservation boarding schools operated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Native children as young as four years old were taken from their parents and sent to these schools. Children were forbidden from…
1832 – Perkins School for the Blind
The Perkins School for the Blind was the first school to open for blind students. This school progressed and now serves students with other disabilities other than blindness.
1817 -American School for the Deaf opens
The first school of students with disabilities opened. The “American Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb” was opened in Hartford, Connecticut
Proudly Powered by WordPress
Movement Toward Inclusive Education 