Schooling Differences Between Black and White Schooling Differences Between Black and White

Children before and after the Civil WarChildren before and after the Civil War

By Jolyn Davis and Heather KurtzBy Jolyn Davis and Heather Kurtz

Thought Question…Thought Question…

..

How was schooling different between How was schooling different between black children and white wealthy black children and white wealthy

children in the late 1800’s?children in the late 1800’s?

These children are two of the Waller These children are two of the Waller children who lived in the Poplar Hill children who lived in the Poplar Hill Mansion in Salisbury, Maryland in Mansion in Salisbury, Maryland in

the late 1800’sthe late 1800’s

The top picture is a The top picture is a picture of the Poplar Hill picture of the Poplar Hill Mansion in Salisbury, MD. Mansion in Salisbury, MD. Wealthy white children Wealthy white children learned in the home learned in the home before the Civil War.before the Civil War.

The bottom picture is a The bottom picture is a one room school house, one room school house, where newly freed where newly freed African-American African-American children would have children would have learned after the Civil learned after the Civil War.War.

Schooling for black Schooling for black children BEFORE the children BEFORE the

Civil WarCivil War

Did you know that before Did you know that before the Civil War, education the Civil War, education for black children did not for black children did not

exist? In fact, it was exist? In fact, it was against the law for against the law for

African-Americans to African-Americans to read and write! read and write!

Sometimes, slaves Sometimes, slaves would teach themselves would teach themselves

to read and write at to read and write at night after a long day of night after a long day of

slave labor.slave labor.

Schooling for white wealthy Schooling for white wealthy children BEFORE the Civil Warchildren BEFORE the Civil War

Before the Civil War, wealthy Before the Civil War, wealthy white children were taught white children were taught in their home by a slave in their home by a slave womanwoman

Keep in mind that it was Keep in mind that it was illegal for slaves to learn illegal for slaves to learn to read and write. They to read and write. They could only teach could only teach numbers, letters and numbers, letters and colorscolors

This is an actual picture This is an actual picture of a slave woman taken of a slave woman taken

at the Poplar Hill Mansion at the Poplar Hill Mansion in Salisbury, Maryland in Salisbury, Maryland

before 1886. She would before 1886. She would have taught the children have taught the children

their lessons in the their lessons in the nursery until they were nursery until they were

eight years old. Although eight years old. Although slaves were not allowed slaves were not allowed to read and write, her to read and write, her

slave master taught her slave master taught her what she needed to know what she needed to know in order for her to teach in order for her to teach

the children of the house.the children of the house.

AFTER the Civil WarAFTER the Civil War

Poplar Hill Mansion: the Poplar Hill Mansion: the wealthy white familywealthy white family

The Waller family lived The Waller family lived in the Poplar Hill in the Poplar Hill

Mansion in Mansion in Salisbury, MD from Salisbury, MD from

1882-19451882-19458 children : Jonathan, 8 children : Jonathan,

James, George W.D., James, George W.D., Richard, Martha, Richard, Martha, Adeline, Julia and Adeline, Julia and

RachelRachelAll received the best All received the best

education possibleeducation possible

Poplar Hill Mansion Poplar Hill Mansion Continued Continued

After the Civil War, white wealthy children After the Civil War, white wealthy children would leave their nurseries and go into would leave their nurseries and go into

the schools to learn, with plenty of the schools to learn, with plenty of books and materials provided for their books and materials provided for their

learning.learning.

African American education African American education after the Civil Warafter the Civil War

After the Civil War, schools were not After the Civil War, schools were not established for African American established for African American

children in the same way they were for children in the same way they were for white children. African American white children. African American

children learned in whatever setting children learned in whatever setting they could find, using whatever they could find, using whatever

materials they could find. In lots of materials they could find. In lots of cases, churches would be used as cases, churches would be used as

meeting places during the week for meeting places during the week for students to learn.students to learn.

Chipman Cultural Chipman Cultural CenterCenter

After the Civil War, After the Civil War, slaves were freed slaves were freed

from the Poplar Hill from the Poplar Hill Mansion. Those Mansion. Those

freed slaves started freed slaves started the African the African

Methodist Episcopal Methodist Episcopal Church, the current Church, the current site of the Chipman site of the Chipman

Cultural CenterCultural Center

First African-American First African-American School on the Eastern School on the Eastern

ShoreShoreThe church was not being used The church was not being used during the week, so freed blacks during the week, so freed blacks saw this space as an opportunity saw this space as an opportunity

to educate themselves. This to educate themselves. This church also became the first public church also became the first public

school for African-American school for African-American children on the Eastern Shorechildren on the Eastern Shore

This is the room in the Chipman Cultural Center where the freed slaves would get their education. Today, it is used for meetings and events.

Together as a class Together as a class compare and contrast compare and contrast

schooling now, schooling now, schooling for black schooling for black

children after the Civil children after the Civil War, and schooling for War, and schooling for white children after the white children after the

Civil War Civil War

Use a Venn diagram to sort yourUse a Venn diagram to sort your informationinformation

Whites after civil warWhites after civil war

NowNowBlacks after the civil warBlacks after the civil war