Dr Roberta Silfen

Southern Expose Dr Roberta Silfen

This is written for those unaware of the days in the early 1970's in the Deep South where desegregated schools were still segregated, and equal education was very unequal. This is an account of my experience; a white teacher, teaching in an all-black elementary school at that time. Times have changed and the black schools have caught up with the white schools, but the history of those days still needs to be told. I had never dared to relate these incidents in previous years knowing I probably would never get another job in public education again. Having now left the public schools, my courage and conviction have reappeared. This account tells the story of the wonderful children in my classroom. I, as the teacher learned much from my students who unlike children in other schools were very unique. There were no leaders, no followers, no cliques, and no isolates. Each child was an individual unto him or herself, yet they were all bound together by the group, the class, and I was one of their group. They treated me as one of them. Within these pages, you will be introduced to some of the students, teachers, the curriculum, and how well they applied what they learned to their daily experiences. They were handicapped by the educational system, but were taught by caring teachers committed to making sure they had a good education and would become successful adults.