Progress in education, 1954-60
I can explain the extent of change in education in the 1950s, and how some people opposed these changes.
Progress in education, 1954-60
I can explain the extent of change in education in the 1950s, and how some people opposed these changes.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- By 1950s, many schools across the US were still segregated, especially in the South.
- As a result of the Brown v. Topeka ruling, schools began to desegregate - although this was slow across the south.
- Some powerful local figures tried to oppose the desegregation of schools, particularly in the south.
- Although Eisenhower was reluctant, the federal government was pressured to enforce desegregation.
Keywords
Federal - a federal government is a system of government where there is one central government that controls a collection of smaller state governments
Desegregation - desegregation is when segregation is ended
Unconstitutional - something is unconstitutional when it breaks the terms of a country's constitution, especially when it violates the rights given to individuals by the constitution
School board - a school board is a group of individuals responsible for making decisions about schools in the local area
Common misconception
When the Supreme Court ordered all schools to desegregate, they were quick to follow this instruction because it came from the Supreme Court.
Although the Supreme Court was the highest court in the USA, many schools were slow to desegregate and some refused to desegregate until they were eventually forced.
To help you plan your year 11 history lesson on: Progress in education, 1954-60, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 11 history lesson on: Progress in education, 1954-60, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 history lessons from the USA: how did the civil rights movement develop between 1954-60? unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
when different groups of people are forcefully kept separate or apart
to have political and social freedom and equality
to kill someone for an offence without a trial
Exit quiz
6 Questions
is when segregation is ended
breaks the terms of a country’s constitution
a group responsible for making decisions about schools locally