Attached Link: http://www.pbs.org/jefferson/enlight/brown.htm

The sign on the doors reads:

"LAMPASAS COLORED SCHOOL
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places
This site became the Lampasas Colored School Campus
in 1898. In 1923 this stone building was built to replace
an earlier wooden structure. This campus remained in
operation until 1963 when the public schools in Lampasas
were desegregated.
RESTORATION PROJECT"

Wanted to show the feeling of "if-these-walls-could-talk" &
the not-so-long-ago history as one views & stands within this building.

Excerpt of American history from the link provided:

In 1896 the Supreme Court decision in Plessy v. Ferguson established the "separate but equal" doctrine,
which provided a legal basis for segregated schools. This policy continued until the 1954 case Brown v. the Board of Education of Topeka
determined that this policy violated the rights of African Americans to an equal education. Court ordered desegregation
affected school districts everywhere in the United States. When nine African American students attempted to integrate
Arkansas' Little Rock Central High School amidst an angry mob in 1957, the eyes of the nation were upon them.

Race hatred and violence have not been completely eradicated since the Brown decision.
Indeed, another type of segregation can still be seen in many schools and neighborhoods. It is known as "de facto" segregation,
and it results from prejudices and stereotypes that separate our communities. Nevertheless, it was the Court's
mandate in Brown v. Board of Education that forced Americans to face each other and determine if they were
willing to live up to the ideals that are written in the Constitution."

Message edited on: 03/10/2005 12:16

Hmm. Not too keen on the drinking trough in the bathroom.....actually, even in this state to rest room is in better condition than the one in my primary school!! I know I'm gonna cause controversy here, and I might be talking outta my ass seeing as how we didn't have a situation like that in the recent history of the UK (on the mainland anyways), but in a perverse way segregated schools must have had a POSITIVE affect on the pupils themselves, because there would have been a lack of racism that they meet in a desegregated one and they'd get the chance to prove themselves on an equal footing? NOTE: I am NOT condoning them, just looking at this from an outside perspective. I use for my thinking the fact of Girls' Schools in the UK. Without the hassle of boys they always seem to get damn good grades. Then leave and get pregnant. hmm. bad example. At the end of the day, there is no perfect solution. As Stephen King once said, at every school there is one boy and one girl who are at the bottom of the pile. This goes for EVERY school, so having whites & blacks together merely shifts the goalposts. Damn, I'm not sounding too good here - I'll let you guys comment then add something later when I work out what to say properly :-) (",)

as for any "positive effect" Mikey? ...from the link:
"The rational of the Court's decision was based on the dehumanizing effects of segregation:

"Segregation of white and colored children in public schools has a detrimental effect upon the colored
children. The impact is greater when it has the sanction of the law, for the policy of separating the races is usually
interpreted as denoting the inferiority of the negro group. A sense of inferiority affects the motivation of a
child to learn. Segregation with the sanction of law, therefore, has a tendency to [retard] the educational and mental
development of negro children and to deprive them of some of the benefits they would receive in a racial[ly] integrated school system."

Somehow I don't think the same principle applies to all-girl schools, which I was one of :]

Yep...excellent Images here, from the Land of the Red Necks.

bows I stand corrected, and withdraw my arguement :-| (",)

Cindy, i get goosebumps looking at these pictures!!!! They're incredible! sigh The walls talk for sure here!!! i keep hearing the children laughing and giggling...seeing them pass notes in class. i might be wrong, but i think kids are gonna act silly and try to get away with shit in school...no matter the color of their skin is and no matter what their life circumstances. i know these images are sad, but i just keep seeing pictures of cute kids and hearing them giggle!!! i can't help it. maybe i just WANT to think these kids had good times here, despite their situation. I hope they did anyway. mike, it's fine to ask those questions. i think one of the problems with segretating schools is that schools like this probably got very little funding. I'm not positive about it, but i'm thinking they probably didn't have very many books. Or maybe the books they did have were used and papers ripped out and stuff. i'm thinking these kids may not have been educated the same way. they were not given as many opportunities. I'm also wondering about their school itself. Was there enough money to make the needed repairs on it? Were the children cold in the winter. was the roof leaky? The money to make the school a safe and good environment for kids had to come from somewhere. i have a feeling their school was probably always rundown. and it's harder to learn in school when you have rain leakin in and you're freezing or you're roasting. you know stuff like that. I'm sure tax money did not go to help these schools. i understand what you were saying about kids in segregated schools maybe didn't have to deal with hatred and racism problem on a day-to-day basis. i think the reason they wanted desegregation was so all children would have equal opportunities when it came to education. The other part of it is, what's the reason for the segregation? Kids are kids. People are people. Segregation just enforced the idea that black people should be shunned...that they were somehow inferior to white people. Desegregation was a positive step toward saying we're all just human beings...no matter the color of our skin. I just explain this stuff the way i understand it. I may be wrong, but it's my understanding of the situation. that "drinking trough" in the bathroom...our schools had those. aren't they urinals?

yes... lol... a urinal... the children were probably happy sheila... as kids will usually make the best of what they know it's when they get older problems may arise... you brought up some fine points... thanks :]

Why don't they burn that sign like they burned science books back in the dark ages? (I think it was the dark ages) Racism is a disgusting evil. I believe it is a cause of war, fighiting, and an illusion of better than though. I still have a hard time believing the slavery periods in America. By good Christians...the way people make justify certain passages to suit their agendas...it still occurs. Like God is a raciest...that is just illogical. Good photo challenge entry! -Peace :-)

Cyn! Excellent documentary capture! These images are so full of atmosphere! Really powerful stuff and they do tell a story!

I agree with Doug. That is made a historic site seems wrong somehow, but it is not something we should forget either, so it is a hard call. Great images Cyn, you did get your message across!

I like the use of colour and sepia together very atmospheric quite eerie important issue too Flopsy.

I love these shots Cyndi!! I think u captured the energy and mood of these time beautifully here! A great entry I think, definitely a HUGE social issue, racism is! And it seems to be worse and worse!

These are beautiful...... you know how much I love places like this.... sigh.....

Sigh from me, too. I have seen this stuff but not this particular school. Tough to imagine but integration was a tougher battle north of the mason dixon line...still is in many cities. So sad. I do remember the water fountains, the restrooms and the accomodations when on vacation..or lack thereof. Great reminder, Cynlee.

yes indeed...if these walls could talk...to start one's life in such depressing conditions sets a tone for life i think....

Hey, how did you get in there? I don't see an open door. Just kidding. I think these are really great and do tell quite a story. I wonder if the "restoration" will eventually leave things just a little better than they were in the beginning. Guilt tends to cause that resolution. Makes everyone feel better in the end. J

one end was completely gone! last time i went it was all enclosed... so maybe the restoration has started?