8/13/2019 Online Learning Kit: Equal Teacher Pay
1/18
8/13/2019 Online Learning Kit: Equal Teacher Pay
2/18
What to Expect in Your Learning KitThank you for downloading the New Journal and Guides Black History Online Learning Kit.
We are celebrating and highlighting the achievements of those who dedicated their lives to thecause of civil rights for African-Americans. Were taking a closer look at the overall journey andimportant cases in Virginia that helped to shape the movement toward a more equal America.
For over 100 years, the New Journal and Guide has been telling the stories of these extraordinaryAmericans. This year, in addition to our informative articles, weve developed special learning
kits for students of all ages. We hope these kits will serve as conversation starters for kids andparents. We would like them to understand just how important these times were to the rights theyenjoy today.
Each learning kit will include the following:
Quick outline of the topicFull Article as it appears in the New Journal and GuideOnline Interactive PresentationLearning worksheets on each topicQuiz (Print and Online version)Answer Key for QuizAnswer Key for worksheets
If you would like to submit a topic suggestion or a story, please contact us at 757-543-6531 [email protected].
For more online learning kits, please visit us athttp://www.thenewjournalandguide.com.
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.thenewjournalandguide.com/http://www.thenewjournalandguide.com/http://www.thenewjournalandguide.com/http://www.thenewjournalandguide.com/mailto:[email protected]8/13/2019 Online Learning Kit: Equal Teacher Pay
3/18
Quick Outline: Equal Pay for TeachersSummary: In this installment, well focus on one of the first battles for equalityin education.Two African-American teachers at Booker T. Washington High School, Aline Black and MelvinAlston, joined forces with the NAACP the famed Thurgood Marshall, and the Virginia TeachersAssociation to sue the City of Norfolk in 1939. They wanted pay that was equal to that of theirwhite counterparts. Black lost her appeal, but Alston was successful and set a precedent thatwould lead the way for future cases.
Quick Points:
Two teachers from Booker T. Washington sued the City of Norfolk to get pay equalto that of their white counterparts starting in 1938. The suit was filed in 1939 by
Black. The NAACP and the Virginia Teachers Association helped Alston and Black to file
suit
Norfolk teachers became the first in the south to win equalization and this set aprecedent for all other pay equality cases
At that time, the school board claimed that the salariespaid to teachers were not based on skin color, but on contracts.
The school board sent letters to Alston stating that if he was not satisfied with thecontacts, theyd be willing to relieve any teacher of their obliga tions ifany of them is "dissatisfied with the salary provisions of their contracts ofemployment."
Aline Black taught chemistry at the school and Alston taught commerce Alston graduated from Booker T. Washington in 1931 Alston was one of the first teachers, black or white, to earn a doctorates degree in the
city of Norfolk
The Norfolk Circuit Court ruled that Blacks suit for writof mandamus was not theproper way to adjust the teacher's grievances and the case was dismissed. She alsolost an appeal after her contract was not renewed.
Black was then rehired in 1941 Blacks initial request for a pay raise in October of 1938 was denied months later Black based her request for higher pay on the fact that white teachers at Maury High
School who had the same qualifications were paid more
Janitors at black schools earned an average of $140 per month while teachers onlymade $115 which amounts to about $4.01 per day
Blacks attorney found, after requesting the school boards minutesover the last 10years that black teachers only earned about 2/3 of what comparably qualified whiteteachers earned
Alston was the president of the National Teachers Association at that time Hundreds protested after the school boards decision to deny Blacks request
8/13/2019 Online Learning Kit: Equal Teacher Pay
4/18
Presentation Follow Along(Visit http://www.thenewjournalandguide.com to download the interactive presentation)
Transcript of Equal Pay for Educators Presentation
The New Journal and Guide Presents
Equal pay for educators
Equal Pay for Educators
Two Norfolk teachers, with the help of the NAACP and the Virginia Teacher's association,
helped to pave the way for other black teachers to get equal pay for their work in American
schools. The battle started in Norfolk, Virginia at Booker T. Washington High School in 1938
Black Teachers only earned 2/3 of the salary of a white teacher. Many only earned less than 4.50
per day
The Money Breakdown
(Point out the salary of white teachers to black teachers in the columns with special emphasis on
Virginia)
The Fighters
Aline Black stands up for equal rights
Chemistry teacher Aline black was the one who started the ball rolling. She was the first to file
suit against the Norfolk school board for equal pay.
8/13/2019 Online Learning Kit: Equal Teacher Pay
5/18
She first requested pay equal to that of her white counterparts at Maury in 1938 but it was
denied.
At that time, the white janitor made more money than any Black teacher at BTW.
Black filed an appeal after the court sided with the school board in 1939. The school board
argued that she'd signed a contract and was not entitled to a higher salary.
Her appeal was abandoned after the school board did not renew her contract.
This caused a backlash in the community and P.B. Young, then-editor of the Guide, organized a
protest that included hundreds of children, the NAACP and Thurgood Marshall.
A few months later, the NAACP and the VTA filed another suit against the school board.
Melvin Alston paves the way
Melvin Alston was the president of the Virginia Teacher's Assoc. and he was the second person
to file suit against the school board. He was a commerce teacher at the time.
He won after lawyers filed an appeal and argued
that his rights had been violated under the 14th amendment. They also showed the difference
between the salaries of whites and blacks.
Reaching the Goal
The School Board tried to appeal but they were ultimately unsuccessful in their attempt. They
agreed to enter a three-year pay equalization plan with the black teachers in the city.
Thurgood Marshall and the NAACP did not like this plan because they believed the teachers
should not have to wait to be paid fairly, but they knew it was a start.
Changing History Forever
Norfolk teachers became the first in the south to win equalization and this set a precedent for all
other pay equality cases.
He was also the first teacher, black or white, in the city to earn a doctorate degree.
First year elementary school teachers made
$326 less per year than their white counterparts and those on the high school level made $271
less.
8/13/2019 Online Learning Kit: Equal Teacher Pay
6/18
Test your knowledge!
Take the quiz!
For more learning kits, please visit thenewjournalandguide.com
8/13/2019 Online Learning Kit: Equal Teacher Pay
7/18
Learning Activity: Equal Pay for TeachersInstructions: Draw a line between the items that match.
Aline Black
Melvin Alston
P.B. Young
Thurgood Marshall
He was the editor of the New Journal
and Guide. He helped to organize a
protest in 1939 after the Norfolk
School Board let Black go when she
filed suit. Hundreds of children
marched in the street to show their
support.
He was part of the legal team that
helped Alston to file suit successfully
against the school board for equal pay.
He was also the first African-
American justice.
This person was the first to file suitagainst the Norfolk School Board for
equal pay. This person taught
chemistry at Booker T. Washington
High School.
This individual was the first teacher in
Norfolk, black or white, to hold a
doctorates degree. He also was thesecond person to file suit against the
school board. He was successful and
helped to pave the way for others.
8/13/2019 Online Learning Kit: Equal Teacher Pay
8/18
Learning Activity (Answer Key)Instructions: Draw a line between the items that match.
Aline Black
Melvin Alston
P.B. Young
Thurgood Marshall
He was the editor of the New Journaland Guide. He helped to organize a
protest in 1939 after the Norfolk
School Board let Black go when she
filed suit. Hundreds of children
marched in the street to show their
support. (P.B. Young)
He was part of the legal team that
helped Alston to file suit successfully
against the school board for equal pay.
He was also the first African-
American justice. (Thurgood
Marshall)
This person was the first to file suit
against the Norfolk School Board for
equal pay. This person taught
chemistry at Booker T. Washington
High School. (Aline Black)
This individual was the first teacher in
Norfolk, black or white, to hold a
doctorates degree. He also was the
second person to file suit against the
school board. He was successful and
helped to pave the way for others.
(Melvin Alston)
8/13/2019 Online Learning Kit: Equal Teacher Pay
9/18
Quiz: Equal Pay for Teachers1. In what year did Aline Black file suit against the city?
___________________
2. How much were black teachers paid per day?
___________________
3. Who helped to organize a march with hundreds of children after
the Norfolk School Board ousted Aline Black?
_______________________________________
4. Who was the first teacher to receive a doctorates degree in
Norfolk? __________
5. Who was the famous lawyer who helped Alston to file suit against
the city?______________________
6. True or False: Aline Black taught English at Booker T.
Washington. ___________
7. Who made more money, Black teachers or white janitors before
this case? ____________________________
8. Name the two organizations that helped Alston and Black to file
suit?___________________________________
9. On which other Norfolk school did Black base her request forhigher pay? _______________________
10. True or False: Blacks firstrequest for higher pay was denied.
_____________________________________________
8/13/2019 Online Learning Kit: Equal Teacher Pay
10/18
Quiz: (Answer Key)1. In what year did Aline Black file suit against the city? 1939
2. How much were black teachers paid per day? $4.01 per day
3. Who helped to organize a march with hundreds of children after
the Norfolk School Board ousted Aline Black? P.B. Young
4. Who was the first teacher to receive a doctorates degree inNorfolk? Melvin Alston
5. Who was the famous lawyer who helped Alston to file suit against
the city? Thurgood Marshall
6. True or False: Aline Black taught English at Booker T.
Washington. False: She taught chemistry.
7. Who made more money, Black teachers or white janitors beforethis case? Janitor
8. Name the two organizations that helped Alston and Black to file
suit? The Virginia Teachers Association and the NAACP
9. On which other Norfolk school did Black base her request for
higher pay? Maury High School
10. True or False: Blacks first request for higher pay was denied.
True
8/13/2019 Online Learning Kit: Equal Teacher Pay
11/18
Vintage ClippingsBelow you will find vintage clippings of the cases involving Melvin Alston and Aline Black. These clippings
are only to be used as an extra resource for students. Any other uses of this material requires
permission from the New Journal and Guide. If you would like to know more about our one-of-a-kind,
historic collection via Proquest, please call us at 757-543-6531 or email us [email protected].
If you would like to carry the New Journal and Guides archives in your library/educational facility,
please contact Proquest athttps://www.proquest.com/en-US/
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.proquest.com/en-US/https://www.proquest.com/en-US/https://www.proquest.com/en-US/https://www.proquest.com/en-US/mailto:[email protected]8/13/2019 Online Learning Kit: Equal Teacher Pay
12/18
8/13/2019 Online Learning Kit: Equal Teacher Pay
13/18Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
8/13/2019 Online Learning Kit: Equal Teacher Pay
14/18
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
8/13/2019 Online Learning Kit: Equal Teacher Pay
15/18
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
8/13/2019 Online Learning Kit: Equal Teacher Pay
16/18
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
8/13/2019 Online Learning Kit: Equal Teacher Pay
17/18
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
8/13/2019 Online Learning Kit: Equal Teacher Pay
18/18