Funke Aladejebi - Schooling the System: A History of Black Women Teachers

SCHOOLING THE SYSTEM

RETHINKING CANADA IN THE WORLD

Series editors: Ian McKay and Sean Mills

Supported by the Wilson Institute for Canadian History at McMaster University, this series is committed to books that rethink Canadian history from transnational and global perspectives. It enlarges approaches to the study of Canada in the world by exploring how Canadian history has long been a dynamic product of global currents and forces. The series will also reinvigorate understanding of Canadas role as an international actor and how Canadians have contributed to intellectual, political, cultural, social, and material exchanges around the world.

Volumes included in the series explore the ideas, movements, people, and institutions that have transcended political boundaries and territories to shape Canadian society and the state. These include both state and non-state actors, and phenomena such as international migration, diaspora politics, religious movements, evolving conceptions of human rights and civil society, popular culture, technology, epidemics, wars, and global finance and trade.

The series charts a new direction by exploring networks of transmission and exchange from a standpoint that is not solely national or international, expanding the history of Canadas engagement with the world. http://wilson.humanities.mcmaster.ca

1 Canada and the United Nations Legacies, Limits, Prospects
Edited by Colin McCullough and Robert Teigrob

2 Undiplomatic History The New Study of Canada and the World
Edited by Asa McKercher and Philip Van Huizen

3 Revolutions across Borders Jacksonian America and the Canadian Rebellion
Edited by Maxime Dagenais and Julien Mauduit

4 Left Transnationalism The Communist International and the National, Colonial, and Racial Questions
Edited by Oleksa Drachewych and Ian McKay

5 Landscapes of Injustice A New Perspective on the Internment and Dispossession of Japanese Canadians
Edited by Jordan Stanger-Ross

6 Canadas Other Red Scare Indigenous Protest and Colonial Encounters during the Global Sixties
Scott Rutherford

7 The Global Politics of Poverty in Canada Development Programs and Democracy, 19641979
Will Langford

8 Schooling the System A History of Black Women Teachers
Funk Aladejebi

SCHOOLING THE SYSTEM

A History of Black Women Teachers

FUNK ALADEJEBI

McGill-Queens University Press
Montreal & Kingston London Chicago

McGill-Queens University Press 2021

ISBN 978-0-2280-0538-4 (cloth)
ISBN 978-0-2280-0539-1 (paper)
ISBN 978-0-2280-0703-6 (ePDF)
ISBN 978-0-2280-0704-3 (ePUB)

Legal deposit first quarter 2021

Bibliothque nationale du Qubec

Printed in Canada on acid-free paper that is 100% ancient forest free (100% post-consumer recycled), processed chlorine free

This book has been published with the help of a grant from the Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences, through the Awards to Scholarly Publications Program, using funds provided by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, and with the help of a grant from the University of New Brunswick.

We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts.

Nous remercions le Conseil des arts du Canada de son soutien.

Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication

Title: Schooling the system : a history of Black women teachers / Funk Aladejebi.

Names: Aladejebi, Funk, 1983 author.

Series: Rethinking Canada in the world ; 8.

Description: Series statement: Rethinking Canada in the world ; 8 | Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers: Canadiana (print) 20200373633 | Canadiana (ebook) 2020037382X | ISBN 9780228005391 (softcover) | ISBN 9780228005384 (hardcover) | ISBN 9780228007036 (PDF) | ISBN 9780228007043 (ePUB)

Subjects: LCSH: Women teachers, BlackCanadaHistory. | LCSH: Women teachers, BlackCanadaSocial conditions. | LCSH: Culturally relevant pedagogyCanada.

Classification: LCC LB1775.4.C2 A33 2021 | DDC 371.10082/0971dc23

This book was typeset in 10.5/13 Sabon.

This book is dedicated to the countless black educators who guided me here.

Contents

Acknowledgments

As an African immigrant growing up in a priority neighbourhood, I never envisioned that this project would come to be. However, I had the privilege and support of countless people who walked along this journey with me and made this book possible. This project is the sum of their incredible support and willingness to see the potential and relevance of this work. To them, I am forever grateful.

Schooling the System received generous financial support from several sources including the Ontario Graduate Scholarship during my studies at York University. I also received funding from the Canadian History of Education Association and the University of New Brunswicks Busteed Publication Grant, which assisted in supplementing research and publication costs for this book.

I owe a great deal of thanks to the archivists, community historians, and curators who helped me sift through countless boxes and information on black women in Ontario. To Bryan and Shannon Prince at the Buxton National Historic Site & Museum who opened their home, shared their personal contacts, and made sure that I found educators who would help me in my project, I thank you. I am grateful for the archival staff at the Archives of Ontario, the Multicultural History Society of Ontario, the Chatham-Kent Historical Society, the African Canadian Community Centre of Windsor and Essex County, the Clara Thomas Archives and Special Collections at York University, and the Canadian Womens Movement Archives at the University of Ottawa for their guidance in helping me find sources. A special thank you goes to Kathleen Imrie at the Ontario Historical Education Collection (OHEC) at OISE for helping me access numerous Ontario teachers college yearbooks and manuals.

I appreciate the editorial staff at MQUP and most especially, Kyla Madden who believed in this book project, provided helpful advice, and guided me throughout the publication process. You are simply wonderful! I also thank the anonymous reviewers who read this book, provided thoughtful comments, and undoubtedly made this work stronger.

One of the strongest supporters of this book has been Michele Johnson whose academic rigour and compassionate understanding influenced my growth both professionally and personally. Michele encouraged the research of this book through its infancy, supported its evolution, and made meticulous edits and suggestions to its many drafts. Her unwavering commitment to academic mentorship and critical scholarship has significantly impacted my development as a writer and scholar. I am forever indebted to you Michele and for all that you do to support black academics. Thank you for helping me to find my voice as a historian and for the sacrifices you made to ensure my success. As I continue to learn from you, I remain committed to carry on the lessons that you have taught me.

To the incredible feminist scholars at York University Kathryn McPherson, Molly Ladd-Taylor, and Anne Rubenstein, your unwavering commitment to my academic progress has made this work possible. Thank you! Gratitude to Barrington Walker, Georgina Riel, Carl James, Karen Flynn, Paul Axelrod, and Mary Louise McCarthy for your intellectual generosity and critical engagement with my work.