The Milwaukee Platoon School Battle: Lessons for Activist Teachers.

Abstract

During the 1920s, activist teachers within the Milwaukee Teachers Association (MTA) engaged in a successful campaign to prevent widespread adoption of the “platoon school” model within their city's public school system. In the course of this campaign, MTA leaders had to develop skills as educational researchers, coalition builders, and policy advocates. Their struggle sheds light on discordant conceptions of effective urban education in early twentieth century America, and provides lessons for contemporary teachers on how to collaborate to advance their own visions of effective and equitable schooling.