EDUCATION
Pointe Coupee Parish was known for its strong educational system for the majority race. The first pubic education system for the majority race was in Pointe Coupee Parish, and it also had the first endowed college, Polydras starting in 1829. However, because of slavery and the after effects of it, the educational system for African Americans was limited. This did not stop the families from learning and keeping the flame of hope and a brighter future for their children. During this era, many of the schools for African Americans were started by churches. The Coates, Harris, and Young lived in a settlement known as the "Spillway" and the school was located on the same ground as Little Rock Baptist Church where the families worshiped. Families living near the school and church were Elder & Ada Lewis, Miss Julia, Ellen, Gloria and Arthur. The Henry Washington family lived in the back.
The school was limited to three months out of the year and went from the first to the eighth grade. The school was a large one room building and all the grades were in the same room. The teachers were Miss Elway and Miss Ricard, and they came from La Cour and New Orleans. The classes consisted of family and friends; Angie, Minerva, O'Neal, & Ivory were in the same class. Ivory was very smart. Mercie, Nettie, T. Washington, & Janie were in the same class. As family members began leaving the area as part of the African American migration from the rural community to the city; some of the children would leave to live with relatives to get a better education.
The school was limited to three months because many of the families were sharecroppers and the children were needed to work in the fields. The plating occurred at certain times of the year. Many of the famlies worked on the fourth; the property owner would get 60% and the sharecropper would get 40%.
The school buliding was multi-purpose as we would say in today terms. The "Archfellows Masonic Lodge" was very big in the area. It provided socialization for the residents of the community and a means for helping each other. The "Archfellows" would have their big day on the school grounds and "Henry Washington" would make the best lemonade. People from neighboring communities would come to participate.
The school was limited to three months out of the year and went from the first to the eighth grade. The school was a large one room building and all the grades were in the same room. The teachers were Miss Elway and Miss Ricard, and they came from La Cour and New Orleans. The classes consisted of family and friends; Angie, Minerva, O'Neal, & Ivory were in the same class. Ivory was very smart. Mercie, Nettie, T. Washington, & Janie were in the same class. As family members began leaving the area as part of the African American migration from the rural community to the city; some of the children would leave to live with relatives to get a better education.
The school was limited to three months because many of the families were sharecroppers and the children were needed to work in the fields. The plating occurred at certain times of the year. Many of the famlies worked on the fourth; the property owner would get 60% and the sharecropper would get 40%.
The school buliding was multi-purpose as we would say in today terms. The "Archfellows Masonic Lodge" was very big in the area. It provided socialization for the residents of the community and a means for helping each other. The "Archfellows" would have their big day on the school grounds and "Henry Washington" would make the best lemonade. People from neighboring communities would come to participate.