Learning in the light of freedom: The Mississippi freedom schools of 1964

Author

Emma E. Appleton, James Madison UniversityFollow

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

Date of Graduation

Spring 2019

ORCID

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7890-5104

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Department

Department of History

Advisor(s)

Raymond M. Hyser

Philip D. Dillard

Alison D. Sandman

Abstract

This paper investigates the “freedom schools” of the Mississippi Freedom Summer Project of 1964. It argues through a combination of a powerfully designed curriculum, the implementation of student-centered pedagogy, and a focus on relationship building and personal efficacy, freedom school students were given the skills and confidence needed to become young leaders in their communities and bring change to Mississippi. Through this paper, I hope to encourage current educators apply freedom school principles and practices in their own classrooms to inspire our students in the same way.

Recommended Citation

Appleton, Emma E., "Learning in the light of freedom: The Mississippi freedom schools of 1964" (2019). Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019. 644.
https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/honors201019/644

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