American Teachers Association facts for kids

The American Teachers Association (ATA) was a group for teachers in the United States. It existed from 1937 to 1966. Before that, it was known as the National Colored Teachers Association (1906–1907) and then the National Association of Teachers in Colored Schools (1907–1937).

This organization was a professional association and a teachers' union. It helped teachers in schools for African Americans in the Southern United States. This was during a time when laws forced people of different races to be kept separate, known as racial segregation.

In 1954, the United States Supreme Court made a big decision in a case called Brown v. Board of Education. The Court said that separating students by race in public schools was against the law. Later, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 officially ended legal segregation in public places.

History of the ATA

Early Years and New Names

The organization started in 1906. It was first called the National Colored Teachers Association. It was formed at a meeting for young Black people interested in education.

In 1907, the name changed to the National Association of Teachers in Colored Schools (NATCS). This new name showed that many white teachers also worked in schools for Black students.

Facing Segregation

Members of the NATCS worked in schools that were segregated by law in the South. These laws were often called Jim Crow laws. They kept Black people and white people separate in many parts of life.

Because of these laws, schools for Black students often received less money. Teachers in these schools were also paid less than white teachers in white schools. The NATCS worked to improve these unfair conditions.

Key Moments and Leaders

The year 1923 was important for the group. Mary McLeod Bethune became its first female president. She was a well-known educator and civil rights leader.

In 1923, the organization also started publishing The Bulletin. This was their official magazine. It helped members stay connected and shared information about the NATCS with the public.

In 1927, William J. Hale was the president. He was also the first president of Tennessee State University. This is a historically Black university in Nashville, Tennessee.

Becoming the ATA

In 1937, the members changed the name again to the American Teachers Association (ATA). The ATA began working closely with the National Education Association (NEA). They worked together on issues important to the education of African Americans.

After the Supreme Court ruled against segregated schools in 1954, schools slowly began to integrate. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 made segregation illegal. Because of these changes, the ATA and NEA started talking about joining together.

In 1963, the ATA agreed to a merger. The two groups officially joined in 1966. The combined organization kept the name National Education Association.

What the ATA Did

The ATA worked to make education better for African Americans in the South. They focused on several key areas:

• Improving Teaching: They worked to make teaching methods better for all students.
• Pushing for Laws: They encouraged new laws to improve schools.
• Sharing Information: They collected and shared facts about how Black communities were helping to fund their own education.
• Building Schools: They helped raise money to build more and better school buildings. For example, in the 1930s, they worked with the Rosenwald Fund to build schools.
• Supporting Teachers: They helped teachers earn more money and pushed for longer school years.
• Working with School Boards: They cooperated with local public school boards to make changes.
• Expanding Their Reach: They also included private and religious schools in their efforts.

Notable Members

• C. Louise Boehringer: She was the Secretary of the Arizona State Teachers Association in 1919.
• Eva C. Mitchell: She was an education professor at Hampton Institute from 1930 to 1960.