User:Daask/sandbox/Black Panther Party Liberation Schools

Black Panther Party Liberation Schools is

Origins and goals
The Panthers were originally formed out of a study group at Oakland’s Merritt community college. The Panthers’ belief in the need for an education beyond what was being taught in the school system led them to develop a network of liberation schools for youth.

David Hilliard originated the idea of a liberation-focused children's school in 1970 in Oakland. The school opened under the direction by Majeda Smith and a team of Black Panther Party members. The school was initially called the Children's House. It was a boarding school, with dormitories in Oakland and Berkeley.

The Black Panther party critiqued the poor quality of school systems in Black communities.

The schools were part of their survival programs intended to meet community needs

issues in education they sought to resolve were
 * the relevance of material to their lives and situation,
 * attitude of instructors toward their students
 * Unifying students with the community
 * availability and affordability of books and supplies
 * community control of neighborhood schools

"Ultimately making schools serve and be responsible to the surrounding poor and oppressed communities"

Intercommunal Youth Institute
The Intercommunal Youth Institute on Oakland, California was intended as a model school. It was active in 1971. For more on the Intercommunal Youth Institute, see.

GED classes
collaborated with the Oakland Board of Education to provide GED classes.

Context and criticism
""Swahili is an interesting language but we are not using it on IBM cards right now. Let's quit kidding white people that we're going to get on a boat and go back to Africa.""

Future hopes
"It is anticipated that the Adult Education Program will be extended to include consumer education, home economics, courses for senior citizens, and other courses that Black and poor residents desperately need."

Closure
The Oakland Community School closed due to lack of funding in 1982. It was the last organized component of the Black Panther Party.