A new Afrocentric learning program is in the works at St. Paul Public Schools, and its seeds are on display at LEAP High School on the city’s East Side.
There, the district is hosting Freedom School, a six-week summer literacy program rooted in the civil rights movement and where mornings begin with dance and chants — even some “Hallelujahs!” On Thursday, Jasmine Epps-Flowers, a former Freedom School teacher, read a poem reminding students of the power of words in fighting hate and suffering. It ended with the simple phrase: “Poetry is what I use to say I love you.”
St. Paul, Minnesota’s second-largest district, has long recognized its diversity — dual-language programs are among its most popular. But the district has picked up the pace of new offerings in recent years with moves designed in part to reclaim market share lost to charter schools that often cater to families of specific backgrounds and offer culturally specific environments.
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