Secret Schools: True Stories of Bravery, Ingenuity, and the Determination to Learn
For Sharlene my schoolmate my neighbor my first reader my friend H.C. This book wouldn't be possible without editor Stacey Roderick who secretly schools me in the art of nonfiction writing for children Owlkids Books publisher Karen Boersma and former editorial director Karen Li for being so embracing of my ideas the whole Owlkids team for all the work they do getting books into readers hands Erin Taniguchi for their incredible linocut illustrations designer Danielle Arbour for her stellar layout copy editor Kelly Hope for her keen eye my friends Marsha Moshinsky for translating Spanish documents and Sharlene Wiseman for her first read my husband Marc and my children Alex and Juliana for cheering me on and my parents who made no secret of their belief in the importance of school To my parents Sue and Ron for supporting my artistic journey E.T
Contents Introduction Section 1 Cultural Connections Protecting One's Identity Section 2 Hope and Dignity Escaping Slavery and Oppression Section 3 Girls Rights Banding Together for Gender Equality Section 4 Spy Schools Going Underground and Undercover Section 5 Radical Learning Moving in a New Direction Conclusion Notes and Selected Bibliography 4 6 14 22 30 38 46 48
4 Introduction Can you keep a secret What if it meant leaving your home late at night so no one knew where you were going Or hiding from the government or members of your family Or risking imprisonment and even death What if the secret was that you were going to school Secret Schools is a peek into underground education and the hidden classrooms that opened their doors so children and adults could learn even when it was illegal You'll see how far many people have gone and are still going to feed their need for knowledge to prepare for a better future to carry on their cultural heritage and to protect their country and fellow citizens
Each section in this book explores one of the many reasons why people have turned to a secret education You'll read about enslaved people in the United States European Jews and South African political prisoners whose studies allowed them to be free in mind if not in body You'll learn how communities around the world used secret schools to hold on to their language and cultural identity You'll be introduced to women who refused to let the ruling authorities of their countries deny them an education just because of their gender You'll discover three historic secret agent training facilities schools that had to be kept secret from the public and more importantly from the enemy Finally you'll learn about under the radar alternative schooling offered by a billionaire in the United States by students in South Korea and by the government of Indonesia Some of the reasons behind these secret schools might surprise you Others you might understand quite well And some you may disagree with But for all who attended these secret schools covert classes were the best if not the only option for the education that they wanted or needed
