Mexican-American Americanization School
This place is something I just ran across while exploring Abilene. Until recent times, it has been a center for the education of, mostly, Mexican-American youths in east-central Abilene. This area of Abilene has an extensive history of Mexican-American culture. I recently posted about Reyes-Flores Park, which is central to this area/culture.
There is a historical marker on the site, which describes the history of Houston School.
Here’s an excerpt from a “historical marker database site”:
From its earliest days, education for Mexican Americans in Texas has varied from none at all to apparent equality. The Republic of Texas in 1839 and 1840 established laws governing a system of schools. As these institutions took shape, Mexican American students often were segregated, encountering racial, social and economic discrimination, ideological differences and political tensions.
Private and parochial schools, in addition to the public schools attended by Anglos, served Mexican Americans in Abilene until the turn of the 20th century. By 1910 a public school was established specifically for Mexican American children in grades one through six. An “Americanization” school opened in 1920; it was relocated to 541 North 8th Street in 1936 and remained in operation until 1948.
Facilities for Mexican American children in Texas cities like Abilene often were inferior to those maintained for Anglos; equipment and materials were substandard. Some Mexican American students in Abilene attended the Anglo schools closest to their homes. Sam Houston School opened in 1949 and served Mexican American students until 1979.
Also, I saw that this property is “for sale”.
