We can also gain insight into opportunities based on the resources available to the educators themselves. Several Board meeting records indicate that the salary of white teachers in Kent County remained about 30% higher than the African American teachers. This can definitely account for the historic high turnover rate of educators in Kent County.

In the 1860’s, several decisions by state governments and the federal government made education a hot button issue. In 1864, Maryland adopted a new state constitution, which included a call for a public education system. However, this did not include African Americans, so African American leaders were forced to establish private schools. At the start, there was virtually no assistance from the school board or the government, so the church communities were the ones to fill the void.

Much could be said about why members of St. George’s church would invest funding in an African American schoolhouse, but the main takeaway is that this is a private organization that took on the responsibility of the education of Kent County children when they were being failed by their government. This is not a one-of-a-kind, feel good story about the kindness of this singular church in Maryland. Prior to integration, almost all opportunities for African American students in the United States relied on community support.

In the 21st century, most schools are not exclusively reliant on private support. Many predominantly African American school districts do not receive the same funding and resources as those with predominantly white students. The funding gap has reached as much as $2,226, meaning that every average white American student receives $2,226 worth of resources more than every African American student. Worton Point African American schoolhouse may serve to show us how far Kent County and the United States has come in education equality, but it also serves as a window into the current educational disparities our country faces.

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