The Street education, also known as street schooling or street teaching, is a form of informal education that has its roots in the early 20th century. It emerged as a response to the limited access to formal education among marginalized and underprivileged communities, particularly in urban areas.
During the Great Depression of the 1930s, many families were unable to afford the cost of education, and children were forced to drop out of school to help their families make ends meet. In response, a number of community-based organizations and grassroots movements began to offer informal education programs on the streets, in public spaces, and in makeshift classrooms.
One of the pioneers of street education was educator and social activist Jane Addams, who founded Hull House in Chicago in 1889. Hull House was a settlement house that provided education, healthcare, and social services to immigrant communities, many of whom were living in poverty and facing discrimination.
During the Civil Rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s, street education played an important role in empowering African Americans and other marginalized communities to fight for their rights. Activists like Malcolm X and the Black Panthers used street education to teach history, politics, and self-defense to their communities, challenging the systemic racism and oppression that had denied them access to formal education.
In the 1970s, street education became a global phenomenon, with grassroots movements and NGOs offering informal education programs in developing countries. These programs aimed to address the educational needs of marginalized communities, including street children, refugees, and migrant workers, who often had limited access to formal education.
In recent years, street education has continued to evolve and adapt to changing social and economic conditions. Today, it encompasses a wide range of informal education initiatives, including community-based learning programs, after-school activities, and mobile classrooms that bring education directly to the streets.
Street education has also been embraced by innovative educators and activists who are using technology and social media to create new forms of street-based learning. For example, the Global Learning XPRIZE, launched in 2014, challenged teams to create mobile apps that could provide quality education to children in developing countries without access to formal schooling.
The street education has a rich and complex history that reflects the struggles and aspirations of marginalized communities around the world. From its early roots in the Great Depression to its global reach in the 21st century, street education has played a vital role in empowering individuals and communities to take control of their own learning and shape their own destinies.