Jackson Overcame Prejudice Early in Education Career

By Meg Jones, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

May 21–John Jackson rose through the ranks of Milwaukee Public Schools, eventually becoming the head of the district’s psychological services. But early in his education career, it was the color of his skin and not his intellect that set him apart.

Jackson was hired as a substitute teacher at Shorewood High School for one week in 1945. The Shorewood School Board, acting on what it said were complaints from parents, instituted a one-year ban on black substitute teachers.

The ban, in turn, prompted protests from Shorewood High School students upset at the board’s intolerance and led to the resignation of the high school principal, who quit because he had been ordered not to hire African-Americans.

Jackson, who died May 14 at Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare-St. Joseph hospital, never let racism deter him from his goal of becoming an educator and making a difference in the lives of children.

“He told me how he went to the (Shorewood) School Board meeting and he just sat there and didn’t say anything,” said Gordon Leonard, who worked under Jackson as a psychologist and supervisor at Milwaukee Public Schools. “It was a real big deal, and here was this fellow who was just hired as a part-time teacher.”

Jackson, 85, of Wauwatosa, was diagnosed with prostate cancer several years ago.

A Macon, Ga., native, Jackson earned a master’s degree and PhD in educational psychology from the University of Chicago, where his dissertation chairman was Carl Rogers, an influential psychologist. He earned his bachelor’s degree at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where he later was a member of the board of trustees of the alumni association.

Colleagues remembered him as a nationally known educational psychologist and a pioneer who was instrumental in establishing MPS’ crisis-response team and directing the district’s psychologists to provide therapy, as well as psychological testing in schools. He was also a mentor who encouraged many to continue their education and earn doctorates.

“He clearly accomplished what he did at a time when society was not as embracing of people of different backgrounds,” said Mary Kay Olston, who was hired by Jackson in 1971 to work as a school psychologist for MPS. “He was very committed to serving people and making people’s lives better. I guess he saw education and psychology as wonderful ways in which to serve people.”

Jackson started his career with Milwaukee Public Schools as a teacher, working at elementary and middle schools as well as North Division. In 1962, he became a psychologist with the district and worked his way up to coordinator of MPS’s Department of Psychological Services in 1983. He retired from that position in 1989 but continued to serve on professional boards, lecture, teach and work on American Psychological Association task forces and committees.

Among his many accomplishments, Jackson was one of the founding members of the Wisconsin School of Professional Psychology in Milwaukee, which provides master’s degree and PhD programs in child, adult and forensic psychology, and was on the faculty until he died. He wrote numerous articles and book chapters in psychology publications, testified before Congress in 1983 to urge the Senate to continue funding for clinical training, and was appointed to the Wisconsin Council on Mental Health.

“He was a mover and shaker in many different ways,” said Christine Straw, who worked with Jackson as a school psychologist in MPS and later as a faculty member at the Wisconsin School of Professional Psychology.

He was preceded in death by his wife, parents and sister.

Visitation will be at Krause Funeral Homes and Cremation Service, 9000 W. Capitol Drive, from 4 to 7 p.m. today and from 10 a.m. until services at 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church, 4021 N. 90th St.

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