Yes, both white and black children went to school, but some black children had to drop out and get jobs to help pay the bills. Minnie forced her daughter to drop out and become a nanny after losing her job. These kids couldn't just be kids, they had responsibilities from an early age. Nowadays, many kids growing up in poverty feel like they have to drop out of school and work to pay the bills. Other kids do it because their parents can't afford to get them the things they "want," so they get a job so they can get it themselves. Another problem that one of the maids faced in the film was having to choose which of her children to send to college since she didn't have enough money to send both of them. She asked for an advance but when they refused she came across a ring and tried to pawn it. That was her solution to her problem, but it backfired when she was arrested. Many families today are faced with the financial aspect when it comes to continuing their education. Smart students with hopes and dreams are forced to settle for a high school diploma because college is simply too expensive. Now people and organizations have scholarships to help those students, but not everyone can win. There really is no way out