Charlottesville City School Board (History)

From Cvillepedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search

In 1762, Charlottesville was founded by an Act of Assembly as the Albemarle County seat. Incorporated as a town in 1801, the town officially became an independent city in 1888, when it incorporated and annexed surrounding land to create a city of nearly 800 acres.

The Virginia Constitution of 1869, passed during Reconstruction, established a statewide system of free public schools. Public education was decentralized and unsystematic. There were no compulsory attendance laws, no standards for teachers, no required curriculum, and no uniform length of terms. Textbooks usually consisted of either The McGuffey Reader or The Holmes Reader, both of which were filled with parables that imparted lessons about thrift, hard work, self-discipline, and the superiority of rural life. One of the first public schools in Charlottesville dates back to 1881 and was named "Midway Grammar and High School" or Primary School, and was the school for white children. Also referred to as Lane or Charlottesville School (although a high school was built in 1940 which was also named Lane after Principal James Walker Lane). Midway was located on the east end of Main Street and originally provided education for elementary, middle and high school students.

On December 20, 2007, the Charlottesville City School Board loaned the collection of Records of the Charlottesville School Board, 1869-2006 to the University of Virginia Library.[1]

At the beginning of English colonization of North America, there was no general legislation on education. Between 1530 and 1833, there was no legislation in England encouraging schools except for a few acts concerning colleges and secondary schools. Throughout the first half of the Eighteenth century the types of schools in Virginia remained similar to those of the Seventeenth century, consisting of private tutors for the wealthy; the community or Old Field schools for the middle class; and the Grammar schools for secondary training.

There was no attempt to work out a state system of education until the last quarter for the eighteenth century when Jefferson developed an elaborate plan for making education available to every citizen, and for providing a complete education through university for talented youths who were unable to afford it. Jefferson authored several reports and bills, beginning with his Bill for Establishing a System of Public Education which he presented to the General assembly in 1779. In 1782 in his notes on the State of Virginia Jefferson expressed: “Every government degenerates when trusted to the rulers of the people alone. The people themselves, therefore, are its only safe depositories. And to render them safe, their minds must be improved to a certain degree.” In 1796, the General Assembly passed Jefferson’s proposal. He considered his most important accomplishment, after Author of the Declaration of Independence and the Statute for Religious Freedom, to have been the Father of the University of Virginia.

Beginning in 1818 the interest in Virginia shifted to higher education and secondary education rather than establishment of primary level schools, and remained as such until around 1846.

From 1870 to September 6, 1889 the town was a part of one of the county school districts. From September 6, 1889 to July 1, 1892 the city and county continued to share a superintendent of schools, but the Charlottesville City School District had its own school board. On July 1, 1892 the city system was divorced from that of the county. Howe P. Cochran, elected first superintendent of Charlottesville schools, died on September 28, 1892 and was succeeded by Frank A. Massie, who continued in office until 1901. John S. Patton served from July 1, 1901 to June 30, 1905, and James W. Lane from July 1, 1905 to June 30, 1909. The high standard achieved in the schools of Charlottesville is due to the efficient administration of James G. Johnson, who has been superintendent since 1909. The first public school in Charlottesville of which there is an authentic record was opened September 4, 1871 under the principalship of M. Virginia Patterson. The first high school in the town, begun in 1877 on the site of the present Midway Plant, was not literally a public school, for a small tuition was charged. The new Lane High School, dedicated in 1940 and the last word in modern school construction and educational methods, is a far cry from the first public high school, established in 1890 with a staff consisting of a principal and assistant, who received the princely salaries of $80 and $65 respectively. The white elementary schools are three in number: the McGuffey, built on the site of Miss Patterson's school, the Venable, and the George Rogers Clark. The Jefferson Schools-elementary and high- are giving sound education to Negroes. In 1939-40 the sum of $626,514.45 was expended on the schools of the city.

Overview

Though Charlottesville became a city in 1888, until 1892 one superintendent administered the schools of both county and city. Since Virginia adopted its system of public education, three types of control have been operative in the schools of Charlottesville.

From 1870 to September 6, 1889 the town was a part of one of the county school districts.

From September 6, 1889 to July 1, 1892 the city and county continued to share a superintendent of schools, but the Charlottesville City School District had its own school board.

(1869–1889)

The Virginia Constitution of 1869, passed during Reconstruction, established a statewide system of free public schools. Public education was decentralized and unsystematic. There were no compulsory attendance laws, no standards for teachers, no required curriculum, and no uniform length of terms. Textbooks usually consisted of either The McGuffey Reader or The Holmes Reader, both of which were filled with parables that imparted lessons about thrift, hard work, self-discipline, and the superiority of rural life.

The first public school in Charlottesville of which there is an authentic record was opened September 4, 1871 under the principalship of M. Virginia Patterson. The first high school in the town, begun in 1877, was not literally a public school, for a small tuition was charged. By 1881, the school was named "Midway Grammar and High School" or Primary School, and was the school for white children. Also referred to as Lane or Charlottesville School (although a high school was built in 1940 which was also named Lane after Principal James Walker Lane). Midway was located on the east end of Main Street and originally provided education for elementary, middle and high school students. By 1940, the school building was used by the city as a storage facility and referred to as the Midway Plant.

Further Research: On December 20, 2007, the Charlottesville City School Board loaned the collection of Records of the Charlottesville School Board, 1869-2006 to the University of Virginia Library.[2]

(1870–1889)

From 1870 to September 6, 1889 the town was a part of one of the county school districts. Though Charlottesville became a city in 1888, until 1892 one superintendent administered the schools of both county and city. The first public high school, established in 1890 with a staff consisting of a principal and assistant, who received the princely salaries of $80 and $65 respectively.

(1889–1892)

From September 6, 1889 to July 1, 1892 the city and county continued to share a superintendent of schools, but the Charlottesville City School District had its own school board.

Independent / Segregated (1892–1954)

On July 1, 1892 the city system was divorced from that of the county. Howe P. Cochran, elected first superintendent of Charlottesville schools, died on September 28, 1892 and was succeeded by Frank A. Massie, who continued in office until July 1, 1901. John S. Patton served from July 1, 1901 to June 30, 1905, and James W. Lane from July 1, 1905 to June 30, 1909. James G. Johnson served as superintendent from 1909. The new Lane High School, dedicated in 1940 and the last word in modern school construction and educational methods, "a far cry from the first public high school, established in 1890 with a staff consisting of a principal and assistant, who received the princely salaries of $80 and $65 respectively. The white elementary schools are three in number: the McGuffey, built on the site of Miss Patterson's school, the Venable, and the George Rogers Clark. The Jefferson Schools-elementary and high- are giving sound education to Negroes. In 1939-40 the sum of $626,514.45 was expended on the schools of the city."[3]

On July 1, 1892 the city school system became independent of the county. The first city school board under the new system was a twelve-member board - composed of three members, appointed by the City Council from a pool of qualified voters living in each of the four Wards. Howe P. Cochran served as the first superintendent of Charlottesville School System. Cochran died, after less than three months in office, on September 28, 1892 and was succeeded by Frank A. Massie, who continued in office until July 1, 1901. The "Jefferson Graded School" (the school for "Negroes") located in the Delevan Hotel building on 632 Main Street since 1865 was moved to Brown and Fifth Street Northwest in 1926 near the western edge of the Vinegar Hill neighborhood. New schools were soon constructed, McGuffey Elementary in 1916 located on Second Street; Venable Elementary was built on Fourteenth Street in 1922; George Rogers Clark Elementary School was built in Belmont in 1930; and Lane High School was built on Preston Avenue and McIntire Road in 1940.

The "Jefferson Graded School" (the school for "Negroes") located in the Delevan Hotel building on 632 Main Street since 1865 was moved to Brown and Fifth Street Northwest in 1926 near the western edge of the Vinegar Hill neighborhood. New schools were soon constructed, McGuffey Elementary in 1916 located on Second Street; Venable Elementary was built on Fourteenth Street in 1922; George Rogers Clark Elementary School was built in Belmont in 1930; and Lane High School was built on Preston Avenue and McIntire Road in 1940.

In 1949, the Charlottesville School Board combined Jefferson High School, Esmont High School, and Albemarle County Training School, into a single high school for all the black students in this area. The city purchased land from Jackson P. Burley, a teacher, church worker, and leader within the Charlottesville community, and constructed the new school on a seventeen-acre tract of land located on Rose Hill Drive. Construction began on the site in 1950. Jackson P. Burley High School opened for classes in September, 1951, and operated through 1967.[4]

Desegregation (1954–1966)

See also: Massive Resistance Timeline

In 1954, the Supreme Court rules in Brown v. Board of Education that racial segregation of children in public schools is unconstitutional. In 1956, Black families sue the Charlottesville School Board for access to white schools. In 1957, the U.S. Supreme Court refuses to hear the Charlottesville School Board’s appeal, leaving the lower court’s ruling in place. U.S. District Chief Judge John Paul Jr. ruled in 1956 that the city must integrate Lane and Venable, but this was heavily appealed by the city school board. On September 5, 1959, U.S. District Chief Judge John Paul Jr. ordered that the twelve students who would become known as "The Charlottesville Twelve" be transferred immediately from their previous schools, all-black Jefferson Elementary School and Jackson P. Burley High School.[5] All Charlottesville City Schools became completely desegregated during 1965-66 session

Desegregation (1954–1966)

See also: Massive Resistance Timeline

Integration efforts in Charlottesville began after the 1954 Supreme Court Brown v. Board of Education case, which ordered an end to segregated public schools. In 1956, Black families sue the Charlottesville School Board for access to white schools. In 1957, the U.S. Supreme Court refuses to hear the Charlottesville School Board’s appeal, leaving the lower court’s ruling in place. U.S. District Chief Judge John Paul Jr. ruled in 1956 that the city must integrate Lane and Venable, but this was heavily appealed by the city school board. On September 5, 1959, U.S. District Chief Judge John Paul Jr. ordered that the twelve students who would become known as "The Charlottesville Twelve" be transferred immediately from their previous schools, all-black Jefferson Elementary School and Jackson P. Burley High School.[6] All Charlottesville City Schools became completely desegregated during 1965-66 session.

Appointed School Board Members (1948–2004)

In 1948, the eight-man council resigned, thereby allowing a seven-member council as required by state law. Three year terms started on July 1st and ended June 30th; council usually held school board elections the last week in June and sometimes in July.

From 1948 to 1956, the seven-member School Board was composed of four members representing each of the four wards and three members appointed from the city at-large. In the 1980, city council would sometimes choose school board members, from the list of applicants, based on a particular Ward; but usually members were appointed on an at-large basis.


Logo-small25.jpg This article is a stub. You can help cvillepedia by expanding it.


References

  1. Web. Records of the Charlottesville School Board, 1869-2006, #14210, Special Collections, University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va., 2018 By the Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia., retrieved May 27, 2023.
  2. Web. Records of the Charlottesville School Board, 1869-2006, #14210, Special Collections, University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va., 2018 By the Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia., retrieved May 27, 2023.
  3. Web. [1]
  4. Web. RESOLUTION OF THE ALBEMARLE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD, retrieved May 29, 2023.
  5. Web. Charlottesville 12 historical markers' text, Historical marker text, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, Nov 19, 2011, retrieved Nov 22, 2011. Print. Nov 20, 2011 page A6.
  6. Web. Charlottesville 12 historical markers' text, Historical marker text, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, Nov 19, 2011, retrieved Nov 22, 2011. Print. Nov 20, 2011 page A6.

External Links