Healing Charlottesville

The Old School

For the historical record, I would like to propose an old policy with a new twist.   Let's maintain an old tradition and keep Jefferson School at the bottom of the list.   But this time, it's the list of school closings.   The oldest school should close last.

Jefferson began at the end of the Civil War in 1865 as an all-black private school.   It became public at some point before the current school building was constructed in 1926.   For almost a century, Jefferson was the only school in town to welcome blacks.  

The city's oldest public school opened in 1870 on Garrett Street.   It was for whites only and, later, moved into the Midway House constructed in 1828 at the top of Vinegar Hill and torn down during urban renewal.

There were six more all-white public schools.

  • McGuffey in 1916
  • Venable in 1925
  • Clark in 1931
  • Lane High in 1940
  • Johnson and Burnley-Moran in 1955.

    The Supreme Court specifically ordered the city to integrate in 1958.   Charlottesville resisted massively.

    If declining student population requires that we close more schools, let's start with Jackson-Via, named in part to remember Nannie Cox Jackson, who stood before this council in the '20s and lobbied for Jefferson School.

    Then let's close Greenbrier, Johnson, Burnley-Moran, Buford, Walker, and Charlottesville High.   If we need to close still more schools, Clark and Venable will close.

    We should adopt a policy of seniority.   The deepest root should be severed last.   Jefferson should be the last school to close.   Thank you.

    Blair Hawkins before Charlottesville City Council Feb 3, 2003.

    Posted here Mon Apr 21, 2003.

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