Seeking help for researching history at W&M
I wonder if longtime residents of Williamsburg might help solve a mystery I’ve come across in researching the history of race at William & Mary.
In a Flat Hat article (Nov. 21, 1925, p. 2A), I came across a mention of what would be the first Black students to study under the aegis of the college:
“The colored classes of Williamsburg are a part of the William & Mary extension division. They are composed of colored teachers throughout the county (likely JCC) who have had training at Hampton Normal, Petersburg Normal or some other school, but have not had an opportunity to attend college. There are about twenty enrolled in the class under the instruction of the English department of the college.”
Can anyone shed any light on who these teachers were? Sallie Marchello, associate provost and university registrar, has reviewed grade sheets from the time and cannot find a record of this course or its students.
It was rare for extension courses to be offered locally, and I surmise that, given the era, the course was likely taught off campus and off the books, with no credit awarded.
A query to the Williamsburg-JCC school system about any records it may have has yet to be answered, but it’s possible memories about all this may linger among descendants of those involved.
Terry Meyers, James City County
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Reimagining a school system
Great moments are born of great opportunity, which suddenly exists in the city of Williamsburg.
A cooperative WJCC Public Schools began in the Eisenhower administration, when Jackie Robinson was still playing baseball for the Brooklyn Dodgers. The dissolution of such an old partnership is sad, but when the James City County Board of Supervisors voted last week for separation, a door opened to the possibility of creating something new and forward-thinking for generations of students and families.
The city is home to one of the foremost educational foundations in the world in Colonial Williamsburg, not only in terms of history, but also with skills and trades of all sorts — likewise, William & Mary, whose school of education is filled with researchers and thinkers on the cutting edge. Were these two institutions to partner with the city of Williamsburg to reimagine and operate a different kind of school division, the result could be something truly innovative, unique and remarkably effective. The small size of the school system would make it manageable, and the amount of federal funds provided the city by Title 1 could make it feasible. Here is a chance to think outside of the box.
As one who teaches at a school in the county, but who lives in the city, I am neutral and torn, yet intrigued creatively by the possibility of something exceptional arising from this situation. The opportunity to build from scratch the culture and operations of a brand new school building is rare in the career of any educator; to do so for an entire school division, planning from the ground up, is exceedingly so. What such innovation could look like is best left to minds other than mine, but for the city to roll out simply a smaller version of the status quo might represent an opportunity squandered. City leadership should tap into the vast expertise, resources and ideas of CW and the college. After all, necessity is the mother of invention, and designing a post-WJCC Williamsburg City Public Schools is indeed now a necessity.
Brig Lampert, Williamsburg
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The debate over schools should happen in public, with the public
When the Williamsburg City Council announced that it would begin a study of the Williamsburg-James City County joint WJCC Schools contract, I presumed it was a negotiating tactic for the next contract. The same discussion occurred while I served on the WJCC School Board, and the concerns were amicably settled.
This time, however, the James City County Board of Supervisors has taken the step of voting to terminate the 72-year-old contract. There was not a discussion of any study, just preparations to solve the logistical problems of housing all of the JCC students and to continue providing the education of students.
While newsworthy to report, there is little to enlighten the citizens, taxpayers, parents, teacher and students of the necessity of such a seemingly rash decision. Rash because until the end of closed session, there was no reason for anyone but the supervisors to know that this was a possibility. Or is all of this tumult just another negotiating tactic?
The reason the contract may be problematic for either party should be disclosed to the public. What are the reasons the City Council and supervisors have taken this course after 72 years of a successful partnership?
Should the public be concerned about the impact these tactics have on the cohesion of many other successful joint contracts such as the WJCC Court House, Williamsburg Area Transit Authority and Williamsburg Regional Library?
Hopefully, there will be a successful resolution before harm is done.
Mary Minor. James City County
