A Desegregation Study of Public Schools in North Carolina

East Tennessee State University Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University Electronic Theses and Dissertations Student Works December 1985 A Desegregation Study of Public Schools in North Carolina Ransome E Holcombe East Tennessee State University Follow this and additional works at: https://dc.etsu.edu/etd Part of the Other Education Commons Recommended Citation Holcombe, Ransome E., "A Desegregation Study of Public Schools in North Carolina" (1985) Electronic Theses and Dissertations Paper 2733 https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/2733 This Dissertation - Open Access is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Works at Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University For more information, please contact digilib@etsu.edu INFORMATION TO USERS This reproduction was made from a copy of a manuscript sent to us for 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white paper format.* Most photographs reproduce acceptably on positive microfilm or micro­ fiche b u t lack clarity on xerographic copies made from the microfilm Fbr an additional charge, all photographs are available In black and white standard 35mm slide format.* •For more Information about black and white slides or enlarged paper reproductions, please contact the Dissertations Customer Services Department Uuiwreify Microfilms International 0604758 Holcom be, R an so m e Ellis A DESEGREGATION STUDY OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN NORTH CAROLINA Bast Tennessee State University University Microfilms international 300 N Z eeb R oad, Ann Arbor, Ml 4S106 Ed.D 1985 PLEASE NOTE: In all cases this material has been filmed in the best possible way from the available copy Problems encountered with this docum ent have been identified here with a check mark V Glossy photographs or p ag es _ Colored Illustrations, paper or print Photographs with dark background _ Illustrations are poor copy Pages with black marks, not original copy Print shows through as there Is text on both sides of p a g e Indistinct, broken or small print on several panes Print exceeds margin requirements Tightly bound copy with print lost in spine _ v/ 10 Computer printout pages with indistinct print 11 Page(s) _ lacking when material received, an d not available from school or author 12 Page(s) _ seem to b e missing in numbering only as text follows 13 Two pages num bered 14 Curling and wrinkled p ag es 15 Dissertation contains pages with print at aslant, filmed a s received _ 16 Other Text follows University Microfilms International A DESEGREGATION STUDY OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS III NORTH CAROLINA A Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of the Department of Supervision and Administration East Tennessee State University In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctorate in Education by Ransome Ellis Holcombe December, 1905 APPROVAL This is to certify that the Graduate Committee of RANSOME ELLIS HOLCOMBE met on the 29th day of October 1985 The committee read and examined his dissertation, supervised his defense of it in an oral examination, and decided to recommend that his study be submitted to the Graduate Council and the Associate Vice-President for Research and Graduate Studies in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Education [airman, Graduate Committee Signed on behalf of the Graduate Council Associate Vice-President for Research and Graduate Studies ii ABSTRACT A DESEGREGATION STUDY OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN NORTH CAROLINA by Ransome Ellis Holcombe The purpose of this study was to Investigate and describe the desegregation of public schools In a selected southern state between the years 1954 and 1974 In developing the research project that described the elimination of legal blraciallsm In North Carolina's schools, public sentiment emerged as a major factor in the desegregation story Some of the key influences on public sentiment which helped to determine the success of the desegregation initiative were presented in this study North Carolina's public schools were unusual when compared to other states with dual systems because, despite the fact that the state had one of the largest black populations in the nation, the desegregation drama proceeded peacefully and successfully, albeit slowly Throughout the twenty-year period that was required to completely eliminate the dual school structure that existed at the time of the Brown decision, an abiding commitment to preserve a stable public school system was demonstrated by the people of North Carolina In the implementation of the Brown ruling, the federal government gave the state ten years to begin and ten more to reach compliance This judicious application of "all deliberate speed" allowed North Carolinians an opportunity to adjust to major societal change as progressive sentiment gradually overcame conservative resistance The strong stand on law and order by North Carolina's leaders at critical stages of the desegregation process helped to account for the relatively peaceful demise of legal blraciallsm in the public schools While most of the people were pro-segregationist and repeatedly elected leaders who advocated the continuance of segregated schools, they ultimately chose to obey the law State officials, despite their pro-segregationist rhetoric, in almost every case stood firm on law and order issues What was thought of in the 1950s as a regional problem took on national dimensions, and, by the 20th anniversary year of the Brown decision North Carolina had some of the best desegregation statistics iii in the nation The year 1974 was also the 10th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the law that actually brought about the elimination of dual schools in the state Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, the powerful Influence of federal aid brought North Carolina schools into compliance more rapidly than federal officials could have expected when viewed in terms of the amount of existent biracialism ten years after Brown In the Brown decision o 1954, the concept of legal blraciallsm was voided; by 1974, legal blraciallsm was a dead issue in North Carolina, and the system of dual schools was completely dismantled in the state CONTENTS Page A P P R O V A L ii A B S T R A C T iii Chapter I N T R O D U C T I O N , , The P r o b l e m Statement of the Problem Purpose of the Study Significance of the Study Assumptions Limitations Questions Considered Pertinent tothe Problem Definition of Terms 10 Segregation 10 De Facto Segregation De Jure Segregation .10 Desegregation 10 10 Integration 11 Organization of the S t u d y 11 P r o c e d u r e s 12 A BRIEF HISTORY OF EDUCATION IN NORTHCAROLINA TO THE BROWN DECISION L5 DECADE OF R E S I S T A N C E .50 THE DECADE OF RESISTANCE: TOKENDESEGREGATION 79 Chapter Page CATALYSTS OF COMPLIANCE 108 THE DECADE OF COMPLIANCE 124 SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS 157 BIBLIOGRAPHY 167 VITA 173 Sindler, Allan 0, ed A Change In Che Contemporary South Durham: Duke University Fresa, 1963 Change In the more recent South Including special aspects of southern education was investigated by a group of scholars in the allied social studies under the direction of Allan Slndler, Southern Regional Council, Special Report School Desegregation 1966: The Slow Undoing Atlanta, SRC Press, 1966 This uncritical report was prepared for the Southern Regional Council, which was founded in 1946 by liberal southern whites in Atlanta to campaign aggressively against the southern blracial system - Special Report on Charlotte, Greensboro and Winston Salem Atlanta: SRC Press, 1957 The first school systems in North Carolina to begin desegregation proceedings was covered in this SRC report SRC reports are of mixed ' quality Stem, Tha«3, Jr The Tar Hill Press Charlotte: The Heritage Printer, Inc., 1973 A well-written, informative account of North Carolina through the eyes of a journalist This work is weak on documentation but strong on appeal and provides valuable insight into the relentless drive for a progressive system of public schools in twentieth century North Carolina St John, Nancy H School Desegregation Outcomes for Children New York: John Wiley and Sons, 1975 Some North Carolina school communities were chosen for comparative social and psychological studies on the impact of desegregation on students in this report Thompson, Holland The New South New Haven: Yale University Press, 1919 A study of the phases of industrialization in the South that gave rise to the political prominence of the business class and the subsequent development of their control of many aspects of southern life Tindall, George B The Emergence of the New South Baton Rouge; Louisiana State University Press, 1967 Probably the most comprehensive, best-researched study of the period between 1913 and 1945 This is the survey that is considered essential reading for any serious student of recent southern history It is a part of a massive ten volume history published by Louisiana State University - "Mythology: A New Frontier in Southern History." The Idea of the South: Pursuit of a Central Theme Ed, Frank E Vandiver Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1963 174 In this collection of essays the theme revisited is Professor U B Phillips contention that the unifying principle of southern history was the common resolve that the South should be a white man's country The essays reflect the opinion that the "central theme" was in transition Twain, Melvin M, Desegregation: Resistance and Readiness Princeton: University Press* 1958, A published survey of attitudes of white residents of Guilford County* North Carolina toward racial relations This Princeton University Field study involves behavioral approaches to desegregation Waynick, Capus M ed North Carolina and the Negro Raleigh: The State College Print Shop, 1964 An informative report on race relations in North Carolina prepared for Governor Terry Sanford under the direction of the Attorney General's Office Wey, Herbert and Corey, John Action Patterns In School Desegregation Bloomington: Phi Delta Kappa, Inc 1959 A Kappan sponsored report Issued during the beginning phases of the desegregation ordeal that includes in-depth information on some of the first North Carolina school districts to initiate desegregation efforts Woodward, C Vann The Burden of Southern History Baton Rouge{ Louisiana State University Press, 1960 A provocative collection of essays pursuing the elusive question of the identify and meaning of southern history by a prominent historian The Strange Career of Jim Crow New York: Oxford University Press, 1955 Describes the evolution of the South's biraclal system since the Civil War This study effectively outlines the history of racial segregation and contains many references to North Carolina Periodicals Adelman, Marian W, "Southern School Desegregation, 1954-1973 A Juridian-Political Overview." The Annals of the American Academuy of Political and Social Science 407 (May 1973): 39 Bell, Terrel interview U.S News and World Report, September 16, 1974, pp 42-44, "The Busing fhiandary." Cohodes, Aaron 1964 Newsweek 24 August 1976, p 63, "Failure of a Plan." Nation's Schools, February 17b Coon, Charles L "School Support: and our National Carolina Courts." North Carolina Historical Review, (July 1926): 397-408 Cooper, David "Nobody Wanted School Desegregation." Education June 1967, pp 2-4 "Desegregation of Charlotte's Schools." American Life September, 1957 Dunn, James R "Title VI, The Guidelines and School Desegregation in the South," Virginia Law Review 53 (January 1967): 55 Ervin, Sam, Jr Evans, Mercer G 140 "The Case for Segregation," "Southern Mill Hills." Look, April 1956 The Survey 62 (April 1929): Gardner, Max "One State Cleans House." January 1932, pp 23 and 72-74 Saturday Evening Post, Greenburg, Jack "The Tortoise Can Beat the Hare." 16 February 1968, pp 57-59 "Hard Times for the Klan." Saturday Review New South Harch-April 1952, pp 6-7 Henderson, Lloyd R "Is It Worth It? 4, no (1974): 46 Mitchell, Broadus, "Employers Front." (Octobrt 1930):- 501 Journal of Law Education The Virginia Quarterly Review, Myles, Naomi "North Carolina Over the Hump." February 14, 1972, p 208 "Official Policy Now of South's Schools." 20 April 1970, p 33 The Nation, U.S News and World Report, "Official Report: South Leads Nation In School Integration." U.S News and World Report 24 January 1972, p 31 Pearson, C Chilton "Race Relations in North Carolina: A Field Study of Moderate Opinion." South Atlantic Quarterly 22 (1924) Saturday Review of Education Editorial, 10 March, 1973, p 18 "September Song; A Long, Long Time." 15 September 1969, p 24 U.S News and World Report Simpkins, Francis B "New Viewpoints, of Southern Reconstruction." The Journal of Southern History (February 1939): 49-61 "A Southern City-Troubled, Angry, Divided." Report, 16 March 1970, pp 29-32 U.S News and World 176 "Southern School Report." 1965 U.S News and World Report 13 September Stelf, William "The New Look in Civil Rights Enforcement." Education Report, September 1967 "Tangle Over Busing." Southern U.S News and World Report 24 August 1970 Toynbee, Arnold "War of Che Races," August 1960 New York Times Magazine U.S News and World Report 27 September 1957 and October 1957 Warren, Earl, "Inside the Supreme Court: The Momentous School Desegregation Decision," The Atlantic Monthly April 1977, pp 35-39, "Where Busing Issue is Hottest at the Start of a New School Year." U.S News and World Report 11 September 1972 "Year of Decision for White-Only Schools," 27 July 1970 U.S News and World Report Yeates, John W "Private Schools and Public Confusion." Fall 1970, p 84 New South Government Publications Digest of the State Budget prepared for Governor Terry Sanford, 1963, "Fulfilling the Letter and Spirit of the Law: Desegregation of the Nation's Public Schools," Report of the United States Commission on Civil Rights Washington: U.S Printing Office, 1976 Education in North Carolina: Today and Tomorrow Report of State Education Commission to Governor Cherry, September 24, 1948 Hannah, John A "Southern School Desegregation," Report of the United States Commission on Civil Rights Washington: Government Printing Office, 1967 North Carolina Advisory Committee on Education, Report to the Governor, the General Assembly, the State Board of Education, and the County and Local School Boards of North Carolina (April 5, 1956) North Carolina General Statutes 1955, Chapter 366 N.C State Government Statistical Abstract Raleigh: State Budget and Management, 1976 p 132 Division of 177 "Pupil Desegregation in Eleven Southern States," Hay 27, 1968 HEW Report, The Report of the Governos's Study Commission on the Public School System of Worth Carolina Raleigh: North Carolina State University Print Shop, 1968, Statistical Profile North Carolina Public Schools tRaleigh: Controller's Office, Department of Public Education, 1975 "Southern School Desegregation," Reports U.S Commission on Civil Rights, 1967 Statistical Profile: North Carolina Public Schools Raleigh: Controllers Office, Department of Public Education, 1975), pp 1-40-1-43 U S Census, 1950; 1960; 1970 U.S Commission, Civil Rights: » Southern States,' U.S.Congress, House, Committee of the Judiciary, Hearings, Guidelines for School Desegregation, 89th Cong., 2d Sess., 1966, p 123 U.S Congressional Record, July 13, 1956,12760-12761 U.S Congressional Record 89th Cong., 2nd Sess., (1966), p 9579 U.S Congressional Record, 9938 94th Cong., 2d Sess (1976), CXX1, No.95, U.S Department of Health, Education and Welfare, Office of Education, Revised Statement of Policies for School Desegregation Plans Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 1966 U.S House, Committee on Rules, Hearings, Policies and Guidelines for School Desegregation, 89th Cong., 2d Sess., 1966, p U.S., Senate, Select Committee on Equal Educational Opportunity, Minority Report of Senator Sam J Ervin, Jr., 92th Cong., 2d Sess., 1970, p 408 Newspapers The North Carolina newspapers which were used as some of the primary source material upon which this study was based are listed alphabetically and chronologically The essential facts of publication pertaining to these newspapers were derived from the appropriate annual volumes of the Director of Newspapers and Periodicals Philadelphia: A W Ayer & Sons 178 Asheville Citizen 16 August 1955, and 24 July 1957 Carolina Israelite Editorial, February 1964 Charlotte Observer August 1955; 14 November 1955; month of August 1957; September 1957; and 17 March 1975* Greensboro Daily News, 18 May 1954; 19 30, and 31 May 1954; 23 May 1954; 23 June 1955; 16 July 1956; 3,4 September and 26 October 1956; 27-28 and 25-26 August 1957; month of August 1957 Greensboro Record, 27 August 1956; 11 September 1966; month of August 1957 New York TimeB 26 June 1950; 23 May 1954, 12 March 1956; 13 March 1956; September 1957 Raleigh News and Observer, 17 July 1947; 28 August 1955; April 1955; 16 April 1956; 24 July 1957; month of August 1957; September 1957 Southern School News, September 1954 and February 1955 Winston Salem Journal, 15 February 1957; month of August 1957; 22 April 1971 Letters Messages and Interviews Anrig, Gregory, Personal interview, 14 June 1968 Letter, Joshua D Zatman to Albert Itockaday, April 23, 1968; received during interview with Joshua B Zarman, Chief, Information Division, Office of Civil Rights 25 June 1968 Letter, Attorney General of North Carolina, Policy Statement, 18 October 1963, in Facts on Film, Southern Education Report, 1964 Messages Addresses, and Public Papers of Luther Harrell Hodges, Governor of North Carolina 1954-1961 Raleigh: Council of State, State of North Carolina, 1963 Messages, Addresses and Public Papers of Terry Sanford Governor of North Carolina 1961-1965 Raleigh: Historical Commission, 1966 Court Briefs and Cases Assistant Attorney General of North Carolina, Amicus Curiae, cases 1-4, Supreme Court of the United States, April 11-14, 1955 the brief prepared by Attorney General McHullan was argued before the Supreme Court by G Beverly Lake McMullen was too ill at the time to present his "friend of the Court" petition 179 Briggs v Elliott 132 F Supp 777 (E.D.S.C 1955) In Briggs v Elliott a legal opinion was posed that provided a basis for Governor Hodges appeal for "voluntary segregation." Brown v 873 The declared Board of Education 347 U.S 483, 74 Sup, Ct 686, 98 L Ed (1954) landmark decision by the United States Supreme Court that the legal concept of "separate but equal" unconstitutional Carson v Board of Education 117F, 2789 (4th Cir Ct 1955) One of several cases originating in McDowell County that petitioned for the desegregation of the county school system This case was dismissed as premature under the doctrine of "exhaustion of remedies." Carson v Warlick, 238F ed 724 (1957) Another case from McDowell County involving a charge by the plaintiff Carson that Federal Judge Wilson Warlick was not providing a judicial remedy for an existing illegal situation involving biracialism in the public schools Covington v Montgomery County School Officials 139 F Supp 161, 163 (H.D.N.C., 1956) The state's constitutional requirement for separation of races in the public schools waB declared invalid in this case Drum v Seawell 249 F Supp 777 (M.D.N.C 1966) In this litigation the state's Congressional Districts were declared unconstitutional because of unequal representation favoring the Democrat Party Green v County School Board of Hew Kent County Virginia 391 U.S 430, 437 (1960) This ruling declared that the desegregation plans in the "Freedom of Choice" district were Invalid if they did not result in immediate desegregation of the schools The districts operating under "Freedom of Choice" were required to present realistic plans that worked Hawkins v North Carolina State Board of Education, C.A No 2067, W.D.N.C., April 4, 1966 State tuition grants to attend private schools provided for students who objected to attending racially-mixed schools were declated unconstitutional in North Carolina Joyner v McDowell County Board of Education, North Carolina 92 S.E 2d 795 (1956) A class action suit petitioning the court to force the school board to admit black students to white schools This action was dismissed as being improperly drawn 180 Lowery v School Trustees 140 N.C 33, 52 S.B 267 (1905) A court action that required that public school revenue be divided fairly under the "separate but equal" doctrine between Negro and white students Plessy v Ferguson 163 U.S 537 (1896) The Supreme Court's landmark, decision that legitimatized segregation solely on the basis of race under the legal concept of "separate but equal." School District v Almanace County, 211 N.C 213 (1937) Litigation Involving the right of all students to be educated through the use of public revenues U.S v Jefferson County Board of Education, No 23345, 5th Circuit Court of Appeals (1966) This case voided the state law that allowed state revenues to be used for education in private schools that permitted to required segregation by race.' Wheeler v Durham City Board of Education, 309F 2d 630 (1958) A decision that upheld the legality of the states Pupil Assignment Act which provided for a slow, complicated process of desegregation i •/ APPENDIX CHART EMERGING FIN A N C IA L SUPPORT PATTERN FOR CURRENT OPERATING EXPENSE IN NORTH CAROLINA (FOUR SELECTED SCHOOL YEARS )1 for 1927-26 1947-48 1965-66 1966-67 :