E. Claiborne Robins, Jr., Teachers Institute
The Brown Decision in Virginia
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2007 Teachers Institute participants pose in front of the entrance to the Story of Virignia exhibition. |
On September 10, 1959, the Prince Edward County board of supervisors cut off funds for its public schools. The county schools remained closed for five years. In recognition of the 50th anniversary of this event, the topic of the Virginia Historical Society's annual E. Claiborne Robins, Jr., Teachers Institute was The Brown Decision in Virginia. The institute was held at the VHS July 13–17, 2009.
Virginia played an important, and often under-recognized, role in the struggle against segregated education. In 1951, students from Robert Russa Moton High School in Farmville walked out of class to protest unequal educational facilities. Their case became one of five that was incorporated into the landmark 1954 decision, Brown v. Board of Education. In response to Brown, the Virginia General Assembly instituted massive resistance, a policy that led to the closing of public schools in three localities—Warren County and the cities of Charlottesville and Norfolk. Ultimately, a fourth locality, Prince Edward County, the site of the initial lawsuit, closed its public schools.
The institute explored segregated education in Virginia and traced the efforts of African Americans who fought for quality schools in the years before Brown. It examined Brown and both efforts to implement and resist the decision in Virginia. Finally, it looked at the legacy of Brown.
Participants interacted with historians and educators and took part in lectures, discussions, and workshops and went on field trips to Farmville and the state capitol. They worked with VHS staff to explore teaching strategies and the society's resources.
The E. Claiborne Robins, Jr., Teachers Institute is open to all Virginia public and private elementary and secondary school teachers, but is targeted to teachers of Virginia Studies, USII, & VA/US History. The Virginia Historical Society is looking for teachers who have demonstrated academic and teaching success, intellectual curiosity, creativity, and appreciation for scholarship. Teachers who have attended previous institutes are eligible, but consideration is given to those who have not attended in the past. Participants are selected by members of the Historical Society's educators advisory board.
The Teachers Institute was sponsored by The National Endowment for the Humanities, the M&M/Mars Education Fund, and the Robert Hill Carter Fund for Virginia Local History.
Application Information:
This year's institute has passed. Please check our web site for information on the 2010 institute.
For more information, please contact Caroline Legros, School Program Coordinator, at 804.342.9652, or clegros@vahistorical.org.
Testimonials from past institutes
I've been meaning to write you all and properly express my thanks for the fantastic job you all did with the summer institute. I have participated in many of these, but this was by far the most professional, well-planned, and engaging seminar that I've attended in my career. I recently used many of the resources from the institute in planning a county-wide inservice on teaching the Brown decision. I'm also planning on replicating the Farmville walking-tour on a field trip with my students this Spring. The institute greatly influenced my classroom teaching because I now use the Farmville story as a case-study for students to learn about Plessy, Brown, and Massive Resistance. I'm not trying to write a resume here, but I only mention this because I believe it is a testament to the hard work of you and your staff.
—Beau Dickenson, Rockingham County
"This topic was of particular interest to me—I loved the way so many aspects of Virginia Indians were examined. I was very excited to participate—the week exceeded my expectations! I learned more in one week about Virginia than I have in twenty years of living here. This was better than any college course I have taken. It was a true gift. Thank you."
— Marcia Hunt
"Exceptionally well-planned, executed institute that provides a history teacher with superb tools, regardless of the subject he/she teaches. My enhanced knowledge of archaeology, anthropology, ethnology, and linguistics will definitely benefit me in my World History classroom."
— Milondra Coleman
"The afternoon with Doug Owsley was a powerful experience. It was a privilege to meet a man who is so passionate about his work. Working with human skeletons was an unforgettable experience."
— Betsy Saunders
"I can't wait to share your wealth of resources with other staff members at my school!"
— Melissa Hallowell
Past Institutes
Read about previous Teachers Institutes
Also related:
Brenton S. Halsey Teaching Excellence Award
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