1. Dr. Benjamin Dixon, Vice President for Multicultural Affairs, welcomed everyone to the first session of the symposium and introduced Dr. Hayward Farrar.

2. Dr. Farrar introduced Dr. Peter Wallenstein, the keynote speaker for the evening.

3. Dr. Wallenstein provided an historical review of the impact of public education policies (e.g., facilities, teacher salaries, curricula) during the era of school segregation from the period 1870 to 1950.

4. Ms. Jacqeline Eaves and Ms. Marcy Schnitzer, Assistant Director of the Center for Service Learning, reviewed the history of the Christiansburg Institute as a case study that illustrated many of the points made by Dr. Wallenstein.

5. In the panel discussion, Mrs. O. Battle, a graduate of the Christiansburg Institute, spoke of her memories as a school child who attended the all Black school. She remembered a school that was supported by the Black community, a school where teachers instilled pride and a "can do" attitude in everyone. The educational experience was excellent.

6. The second reactor, Dr. Delores Scott, Associate Provost, recalled growing up in Prince Edward County. In 1959, local officials closed the public schools in this county as part of the "massive resistance" movement in Virginia. School children were sent off to relatives and parents in other states to continue their education. Others were educated in churches and homes where teachers continued to teach despite the school closure. She remembered a Black community that pulled together and encouraged its children to learn and achieve.

7. After these presentations, the audience was encouraged to ask questions and make comments. This conversation is summarized in "Questions and Thoughts."

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Posted: September 24, 1999
By The Educational Policy Institute of Virginia Tech
URL: http://fbox.vt.edu:10021/chre/elps/EPI/SYMPOSIUM/
sjanosik@vt.edu