Description: Hope Kelly reviews the history of school desegregation in Boston. She notes that many critics cite the absence of middle-class and white students as a reason for the continued failure of the Boston Public Schools. She focuses on the Timilty Middle School in Boston, a magnet school with successful reading and math programs for its students. Kelly interviews teacher William Moran and principle Shirley Gonsalves about the school and its programs. Moran says that the students are successful. He adds that many come from disadvantaged backgrounds. Gonsalves talks about the benefits of school desegregation. Kelly reports that the Timilty School was named a National School of Excellence in 1989. Following the edited story is additional b-roll footage of students and teachers in classrooms at the Timilty School.
1:00:07: Visual: Shot of a school bus door closing. Shots of a school bus outside of the Timilty Middle School; of students on the bus; of white and African American students exiting the Timilty Middle School; of students boarding a bus outside of the school. Shots of African American and white students in a hallway of the school. Hope Kelly reports that busing for school desegregation began seventeen years ago in Boston; that busing was viewed as a way to bring equal opportunity to all students. Kelly notes that busing drove many middle-class white and African American parents away from the school system. Kelly reports that critics cite a lack of middle-class students as a reason for the continued failure of Boston Public Schools. V: Footage of William Moran (Timilty School) being interviewed. Moran says that all students can learn. Kelly reports that Moran grew up in the South End and Roxbury; that Moran attended Boston Public Schools and went to college. V: Shots of Moran walking through a corridor in the Timilty School; of Moran speaking to three students in the doorway of a classroom. Kelly reports that Moran is the seventh-grade coordinator at the Timilty Middle School; that Moran attended the Timilty School twenty years ago. Kelly reports that the Timilty Middle School ranks first city-wide in reading; that the Timilty Middle School is second city-wide in mathematics. Kelly notes that the students at the Timilty School do not come from advantaged backgrounds. V: Shots of a white teacher teaching students of diverse races in a well decorated classroom. Shots of the students in the classroom. Footage of Moran saying that students at the Timilty School low-income families; that many of the students live in housing projects. Moran says that the students come from disadvantaged neighborhoods across the city; that the school is a city-wide school. Kelly reports that most of the students at the Timilty School are non-white and poor. V: Shots of students walking in a corridor of the Timilty School. Footage of Shirley Gonsalves (Timilty School) being interviewed by Kelly. Gonsalves says that race and class are not the determining factors among the school's students. Gonsalves says that the school can do nothing about the relative poverty of its students. Kelly reports that Gonsalves is the assistant principal at the Timilty School; that she has worked in the Boston Public School System for seventeen years. V: Shot of Gonsalves walking through a corridor and up a set of stairs with a student. Kelly reports that Gonsalves began teaching in Boston during the first year of school desegregation. V: Footage of Gonsalves being interviewed. Gonsalves says that she grew up in the rural South where busing was used to maintain segregated schools. Gonsalves says that she rode a bus to school from the age of six to the age of eighteen. Shots of students walking in a corridor at the Timilty School. Kelly reports that there are low numbers of white students in the Boston Public School System; that 11% of students at the Timilty School are white. Kelly reports that Gonsalves believes that school integration has been a success. V: Shots of a white student entering a classroom at the Timilty School; of a white teacher standing with two African American students in a hallway. Footage of Gonsalves being interviewed by Kelly. Gonsalves says that students attended schools in their own neighborhoods with students of their own race before school integration. Gonsalves says that students were not exposed to other students of different backgrounds and from different neighborhoods. Gonsalves says that students need to learn about people of different backgrounds. Shots of a white teacher teaching to a class of middle school students; of an African American male student sitting at a desk in the classroom. Shots of other students in classrooms; of an African American female student writing on a chalkboard; of an African American boy reading a book at his desk. Shot of the white teacher teaching to students in the classroom. Kelly reports that the Timilty School is a magnet school; that classes are smaller at the Timilty School; that the schoolday at the Timilty School is 1.5 hours longer on four of five days per week. Kelly reports that the waiting list to enter the sixth grade class at the Timilty School had 200 names. Kelly reports that the Timilty School was named a National School of Excellence in 1989. V: Shot of Gonsalves and a student walking in the corridor.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 03/22/1991
Description: Pam Bullard reports on the Tobin Elementary School, which is located near the Mission Hill Housing Project.Bullard reports that 75 white children are bused into the Tobin school with no problems. Interviews with students and teachers talking about how much they like the school. Bullard reports that Charlie Gibbons, the principal, encourages teachers to develop innovative programs for students. During the report Principal Gibbons was in Puerto Rico learning about the schools there to better be able to serve the Latino students at his school. Bullard notes that the school has a good atmosphere and enjoys a good rapport with the community.
9:50:07: Visual: Shots of street sign for Tobin Ct.; of the Mission Hill Housing Project. Pam Bullard reports that the Mission Hill Housing Project is in one of Boston's toughest neighborhoods; that racial fighting occurred there two weeks before school opened; that the housing project is in the heart of a depressed neighborhood. Bullard reports that the Tobin Elementary School is located near the housing project. V: Footage of an African American male student (Derek) saying that he has attended the Tobin School for four years; that he knows all of the teachers and gets along with them; that the school is special because of the teachers, the kids, and the field trips. A white male student (Richard) says that Derek is his friend; that he likes the Tobin school; that he has fun taking the bus everyday; that he has met a lot of new people. Bullard reports that Charlie Gibbons (principal, Tobin School) and his assistant are in Puerto Rico; that they are learning about the Puerto Rican school system in order to understand the needs of Spanish-speaking students; that Gibbons and his assistant are paying for their own trips. V: Shots of Gibbons' office; of a button reading "I go to the best - Tobin School, Roxbury"; of a thank-you note written to Gibbons from the students. Bullard reports that the Tobin School has extensive reading and physical education programs set up with Boston University; that there is a program for dental care set up with the Harvard Dental school; that the Tobin School has one of the city's best bilingual programs; that the students receive a lot of individual attention. Bullard reports that Gibbons and the teachers at the Tobin set up most of these programs themselves. V: Footage of student reading Spanish; of a student writing on a chalkboard; of bilingual posters in a classroom. Footage of a teacher at a chalkboard; of students in classroom. A white female teacher says that the students respond well to the school's programs; that she tries to give the students individual attention; that she likes the students and the parents at the Tobin. Footage of children playing learning games. An African American female teacher says that she agrees with Gibbons that the Tobin is the best school in Boston; that the Tobin has a warm atmosphere, a good faculty and a lot of support from the community. An African American male student says that he likes the Tobin because he learns things. Bullard reports that the Tobin school is located in a predominantly African American neighborhood; that 75 white students have been bused in with no problems; that students and teachers like the school very much. V: Footage of children playing on a field outside of the school. The Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help is visible.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 03/26/1976
Description: Christy George reports that the Boston School Committee held an executive session to make a decision on the renewal of the contract of superintendent Laval Wilson Several audience members addressed the Boston School Committee about Wilson's performance before they made their decision. Jim Hobby (South Boston resident), Minister Don Muhammad (Roxbury community leader), and Pedro Posado (Latino activist) address the members of the School Committee at a meeting. The School Committee has offered Wilson a two-year contract with constant performance reviews and no perquisites. George adds that the contract does not allow Wilson much freedom to operate. School Committee president Thomas O'Reilly and Committee member Robert Cappucci announce the contract at a School Committee meeting. O'Reilly talks about the details of the contract. Cappucci expresses his non-support of Wilson. Wilson speaks to reporters about his new contract. This edition of the Ten O'Clock News also included the following item: Marcus Jones reports on the Ninth Annual Black-Jewish Seder held in Roxbury
1:00:18: Visual: Footage of a Boston School Committee meeting. Shots audience members crowded into the chambers of the Boston School Committee. Shots of Dr. Laval Wilson (Superintendent, Boston Public Schools) standing at the front of the School Committee chambers. Christy George reports that audience members had 30 seconds each to address the School Committee on the subject of Wilson's contract. V: Footage of Jim Hobby (South Boston resident) saying that there is a high drop-out rate in South Boston. He accuses Wilson of not doing his job. Shots of School Committee members John Grady, Jean McGuire, and John Nucci at the front of the School Committee Chambers. Footage of Don Muhammad (Roxbury community leader) saying that Wilson's contract should be renewed; that Wilson has begun to turn the school system around. Shots of audience members. Footage of Pedro Posado (Latino activist) saying that the School Committee needs to address the concerns of the Latino community. Shots of the School Committee members at the front of the chambers. George notes that the Committee members made their decision in an executive session; that the members of the School Committee ended up with a compromise. V: Footage of Thomas O'Reilly (President, Boston School Committee) standing at the front of the chambers with Wilson and Robert Cappucci (Boston School Committee). O'Reilly announces that the School Committee decided to offer Wilson a two-year contract. O'Reilly notes that the contract includes provisions relating to on-going performance relationships. Footage of Cappucci saying that the School Committee vote was seven-to-six; that there are six School Committee members who do not think Wilson should continue as superintendent. Cappucci says that the six members will do everything they can to see that Boston gets a new superintendent. Shots of School Committee members speaking to the press; of Gerald Anderson (Boston School Committee) speaking to the media. George reports that Wilson had wanted a three- or four-year contract. George notes that the first year of the contract is guaranteed; that the second year of the contract depends on good performance reviews. V: Footage of Wilson speaking to the media. Wilson says that he has served for six years in Boston; that six years is the longest tenure of any superintendent in the recent past. George reports that Wilson's contract is a two-year contract with constant performance reviews and no perquisites. George notes that Wilson will have another chance to prove himself; that he will not have a lot of room to maneuver.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 04/11/1989
Description: David Goerlitz, a former model for Winston cigarette ads, has quit smoking and now visits schools to teach children dangers of the habit. Goerlitz speaking a at school assembly. Print ads featuring Goerlitz. Goerlitz accuses the tobacco industry on targeting children and young teens. Interview with students after assembly on teh lack of smoking education in schools. Interview with Goerlitz on why kids listen to him more than other antismoking advocates. Goerlitz talks with school kids after the assembly. Marcus Jones reports in front of a Winston cigarette ad featuring Goerlitz that is still up in Boston. Following the edited story is b-roll of Goerlitz talking to kids after school assembly. Closeups on print ads.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 10/25/1989
Description: South Boston High School headmaster Jerome Wynegar interviewed on end of federal receivership of his school. Calmly says he seldom encounters overt hostility. He expects no substantial change in programs and attitudes now that jurisdictional control has reverted to the city. Exteriors of South Boston Highs School, and shots of Wynegar outside the school. Several takes of the reporter standup. A very bitter and angry Robert Lunnin, member of the South Boston Marshals and the South Boston Information Center, interrupts reporter standup. Lunnin says Wynegar lies, exaggerates attendance; that resistance to forced busing comes from both students and parents; that desegregation will never work “especially with the housing situation” (referring to effort to integrate blacks into public housing). He vehemently pronounces “forced busing.”
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 08/30/1978
Description: Debate on the success of school desegregation, moderated by Jim Lehrer. Filmed in the auditorium of Dunbar High School in Washington D.C. Lehrer explains outline and rules for debate. Busing advocates include Arthur Flemming (Chairman of the US Commission on Civil Rights), Murray Saltzman, Frankie Freeman of US Commission on Civil Rights. Flemming begins debate with opening statement by the US Commission on Civil Rights. Lino Graglia of the Neighborhood Schools Association makes opening remark for anti-busing representative group. Sue Mills, Herbert Walberg of Neighborhood Schools Association. Coproduced by WGBH and WETA.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 11/15/1976
Description: An overview of the modified (Phase IIB) Boston public schools court ordered desegregation plan: district schools, magnet schools at elementary and middle levels, specialized high school programs, technical and vocational schools. Explanation of the application process and how to indicate choices for focused programs.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 05/24/1976