[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 64 (Tuesday, April 26, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E584-E585]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING MOUND BAYOU PUBLIC SCHOOLS
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HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON
of mississippi
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, April 26, 2016
Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a
remarkable educational institution, the Mound Bayou Public School
District in Mound Bayou, Mississippi.
The early settlers in Mound Bayou recognized the value of education
in building a community. Early in 1888, I.T. Montgomery and his sister,
Virginia Montgomery, began holding classes for children in his home.
This school developed into the Mound Bayou Public School. Ms.
Montgomery, the first principal, served until 1896. During the early
years school was held in the first church, Green Grove, now First
Baptist. Rev. J.L. Brandfort succeeded Virginia Montgomery as
principal. As joint principals Professor R.J. Jarrett continued the
school in Green Grove, while Professor James Wilson held classes in
Bethel A.M.E. Church. Mrs. Gertrude Jones Bryant became the principal
in 1904 and served until 1915. A local Board of Trustees ran the
school, but it was responsible to a county board that was not so
willing to appropriate money for the school, even though this school
had an enrollment of 200 by 1910.
In 1892, Montgomery and Green donated a tract of land for educational
purposes, ``designed to supplement the inadequate curriculum of the
public schools''. The Mound Bayou Normal and Industrial Institute was
built on this tract of land, with the assistance of the American
Missionary Association. The school was largely supported by tuition but
continued to receive some financial assistance from the American
Missionary Association, which was responsible for providing the first
principal and teacher, Mrs. Annie Randolph. The second principal was
Miss Mary E. Crump, who was succeeded by Miss Minnie S. Washington. A
complete high school course was added under the leadership of Professor
B.F. Ousley. Vocational instruction in music and domestic arts and
science was offered. Professor Ousley served as principal for a period
of 16 years. Upon his resignation, Professor F.M. Roberts became
principal and was assisted by Professor Robert Ross.
In 1912, while working with Booker T. Washington, Montgomery and
Charles Bank secured a $1000 donation from Julius Rosenwald to build a
school. Andrew Carnegie was persuaded to donate $4000 for the
construction of a library. Booker T. Washington said that Mound Bayou
was ``not merely a town, but at the same time and in a very real sense
of the word, a school. It is not only a place where a Negro may get
inspiration . . . but a place, also, where he has the opportunity to
learn some of the fundamental duties and responsibilities of social and
civic life.''
In 1920 all of the public schools in the vicinity of Mound Bayou and
the Mound Bayou Normal and Industrial Institute consolidated to form
the Mound Bayou Consolidated Public School and County Training School.
A local Board of Trustees administered the school with responsibility
to the County Superintendent of Education. The members of the first
Board were I.T. Montgomery, Chairman, B.W. Bryan and John W. Francis.
The second Board included B.A. Green, Chairman, D.J. Hill, T.S. Morris,
John Tharpe, Sr., Rev. Jim Jones, and P.M. Smith.
The three-story brick structure was completed and the first classes
started in 1921. It was located in Mound Bayou on about four acres of
land. It served an area of thirty square miles with 16 classrooms and
an auditorium with a seating capacity of 700. The average annual
enrollment was 850. Classes were held nine months a year. This building
served all the students of Mound Bayou and the surrounding vicinities
until 1960, when I.T. Montgomery Elementary School was erected. The
three-story brick building, Mound Bayou High School, was closed in the
fall of 1964, when a new building, John F. Kennedy Memorial High
School, was opened.
Principals who served the Bolivar County Training School were J.H.
Moseley, J.H. Powell, A.R. Taylor, C.M. Green, Mrs. Olevia Holmes-
Ryles, Richard Williams, Mrs. Richard Williams, Rev. Hardin, and B.T.
Johnson. B.T. Johnson was the last administrator designated as a
principal for the Bolivar County Training School. Mr. Calvin J. Jones
was selected as the first superintendent of Bolivar County School
District Number Six, following a county reorganization, after the 1954
Supreme Court decision overruling the practice of segregation in public
schools. Others who have served as district superintendent are Arthur
Holmes, Jimmy Langdon, Shelton Wilder, Linder Howze-Campbell, Linda
Perry Robinson, and William Crockett. Principals who have served
[[Page E585]]
the elementary school since the county reorganization include Ruth
Scott, O.W. Howard, Samuel McGee, Arthur Jackson, Arthur Holmes, Jr.,
Legora M. Norwood, Joe Jennings, Sammy Armstrong, Linda Perry Robinson,
Willie E. Norwood, Sr., and Johnnie Vick. Montresia Cain is the current
elementary school principal. Principals who have served the High School
are A.L. Moore, Sr., Willie Gates, Eltea Lambert, Robert Latham,
Shelton Wilder, Jackie Campbell, Dr. I.D. Thompson, and Dr. Wanda C.
Stringer. Shaneequa Beal is the current high school principal. Mound
Bayou Public School District was merged with North Bolivar School
District in July, 2014, forming the new North Bolivar Consolidated
School District. Mr. Johnnie Vick is the current Superintendent.
Mound Bayou has a rich and strong educational history. It has had and
continues to have dedicated administrators and teachers. The students
demonstrate the ability to achieve at all levels, and graduates
compete, globally, in a wide cadre of professional fields. The Mound
Bayou Public School System was definitely a successful educational
organization. It is anticipated to have a continued high level of
achievement for the students at I.T. Montgomery Elementary School and
John F. Kennedy Memorial High School.
Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing an
extraordinary educational institution the Mound Bayou Public School
District.
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