Robinson Elementary School: Difference between revisions

From Bhamwiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
No edit summary
Line 21: Line 21:
'''J. E. Robinson Elementary School''' is an elementary school in the [[Birmingham Public School System]] that feeds into [[Ossie Ware Middle School]]. The school is located at 8400 [[1st Avenue South]], just north of [[I-59]] in the [[South East Lake neighborhood]] of the [[Roebuck-South East Lake]] community. The principal is [[Marcia Henderson]].
'''J. E. Robinson Elementary School''' is an elementary school in the [[Birmingham Public School System]] that feeds into [[Ossie Ware Middle School]]. The school is located at 8400 [[1st Avenue South]], just north of [[I-59]] in the [[South East Lake neighborhood]] of the [[Roebuck-South East Lake]] community. The principal is [[Marcia Henderson]].


The original Robinson School was constructed at the corner of 1st Avenue North and [[84th Street South|84th Street]]  in [[1909]] on behalf what was then the Town of [[East Lake]]. It was absorbed into [[Birmingham]] as part of the "[[Greater Birmingham]]" annexation that took effect on [[January 1]], [[1910]].
The original Robinson School was constructed at the corner of 1st Avenue North and [[84th Street South|84th Street]]  in [[1909]] on behalf what was then the Town of [[East Lake]], under its superintendent [[Spright Dowell]]. The new school was named in honor of then-[[Mayor of East Lake|Mayor]] [[J. E. Robinson]]. [[T. D. Moore]] was hired as principal. The newly-built school was absorbed into [[Birmingham]] as part of the "[[Greater Birmingham]]" annexation that took effect on [[January 1]], [[1910]].


The six-classroom building was expanded in [[1921]] to with another six classrooms. The addition was designed by architect [[William Leslie Welton]]. The [[Birmingham Board of Education]]'s ''[[Survey of Birmingham Schools]],'' published in [[1923]], found that the "recently improved and expanded" 12-classroom building still lacked a gymnasium, auditorium, music room, nature study, laboratory and library, all of which were recommended for schools at that time. The cooking room was considered too small, but the shop area was ample and the playground space, while in need of expansion, was above average for city schools.
The six-classroom building was expanded in [[1921]] to with another six classrooms. The addition was designed by architect [[William Leslie Welton]]. The [[Birmingham Board of Education]]'s ''[[Survey of Birmingham Schools]],'' published in [[1923]], found that the "recently improved and expanded" 12-classroom building still lacked a gymnasium, auditorium, music room, nature study, laboratory and library, all of which were recommended for schools at that time. The cooking room was considered too small, but the shop area was ample and the playground space, while in need of expansion, was above average for city schools.
A [[1928]] newspaper feature by [[Mary Chamblee]] describes how teaching proper handwriting is a particular concern of the curriculum under principal [[H. B. Norton]]. All grades were instructed on proper arm movements, and the issue was dramatized by students who staged writing teacher [[Alice Perry]]'s play entitled "The Trial of Penmanship". The feature also extolled the work of the Art Club which met Wednesdays after school with teacher [[Laura Anderson]] and produced posters to decorate the classrooms. An American Club for 8th graders interested in civics and government elected judges, constables and other officials to police good conduct among fellow students. The school's science class kept a small menagerie of aquatic creatures collected from nearby streams.


Robinson Elementary 2nd grade teacher [[Sarah Ann White]] was recognized as "Favorite Teacher of 1969" by the {{BPH}}. A feature profile in the newspaper described a typical day in her classroom as beginning with a remedial "reading party" for struggling students, followed by individual conversations. Bookkeeping tasks coincided with a televised phonic program, followed by a Bible reading, the pledge of allegiance, a song, and a prayer. Then the students would share something from their library books and lend them on to others. She continued working on reading with small groups while the rest of the class tackled mathematics worksheets. At lunchtime, she supervised their food choices and paid herself for the students who couldn't afford lunch. Afternoons varied between different activities including music, art, handwriting, or more math. Elementary science lessons and other enrichment were shared by way of films or film strips. Classes each day ended with a story or poem.
Robinson Elementary 2nd grade teacher [[Sarah Ann White]] was recognized as "Favorite Teacher of 1969" by the {{BPH}}. A feature profile in the newspaper described a typical day in her classroom as beginning with a remedial "reading party" for struggling students, followed by individual conversations. Bookkeeping tasks coincided with a televised phonic program, followed by a Bible reading, the pledge of allegiance, a song, and a prayer. Then the students would share something from their library books and lend them on to others. She continued working on reading with small groups while the rest of the class tackled mathematics worksheets. At lunchtime, she supervised their food choices and paid herself for the students who couldn't afford lunch. Afternoons varied between different activities including music, art, handwriting, or more math. Elementary science lessons and other enrichment were shared by way of films or film strips. Classes each day ended with a story or poem.
Line 57: Line 59:
==References==
==References==
* {{BBOE-1923}}
* {{BBOE-1923}}
* Chamblee, Mary (1928) "[https://cdm16044.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p4017coll2/id/12346/rec/7 Robinson School at East Lake, Started As Six-Room Structure 20 Years Ago]." ''[[Birmingham News-Age-Herald]]'' - via {{BPLDC}}
* Waddle, Chris (March 12, 1969) "[https://www.newspapers.com/article/birmingham-post-herald-birmingham-teache/136584243/ Birmingham Teacher Chosen]". {{BPH}}, p. 1, 15
* Waddle, Chris (March 12, 1969) "[https://www.newspapers.com/article/birmingham-post-herald-birmingham-teache/136584243/ Birmingham Teacher Chosen]". {{BPH}}, p. 1, 15
* Cooper, Lauren B. (September 28, 2009) "RPC to study reuse of historic East Lake school." {{BBJ}}
* Cooper, Lauren B. (September 28, 2009) "RPC to study reuse of historic East Lake school." {{BBJ}}

Revision as of 12:23, 10 December 2023

This article is about the Birmingham elementary school. For the Fairfield elementary school, see Robinson Primary School.
Robinson Elementary School
Robinson Elementary School logo.png
BCS small logo.png Birmingham City Schools
Years 1909–present
Location 8400 1st Avenue South, (map)
East Lake
Grades K-5
Principal Marcia Henderson
Enrollment 263 (2017)
Colors blue & gold
Mascot Roadrunner
Website bhamcityschools.org

J. E. Robinson Elementary School is an elementary school in the Birmingham Public School System that feeds into Ossie Ware Middle School. The school is located at 8400 1st Avenue South, just north of I-59 in the South East Lake neighborhood of the Roebuck-South East Lake community. The principal is Marcia Henderson.

The original Robinson School was constructed at the corner of 1st Avenue North and 84th Street in 1909 on behalf what was then the Town of East Lake, under its superintendent Spright Dowell. The new school was named in honor of then-Mayor J. E. Robinson. T. D. Moore was hired as principal. The newly-built school was absorbed into Birmingham as part of the "Greater Birmingham" annexation that took effect on January 1, 1910.

The six-classroom building was expanded in 1921 to with another six classrooms. The addition was designed by architect William Leslie Welton. The Birmingham Board of Education's Survey of Birmingham Schools, published in 1923, found that the "recently improved and expanded" 12-classroom building still lacked a gymnasium, auditorium, music room, nature study, laboratory and library, all of which were recommended for schools at that time. The cooking room was considered too small, but the shop area was ample and the playground space, while in need of expansion, was above average for city schools.

A 1928 newspaper feature by Mary Chamblee describes how teaching proper handwriting is a particular concern of the curriculum under principal H. B. Norton. All grades were instructed on proper arm movements, and the issue was dramatized by students who staged writing teacher Alice Perry's play entitled "The Trial of Penmanship". The feature also extolled the work of the Art Club which met Wednesdays after school with teacher Laura Anderson and produced posters to decorate the classrooms. An American Club for 8th graders interested in civics and government elected judges, constables and other officials to police good conduct among fellow students. The school's science class kept a small menagerie of aquatic creatures collected from nearby streams.

Robinson Elementary 2nd grade teacher Sarah Ann White was recognized as "Favorite Teacher of 1969" by the Birmingham Post-Herald. A feature profile in the newspaper described a typical day in her classroom as beginning with a remedial "reading party" for struggling students, followed by individual conversations. Bookkeeping tasks coincided with a televised phonic program, followed by a Bible reading, the pledge of allegiance, a song, and a prayer. Then the students would share something from their library books and lend them on to others. She continued working on reading with small groups while the rest of the class tackled mathematics worksheets. At lunchtime, she supervised their food choices and paid herself for the students who couldn't afford lunch. Afternoons varied between different activities including music, art, handwriting, or more math. Elementary science lessons and other enrichment were shared by way of films or film strips. Classes each day ended with a story or poem.

Robinson Elementary School was desegregated under a federal court order in 1970.

In 2006 61st Street Elementary School was merged into Robinson, and a new, much larger school was constructed on the same block, west of the original building. The new 65,000 square-foot 1-story school building was designed for 625 students by Fuller & Thompson Architects with T.R.I. Architecture.

Robinson's school colors were originally sky blue and red, and its teams used the nickname the "Rebels". Later those were changed to the "Robinson Roadrunners", with blue and gold colors.

Based on test scores from 2017, Robinson was deemed a "failing school" under the terms of the Alabama Accountability Act, permitting parents to claim tax credits to transfer students to another school.

Gallery

  • Robinson School 1909 building

    Robinson School 1909 building

  • Rendering of the 2006 building

    Rendering of the 2006 building

Principals

References

External links

Retrieved from "http://bhamwiki.com/w/index.php?title=Robinson_Elementary_School&oldid=209450"