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:''This article is about the Birmingham elementary school. For the Fairfield elementary school, see [[Robinson Primary School]].''
{{Infobox Bham School
{{Infobox Bham School
|name          =Robinson Elementary School
|name          =Robinson Elementary School
|image          =[[File:1909 Robinson School.jpg|325px]]
|image          =[[File:Robinson Elementary School logo.png|150px]]
|established    =1909
|established    =1909
|closed          =present
|closed          =present
Line 10: Line 11:
|cluster      =
|cluster      =
|grades        =K-5
|grades        =K-5
|principal      =Sandra Kindell
|principal      =Marcia Henderson
|enrollment    =263
|enrollment    =263
|enroll-year    =2017
|enroll-year    =2017
|colors        =blue & gold
|colors        =blue & gold
|mascot        =Roadrunner
|mascot        =Roadrunner
|website        =[http://bcs.schoolwires.net/Domain/54 bcs.schoolwires.net]
|website        =[https://www.bhamcityschools.org/Domain/54 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 [[Sandra Kindell]].
'''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 six-classroom building was expanded in [[1921]] to with another six classrooms. The addition was designed by architect [[William Leslie Welton]].
The original Robinson School was constructed in [[1909]] on behalf what was then the Town of [[East Lake]], under its superintendent [[Spright Dowell]]. The site was a 150-foot by 165-lot purchased from [[P. Montano]] at the corner of 1st Avenue North and [[84th Street South|84th Street]], serving children in the "upper end" of town who weren't able to walk all the way to [[Barrett Elementary School|Barret School]] at the "lower end". The new $11,200 6-room school was named in honor of then-[[East Lake Board of Education]] president [[J. E. Robinson]]. [[T. D. Moore]] was hired as principal.


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 newly-built school was absorbed into [[Birmingham]] as part of the "[[Greater Birmingham]]" annexation that took effect on [[January 1]], [[1910]]. A fifth grade class was added at that time, with another grade added each year until [[1914]] when it taught kindergarten through 7th grade. From its early years the school employed a "director of athletics" at $2 a week to coach young athletes in various after-school sports.


[[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.
By [[1920]] three frame cottages had been erected to accommodate the growing enrollment. A six-room addition, designed by architect [[William Leslie Welton]], was completed in [[1922]]. 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. Moore's successor, [[Henry Norton Sr|H. B. Norton]], oversaw the transition to the platoon system of teaching and the addition of an 8th grade program. In [[1928]] the [[Birmingham Board of Education]] acquired the remainder of the block, part of which was used for a 9-room addition.


School colors are blue and gold and the nickname is "Robinson Roadrunners".
A [[1928]] newspaper feature by [[Mary Chamblee]] described how teaching proper handwriting was a particular concern of the curriculum. 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.
 
A gymnasium was constructed along with two new classrooms in [[1950]]. A cafeteria was built at the school in January [[1955]]. The opening of the new [[South East Lake Elementary School]] on [[86th Street South]] opposite the planned [[Banks High School]] in [[1956]] helped to relieve crowding at Robinson Elementary, which had accommodated 1,418 students the previous year.
 
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 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 Olds Architects|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.
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==
<gallery>
File:1909 Robinson School.jpg|Robinson School 1909 building
File:1956 Robinson Elementary School.png|Robinson School in 1956
File:Robinson Elementary School rendering.jpg|Rendering of the 2006 building
</gallery>


==Principals==
==Principals==
* [[H. B. Norton]], 1920s
* [[T. D. Moor]]<!--or Moore-->, 1918–1922
* [[Henry Norton Sr]], 1922–1959
* [[John Tarrant]], 1960–1964
* [[Elmer Moree]], 1964–1965
* [[Sidney Ingram]], 1966–1968
* [[George Murphy]], 1969-1978
* [[Glen Frederick]], 1978–1979
* [[Henry Terry]], 1980–1988
* [[Joe Tortorice]], 1990–1994
* [[Sandra Kindell]], 1990s-2010s
* [[Sandra Kindell]], 1990s-2010s
* [[Anthony Green]] 2011-
* [[Marcia Henderson]], 2018-
* [[Marcia Henderson]], 2018-


==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}}
* "[https://cdm16044.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p4017coll2/id/12352/rec/7 Growing Since 1909, Robinson School Rates High Scholasticly Today]." [sic] (March 1, 1956) ''[[East End News]]'' - 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
* 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}}
* Norris, Toraine (January 12, 2011) "Fairfield school board approves move of former superintendent to principal's job." {{BN}}
==External links==
* [https://www.bhamcityschools.org/Domain/54 Robinson Elementary School] at bhamcityschools.org
* [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057621161085 Robinson Roadrunners] at Facebook.com
* [https://www.triarchitecture.com/institutional-projects/robinson-elementary-school-design-project New Robinson Elementary] at triarchitecture.com


[[Category:Elementary schools]]
[[Category:Elementary schools]]
[[Category:Birmingham schools]]
[[Category:Birmingham schools]]
[[Category:1909 buildings]]
[[Category:1909 establishments]]
[[Category:1st Avenue South]]
[[Category:1st Avenue South]]
[[Category:84th Street South]]
[[Category:84th Street South]]
[[Category:85th Street South]]
[[Category:85th Street South]]
[[Category:South East Lake]]
[[Category:1909 establishments]]
[[Category:1909 buildings]]
[[Category:1922 buildings]]
[[Category:William Welton buildings]]
[[Category:1928 buildings]]
[[Category:1950 buildings]]
[[Category:1955 buildings]]
[[Category:2006 buildings]]
[[Category:John Fuller buildings]]
[[Category:T.R.I. Architecture buildings]]

Latest revision as of 13:33, 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 in 1909 on behalf what was then the Town of East Lake, under its superintendent Spright Dowell. The site was a 150-foot by 165-lot purchased from P. Montano at the corner of 1st Avenue North and 84th Street, serving children in the "upper end" of town who weren't able to walk all the way to Barret School at the "lower end". The new $11,200 6-room school was named in honor of then-East Lake Board of Education president 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. A fifth grade class was added at that time, with another grade added each year until 1914 when it taught kindergarten through 7th grade. From its early years the school employed a "director of athletics" at $2 a week to coach young athletes in various after-school sports.

By 1920 three frame cottages had been erected to accommodate the growing enrollment. A six-room addition, designed by architect William Leslie Welton, was completed in 1922. 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. Moore's successor, H. B. Norton, oversaw the transition to the platoon system of teaching and the addition of an 8th grade program. In 1928 the Birmingham Board of Education acquired the remainder of the block, part of which was used for a 9-room addition.

A 1928 newspaper feature by Mary Chamblee described how teaching proper handwriting was a particular concern of the curriculum. 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.

A gymnasium was constructed along with two new classrooms in 1950. A cafeteria was built at the school in January 1955. The opening of the new South East Lake Elementary School on 86th Street South opposite the planned Banks High School in 1956 helped to relieve crowding at Robinson Elementary, which had accommodated 1,418 students the previous year.

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

  • Robinson School in 1956

    Robinson School in 1956

  • Rendering of the 2006 building

    Rendering of the 2006 building

Principals

References

External links

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