Roanoke

First Day of Integration for Roanoke Schools

9/7/1960

Students walk to school as Dr. Edward W. Rushton, superintendent of schools in the city of Roanoke, thanks the community for a smooth transition to integrated public schools.

Anchor Script

Anchor script text: (LIVE ON) (ROLL FILM) A NEW TERM OF PUBLIC SCHOOL BEGAN TODAY IN VIRGINIA, AND WITH IT, SCHOOLS IN AT LEAST TEN LOCALITIES WERE INTEGRATED.. IN MOST, IT WAS THE SECOND OR THIRD INTEGRATED TERM, BUT IT WAS THE FIRST IN ROANOKE'S HISTORY.. (SHOW FILM) ATTENDING THE MELROSE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WERE FOUR NEGRO STUDENTS, FROM TWO FAMILIES. THEIR MOTHERS ACCOMPANIED THEM. IT WAS A QUIET INTEGRATION. THERE WERE NO INCIDENTS, AND NEWSMEN WERE THE ONLY SPECTATORS.. LATER, SCHOOL OFFICIALS AND NEGRO PARENTS EXPRESSED SATISFACTION WITH THE WAY THE SITUATION WAS HANDLED. TWO OTHER STUDENTS WENT TO WEST END ELEMENTARY. THREE MORE NEGRO CHILDREN ARE SCHEDULED TO ENTER PREVIOUSLY ALL-WHITE SCHOOLS TOMORROW. TWO WILL GO TO MONROE AND THE SEVENTH GRADE. ONE TO THE FIRST GRADE AT WEST END. AT A NEWS CONFERENCE, SCHOOL SURINTENDENT E. W. RUSHTON HAD THIS TO SAY. (SOUND UP OUT CUE: (SWISH TO) ALL TOLD, 19 THOUSAND CHILDREN WENT BACK TO SCHOOL IN ROANOKE, 13 THOUSAND 600 IN ROANOKE COUNTY. ANOTHER SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA COMMUNITY THAT HAD INTEGRATION FOR THE FIRST TIME WAS PULASKI. THERE, 13 NEGROES ENTERED PREVIOUSLY ALL-WHITE PULASKI HIGH WITHOUT INCIDENT.. PULASKI HAS NO NEGRO HIGH SCHOOL AND A FEDERAL JUDGE HAD ORDERED THE STUDENTS ADMITTED.. ?? HAD TOKEN INTEGRATION. TWO NEGRO GIRLS ENTERED CHANDLER JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL... THERE WERE NO DEMONSTRATIONS OR TROUBLE OF ANY KIND.