The Farmville herald. (Farmville, Va.) 1957-current, 1963-09-17

OF the R. r. Motion School, with
Miss Willie Mae Watson. super
visor of elementary schools, con-
Quoting the opening DR.. Suli-
van also conducted a press con-
ference at Mary E. Branch at
II am, after the children had
reported to their classes.
Among those at the opening
ceremony at r. r. Motion, were
William J. vanden Heuvel, spe-
cial representative of the De-
partmet of Justice; DR.. Ash
bury, deputy secretary OF the
Federal Office Of Education; DR..
F. D. G. Ribble. of the Univer-
sity OF Virginia. one of the men,
bers OF the board of trustees:
DR.. Thomas H. Henderson,
president Of Virginia Union Uni
versity and one of the members
Of the board of trustees; DR..
Robert Williams, a representa-
tive Of the federal government.
and DR. Robert Lee Green. who
headed a study team on Prince
Edward County from Michigan
State University.
Welcoming the students at Mo-
ton was James v. Colley, prin-
cipal Of the school. DR.. Herder-
son also spoke at the opening
ceremony emphasizing the i'm
portance Of education and point
Ing out the cooperation from all
sources that made the opening
Of school possible. I'VE have an
extraordinary school situation
and we have an extraordinary
school system" he said. as he
explained briefly the system OF
ungraded classes under which
the school will operate.
Press Conference
At the press conference, DR..
Sullivan also explained the oper-
alton of the ungraded classes.
He said the curriculum will in
clutle the standard courses Of
fered in the best high schools in
Virginia. and special emphasis
will be placed on vocational
training in the older age groups. J,
DR.. Sullivan said he had every
assurance that the school will be
accredited by the state of Vir-
gina. (This cannot be done until
later in the year. which is STAN
dard procedure for new private
schools starting for the first
time) He also said he expects
to have a graduating class next
spring.
DR.. Sullivan said he expects to
meet the individual educational
needs through the use of a low
pupil-teacher ratio. He said the
ratio should be about Ill in
high school and 22-1 in elemen-
tary schools. He anticipates
faculty of about 100 teachers.
principals. etc. most of whom
have already been hired. Also
here for a couple of weeks to as
sist the new faculty is a group
OF student teachers from Vir
ginia State College.
He pointed out that the school
will offer a "rich" course. which
will include art, music, ath-
letics. dramatics. etc. Some Of
the specialized teachers are still
to be hired. K
Public Schools
II am confident the public
schools will be opened when we
go out Of business next August
DR.. Sullivan said. In answer to
a question as to why he was
confident that. this would hap
pen. he replied that it was his
opinion that the court questions
would be answered by that time
and things would return to nor
NAL.
He also said in answer to a
question from the press corps.
that he expects many Of the
teachers here this year will re-
main next year. when the public
schools are opened. However, he
said. This is definitely a one
year project for me-" Sullivan
has a years leave of absence
from his school system in New
York to set up and operate the
Free School system in Prince
Edward County,
He termed his biggest chal-
lenge, pulling this staff to-
gether and making them oper-
ate as an effective team" For
most Of the teachers it will be
their first experience in teaching
in an ungraded school system.
DR.. Sullivan pointed cut that
the faculty will include both
white and colored teachers. with
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