William Frantz Elementary School

William Frantz Elementary School

William Frantz Elementary School in 2010
Address
3811 North Galvez Street
New Orleans, Louisiana, 70117
United States
Information
School type Elementary school

William Frantz Elementary School is an American elementary school located at 3811 North Galvez Street, New Orleans, Louisiana, 70117.[1][2] Along with McDonogh No. 19 Elementary School, it was involved in the New Orleans school desegregation crisis during 1960.

William Frantz Elementary School was one of the first all-white elementary schools in the Deep South to be integrated when Ruby Bridges became the first African-American student to attend the school. In 1960, when Bridges was six years old, her parents responded to a request from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and volunteered her to participate in the integration of the New Orleans school system.

In 2014, a statue of Bridges was unveiled in the courtyard of William Frantz Elementary School.[3]

Integration

In spring of 1960, Ruby Bridges was one of six African-American children in New Orleans to pass the test that determined whether or not the black children would go to the all-white school. However, two students decided to stay at their old school, and three were transferred to Mcdonogh No. 19. Ruby was the only one assigned to William Frantz. Her father was initially reluctant, but her mother felt strongly that the move was needed not only to give her own daughter a better education, but to "take this step forward ... for all African-American children." Her mother finally convinced her father to let her go to the school.[4]

U.S. Marshals escort Ruby Bridges
The Problem We All Live With by Norman Rockwell, depicting Bridges going to school

The court-ordered first day of integrated schools in New Orleans, November 14, 1960, was commemorated by Norman Rockwell in the painting The Problem We All Live With.[5] As Bridges describes it, "Driving up I could see the crowd, but living in New Orleans, I actually thought it was Mardi Gras. There was a large crowd of people outside of the school. They were throwing things and shouting, and that sort of goes on in New Orleans at Mardi Gras."[5] Former United States Deputy Marshal Charles Burks later recalled, "She showed a lot of courage. She never cried. She didn't whimper. She just marched along like a little soldier, and we're all very very proud of her."[6]

Ruby Bridges meets with President Barack Obama (video)

The Problem We All Live With was later displayed in the White House during the presidency of Barack Obama.[7]

References

  1. ↑ Miller, Michelle (2010-11-12). "Ruby Bridges, Rockwell Muse, Goes Back to School". CBS Evening News with Katie Couric. CBS Interactive Inc. Retrieved 2010-11-13.
  2. ↑ "Google Maps". Google Maps. Google Maps. Retrieved 2010-11-13.
  3. ↑ "New Ruby Bridges statue inspires students, community". NOLA.com. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  4. ↑ Ruby Bridges Hall. "The Education of Ruby Nell," Guideposts, March 2000, pp. 3-4.
  5. 1 2 Charlayne Hunter-Gault. "A Class of One: A Conversation with Ruby Bridges Hall," Online NewsHour, February 18, 1997
  6. ↑ Susannah Abbey. Freedom Hero: Ruby Bridges
  7. ↑ L., DeNeen (2011-08-28). "Norman Rockwell painting of Ruby Bridges is on display at the White House". The Washington Post.

External links

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