Virgil Blossom facts for kids
Virgil T. Blossom (born in 1906, died in 1965) was an American educator. He is best known for his time as the main boss of schools in Little Rock, Arkansas. This was from 1953 to 1958, during a very important time called the Little Rock Crisis.
In 1954, the highest court in the U.S., the Supreme Court, made a big decision in a case called Brown v. Board of Education. They ruled that public schools in America could no longer separate students based on their race. This meant schools had to become integrated, bringing all students together.
After this ruling, Blossom created a plan to slowly integrate the schools in Little Rock. This plan started in 1957, even though the Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus was against it. Blossom lost his job in 1958. This happened when most of the Little Rock Board of Education members quit, and the Arkansas state government closed the schools.
After a short time in New York, he moved to San Antonio, Texas. There, he continued his work in education. He started the North East Independent School District. This was the first school district that was never separated by race from the very beginning.
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Blossom's Career in Education
After finishing college, Virgil Blossom moved to Fayetteville, Arkansas. He taught and coached at Fayetteville High School. In 1938, he became the principal of the school. At the same time, he was studying at the University of Arkansas to get his master's degree. He earned this degree in 1939. By 1942, at age 36, he became the superintendent for Fayetteville Public Schools.
Leading Schools in Little Rock
Virgil T. Blossom was the superintendent of the Little Rock School District from 1953 to 1958. He moved to Little Rock in 1953 to take on this important role.
After the Brown v. Board of Education court case in 1954, Blossom created a plan. This plan was for the Little Rock school district to slowly bring students of all races together. After the first year of integration at Little Rock Central High School, Virgil Blossom was removed from his job. Central High School was then closed for a year. After the schools closed, he moved to San Antonio, Texas. There, he opened the first school that had never been separated by race.
The Blossom Plan for Integration
Virgil Blossom created a plan called the Blossom Plan. This plan was the way Little Rock High School would become integrated. After the Brown v. Board of Education case, the courts decided that schools must integrate. The Little Rock Board of Education then said they would follow the court's decision. They asked Superintendent Virgil Blossom to create the plan.
In May 1955, the school board approved his plan and named it the Blossom Plan. The first idea was to start integration in elementary schools. But after parents shared their thoughts, the plan changed. Integration would begin in the fall of 1957 at Central High School. Then, junior high schools would integrate by 1960, and elementary schools by 1963. The plan also allowed students who were a minority race in their school to ask for a transfer.
Despite this plan, Governor Faubus called the National Guard to stop students from entering the school. On February 8, 1956, the court made the Blossom Plan an official order. It was carried out with help from President Eisenhower. Virgil Blossom faced many challenges and threats during his time as superintendent.
Blossom wrote about his experiences in Little Rock. First, he wrote articles for The Saturday Evening Post. Later, he wrote a book about his own experiences called It Has Happened Here (1959).
Blossom's Family Life
Virgil Blossom married Clarence Thomas Tribble on August 2, 1934. They had two daughters: Bettie Sue, born in 1938, and Gail, born in 1940. While living in Fayetteville, Blossom was a member of several community groups. These included the Lions Club, the Freemasons, and the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce.
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