from Secondary School Study documents:
Rocky Mount Pupils Share in School Organization

     “Our staff has planned areas of activities for the students this year which heretofore have been neglected entirely or attempted in a very small way: We are giving our students a large share in the school organization, the object being to make them feel a real responsibility for the school.”
    “On all committees for the year we have more students than teachers, the teachers acting simply as directors or consultants.  Only one committee is composed entirely of teachers—the guidance committee.  Students selected their own representatives.”     
    “It is most stimulating to sit with a group of students when they know they can talk with complete freedom, and the judgment they exercise has been amazing to some of our staff.” O. R. Pope, Principal 
To and From Our Schools, January, 1942 

John Perry

from Secondary School Study documents:
Booker Washington, Rocky Mount, North Carolina, O. R. Pope, Principal

School Growth – The entire faculty is engaged in a continuous appraisal of objectives, including re-classification and re-definition as rapidly as the faculty gains insight and clarity. The school keeps a wide variety of evidences of school growth. These evidences are summarized for use as one basis for long-term planning in the school.

Pupil Growth – An experimental and cooperative approach is being made to the problem of collecting and using information in the following categories: quantity and quality of reading, critical thinking, interests, personal and social attitudes.

Robert Hines

"Students and teachers worked together, this was democracy in action. We were involved with projects, and we learned content that was important and practical. The various academic and technical classes came together to build three homes that were sold to members of the community. Building the homes provided us with a focus for our learning."
Robert Hines

"Senior Day was a wonderful and special tradition. On that day, the students ran the school and did so with great seriousness. This wasn’t a prank. School was to be run in a responsible manner. Senior Day was a wonderful and special tradition. On that day, the students ran the school with great enthusiasm. This wasn’t a prank. School was conducted in a responsible manner."
Mary Perry

Henry Barnes

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