|
The Oklahoma Teacher Connection
A Division of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
|
| A Message from the Director of Teacher Education |
Honoring Black History Month
Greetings fellow educators and welcome to this month's special edition of theTeachLink!
 |
|
|
Dr. Goldie V. Thompson |
In honor of the annual black history celebration, this issue will highlight the performing arts in education with a special feature on traditional black bands.
You will be given a glimpse into the evolution and integration of the performing arts in schools across the state and learn about those who impacted the lives of students through this art form. Art is an essential and integral part of students' academic success and personal development. We applaud those who provide ongoing support of art integration into the curriculum!
Please enjoy this edition of the TeachLink!
Warm Regards,
Goldie
|
| Direct from the Editor's Desk |
| I Rise....Utilizing the Arts to Advance Education in African American Schools
The arts - an artistic execution!
I feel extremely privileged to present the birth of arts education in the black public schools. In addition, to top off this year's Black History Month special edition, we have also unveiled the electrifying flair of show stopping black marching bands. Sway to the tempo of creative expressions.
|
|
|
Deena V. Thomas, Editor Northeast High School Head Majorette, 1977 |
Despite the roadblocks due to segregated schools, arts education surfaced and thrived within African American institutions. The poem entitled Still I Rise by Maya Angelou, the African American prolific poet, author and educator, depicts the spirit and the rhythm of African American arts education. The last stanza reads: I rise.
I rise.
I rise! Art outlets impact the eurhythmic life cycle of scholarship and leadership. Catch hold of the beat! Making the Connections, 
|
| Celebrating Black History Month |
| The Infusion and the Encore of Arts Education in Black Schools Shape Student Achievement
Electrifying black bands are platforms for leadership, pride
long before researchers learned about the positive impact arts education has on student achievement. African Americans, both young and old, spent their only day off entertaining themselves by engaging in the performing arts.
"During the segregation era, African Americans' socialization pastime involved spending Sunday afternoon, singing sultry gospel hymns to the melodies played by masterful musicians," said Bruce Fisher, the former administrative program officer for the Oklahoma Historical Center. "I was the first Colored to do daywork for a white family in Edmond. After working all week long, me and my church family would enjoy Sunday dinner on the grounds and making music," Norsey Jackson said. At age 94, Jackson says she still remembers those days. In the 1930s, Jackson only completed the third grade in Crescent,
a common educational outcome for blacks in rural Oklahoma. However, 39 miles south off of I-35 in Oklahoma City, African American students could attend the all-black Frederick Douglass High School (DHS) and earn a high school diploma, beginning in 1891. |
The Key Signature of Arts Education in Black Institutions
Not only did DHS offer high school diplomas, the institution was the first segregated black secondary school to implement arts education in Oklahoma.
Zelia N. Breaux, an accomplished music teacher, implemented arts education within Oklahoma's segregated higher education institution and public schools.
|
|
|
Zelia N. Breaux,
The Pioneer of Arts
Education in Black Schools |
Breaux prepared for the job by earning a bachelor's degree in music from the Lincoln Institute and a master's degree in music from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.
On May 1, 1898, nine years before statehood, Breaux's father, Dr. Inman Edward Page, was named the first president of the then Colored Agricultural and Normal University, now Langston University (LU). He hired his daughter to serve as the institution's music teacher.
In 1902, Breaux organized Oklahoma's only historical black college/university (HBCU) first music department, which included a complete orchestra. She taught piano and instrumental music, requiring students to study classical music and music theory. She also put in place the HBCU's choral society, glee club, theater, as well as the concert and marching bands.
The gifted musician played the trumpet, violin and piano.
|
In 1918, Breaux took the helm of supervisor of music for Oklahoma City's Frederick Douglass High School (DHS). From 1921 through 1935, Page held the position of Douglass' sixth principal.
|
|
|
Dr. Inman Edward Page, the first president of the then Colored Agricultural and Norman University, now, Langston University and the sixth principal
of DHS. |
|
Breaux's move to DHS established
the posture of arts in education for Oklahoma's black secondary public schools.
DHS music teachers, Leroy Hicks composed the music and M. Howell Brown wrote the lyrics of the Douglass High School Hymn in 1966. The hymn further helped shape the 126 year historical tradition. The hymn's chorus challenged DHS students to "
Rise up O Douglas sites!"
The DHS hymn's four lines of music and the four verses set the tempo for the school and defined Breaux's purpose.
By the 1920s, Breaux had begun to weave and connect arts education from higher education to Oklahoma's public schools, a phenomenon that changed the fabric of arts in education for black schools statewide, according to Anita Arnold, executive director of Black Liberated Arts Center (Blac) Inc., in Oklahoma City.
"It was Zelia Breaux's marching band that drew the attention of Duke Ellington at the Chicago's trades fair, a relationship that later empowered DHS Principal, Dr. F.D. Moon to build and improve the learning environment for the student body," Arnold said.
|
|
|
Anita Arnold, Executive Director of Black Liberated Arts, Inc. (BLAC) |
Breaux befriended many jazz giants. A few included Count Basie, Gonzell White, Ida Cox, Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith, Mamie Smith, as well as the King Oliver's bands, who took the stage at the Aldridge Theater, an establishment she owned and operated.
The connections paved the way for the DHS band to tour the country, performing worldwide and on national radio. The band's national exposure touched and influenced other musicians like that of Eubie Blake, Jimmy Rushing, Noble Sissle and Sherman Sneed.
"Oklahoma's nationally celebrated novelist and musician, Ralph Ellison, called Breaux his 'second mother'," Arnold stated.
|
Charles Henry Christian, better known as Charlie Christian, is chronicled in history as the developer of bebop and cool jazz. The jazz legend and pioneering genius of the electronic guitar was also a trumpet player for the Douglass marching band during Moon's tenure. Christian later garnered nationwide notoriety, having played with the Bennie Goodman Sextet and Orchestra.
For the past 31 years, Blac Inc., has hosted the Charlie Christian International Music Festival, says Arnold, a leading arts attraction for the Sooner state.
"It was Ellington and Mrs. Breaux's friendship that put Douglass' marching band on the map. That's how good the marching band was," Arnold said.
The mastermind of arts in education for Oklahoma's black schools ended her career in 1948, spanning over 50 years of unparalleled service.
"When Breaux died, Ellington came back to Oklahoma City to attend her services," Arnold said.
Zelia N. Breaux died at age 76.
|
Chords of Proficiency Elevate to Chords of Mastery
Arnold, a 1957 Douglass graduate, says it was the legendary leadership of Moon, the dean of black students, who continued to shine the spotlight on the world renowned DHS marching band.
"Moon went to great lengths to ensure Douglass students received the best education, while infusing the arts. The community loved Douglass' marching band. Moon often touted the marching band locally and abroad to generate support. One example is the passing of a bond issue to build a new state of the art high school, totally equipped with a full scale auditorium, swimming pool and tennis courts. All of our teachers had advanced degrees, and they were highly sought after," she said.
Moon's extraordinary leadership style and his unrelenting drive to move forward despite obvious barriers were in concert with two objectives. First, he worked tirelessly to recruit and hire the best teaching staff within reach, as well as secure the tools and resources needed to prepare black students. Secondly, Moon insisted that all students achieve academically and socially, and they did, Arnold says.
"Moon, the strategist, accepted no excuses from the students or the teaching staff. We lacked nothing, academically or otherwise," Arnold said.
Black Bands Nuture Leadership,
Scholarship
|
|
|
|
| 1958 DHS Drum major Willard Pitts |
|
The rich learning environment produced student leaders, particularly drum majors to lead the DHS' riveting marching bands.
Willard Pitts, a 1958 DHS graduate, was a silky smooth high stepping, prancing work of art. As drum major, Pitts, proudly led the Pride of the Eastside, says Marvella Holmes, a former DHS majorette and classmate.
"Willard was stellar! He made no apologies for it," said Holmes.
"Whenever the DHS band marched in parades, we were always placed at the very end of the parade behind the horses. Even though we were at the end of the line, we had to show them, and let them know we were coming. People would come back just to see us. When the people showed up, that was when Willard showed out! We let the crowd know we were the best,and we were," Holmes said.
|
|
|
|
Marvella Holmes, former DHS majorette |
During Pitts' entire educational journey, he held the position of drum major in elementary school, in middle school, in high school and in college.
Holmes contends that it was Pitts' experience as Douglass' drum major that ignited his leadership skills.
|
|
|
| The Frederick Douglass High School Marching Band in the 1950s. Holmes is seated front and centered and Pitts is seated directly behind her. |
"When leading the band, Willard would stop the band in parade rest. Then he would direct us to turn up the volume, and at which time, we would resume marching. Our sound was so loud that we broke several windows in Oklahoma City's downtown dress shops," she said.
For black bands, it is about discipline. It is about self-control, while simultaneously indulging in creative flair. It is about precision and percussion. It is about showmanship that can be partly defined as an inherited rhythmic cadence that defies what is expected.
The sound, the beat, the dance and the show stopping, packaged performance is ingenious.
"African Americans can march, dance and play an instrument, while maintaining a rapid or a slow pace even when the tempo changes mid-stream. Black bands are brilliant!" Dr. Terry Spigner said.
Spigner is a special education professor at the University of Central Oklahoma, and he is also the fine arts director of the St. John Missionary Baptist church.
"Black people inherited our African ancestry's rhythm, but our bebop, our soul and our funk have been culturally perfected within the American culture," Spigner said.
It was the African American's cultural music and dance that initiated the disciplined study habits and leadership skills within Willard Pitts, the teacher and humanitarian.
|
|
Never missing a beat, Pitts matriculated straight from high school to postsecondary school, graduating from Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri with a bachelor's degree in Journalism in 1963. He obtained a master's degree in English education at the University of Central Oklahoma. He completed all but the dissertation for his Ph.D., at the University of Oklahoma.
|
|
|
Former Langston University Journalism Chair, Willard Pitts |
A consummate educator, he began his career as Oklahoma's first African American certified journalism teacher, instructing DHS students in English and as their journalism advisor. He also worked as a journalist for the Daily Oklahoman. He served as an associate professor at UCO.
He retired in 2004 as Langston University's journalism department chair. During his LU tenure, Pitts facilitated countless study abroad tours to Africa, exposing and educating African American students to their native land and ancestry.
Along the way, Pitts was recognized, awarded and celebrated for his contributions made to education, mission outreach, civic and community service.
As a professor, Pitts developed Pittsisms, which were quotes of wisdom he created, which he often shared with his students.
Willard Pitts' life and career is capsulated in a Pittsism.
"When I graduated from Douglass High School, I had a superior complex. The education was just that outstanding."
Pitts died at age 75 in 2015.
Today's Stewards of Arts Education
|
|
|
| Rosalynn Wade, program director of Oklahoma's A+ Schools |
|
Currently arts education is being facilitated in part by way of Oklahoma A+ Schools, which is located on the University of Central Oklahoma's campus. It is the state's only research-based network that provides ongoing professional development that blends technology, the arts, sciences and literacy. A+ Schools offer continuous support, while merging active research by university professors. Currently, Oklahoma A+ schools are represented in 14 counties within 66 schools, stretching across PreK - 12 in both rural and urban districts, reflecting diversified communities statewide.
|
|
|
|
| Brittany Lee, regional director of Oklahoma A+ Schools |
|
"The arts are challenging subjects of substance. A student motivated to learn and develop expertise in an art form will be using and developing reading, comprehension, interpretation and calculation skills in the context of their art form. They will be motivated by the real application of these skills in pursuit of their art form," said Rosalynn Wade, UCO's program director of Oklahoma A+ Schools. |
|
|
|
Jason Morgan, DHS Band Director |
All forms of art in education play an intricate role on the scholarship and the leadership development of student growth.
Brittany Lee, UCO's regional director of Oklahoma A+ Schools says the integration of the arts teaches a variety of disciplines within the schools.
"When speaking of promoting scholarship, without the notion of arts and creativity, we would not be as far as we are as a society," Lee said.
|
|
|
|
| Orlondo Smith DHS Choir Director |
|
The current DHS choir director, Orlando Smith and band/orchestra director, Jason Morgan, both agree the academic and social success of students are grounded in discipline, scholarship and leadership.
"We work hard to instill the importance of academics, leadership, showmanship and citizenry," Morgan said.
Smith echoed the DHS hymn's chorus, "'Rise up O Douglas sites!'"
|
|
The TeachLINK's
Editorial Statement
|
| The Oklahoma Teacher Connection, a division of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, will electronically publish the TeachLINK E-newsletter three times a year. The purpose of the E-Newsletter is to promote, market, and showcase news stories, creative features, curricular highlights, research data, and technological updates, which impact Oklahoma's Colleges of Teacher Education, common education, higher education faculty, students and communities. We welcome all comments, opinions, and/or concerns. Please forward your remarks to Deena Thomas at [email protected]
|
|
| |
|
|
