McCallum High School - Knight Yearbook (Austin, TX)

Page 16 text:

fter nine years of being shoved back into the closet, the door finally opened. The desegregation issue was exposed for the last and final time. By an ultimatum from the Supreme Court, a decision had to be made by January, 1980. Austinites felt they were not beat. They organized rallies, protest marches, and citizen forums. For days, students and parents alike came from high schools all over the Austin area to express their anger and hostility to the idea of busing. While students and some parents picketed at the lrby Carruth Administration Building, halls and classes of some schools were left voiceless and vacant. The school board devised two plans, called Plan A and Plan B. Plan B preserved the city's four- year schools, while Plan B divided Anderson and Johnston into two year high schools. After much deliberation and parent input, the local newspapers announced the 4-3 decision of the school board to accept Plan A. The long standing controversy over whether to bus students had come to an end. No one was happy about the decision, but the parents, students, and other interested citizens began to accept the inevitable. Hardest hit concerning the order was the elementary schools. Parents argued that six year old students should not be forced to ride a bus across town. Mr. Will Davis, board member, commented This board for a long time has attempted to deal with this question from an educational standpoint. The courts are forcing us to physically bus students. We think education is the best answer, but we must comply with the courts. And the Austin Independent School District did. 12 Desegregation

Page 15 text:

41' O ' r A 1 1 . 3 in gal r A : ,i. .1 4 - ,sea as ia Rodnguez. They erialn SQCSGI1. game ugumsv the back Darrel ball Darrel was one of who played vonsfy Kmghfs during 'he I979

Page 17 text:

.1 X ,tm l Y 4 1 ll i in tif ,Yi On Janurary 15, 1980 the board therefore,fillIr1gll'1GS9 9mP'Y bus Sects adopted plan A, The plan accepted will and Slllpplng 5'Ude '5 Ol dlnemnl 'aces go into effect in August of 1980, across town. ' 5' Anderson ' was another slogan used is? gh Hell no we won't go was a popular phrase during the confusion of desegregation. Signs os well as bumper stickers all over Austin displayed this terminology. Save by students attending Anderson Hi School. 'M ?E1:WSi3'ii