Terrell Academy
Terrell Academy is a private K3-12 school in Dawson, Georgia, seat of Terrell County. It serves 380 students. The school has a controversial history as a segregation academy.
Terrell Academy | |
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Location | |
Coordinates | 31.7631142°N 84.4316996°W |
Information | |
Type | Private |
Grades | K3-12 |
Website | www |
History
Terrel was founded in 1970 as a segregation academy.[1] In the summer of 1970, a senior told the Atlanta Constitution she enrolled in Terrel Academy so she "didn't have to spend the rest of her life sitting next to a nigger."[2]
In 1973, headmaster Thomas Church told the Atlanta Constitution that racial situation in Terrell County School District boosted the private schools enrollment.[3]
In 1977, Terrell Academy director W.C. Woodall acknowledged that the school was founded in response to a court order mandating the integration public school faculty. Woodall stated that although he personally supported racial segregation, black students would be welcome at Terrell.[4]
The school was however granted tax-exempt status in 1970.[5]
Alumni
- Harry Spilman, baseball player [6]
- Cole Swindell, country music performer[7]
References
- Equal Educational Opportunity: Hearings Before the Select Committee on Equal Educational Opportunity, Ninety-first Congress, Second Session-92nd Congress, First Session, Volume 10. U.S. Government Printing Office. 1970. p. 2034. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
- Covington, Dick; Bowler, Mike (July 19, 1970). "South Georgia on Forced Integration: Underneath the stifling quite..." Atlanta Constitution. p. 22A.
- Stewart, Steve (July 1, 1973). "For learning or for Segregation". Atlanta Constitution. p. 20A.
- Montgomery, Bill (August 9, 1977). "White residents are mystified by all the fuss over the Dawson Five". The Miami News. p. 12.
- "Terrell Academy Inc Form 990 2015". ProPublica. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
- Keating, Thomas (April 8, 1978). "He'll make a big hit here". The Indianapolis Star. p. 17.
- "Swindell talks wild year, Terrell Academy days". WALB. May 6, 2015. Retrieved 14 January 2018.