The
East District School and West District School reorganized in the 1930s.
The school on the eastern end of town became known as Booker T.
Washington Elementary School and was located at 27th and Avenue M. The
West District School evolved into George W. Carver School along 35th
Street and Avenue M 1/2. (Ref: http://rosenberg-library-museum.org/exhibits/past-gallery-exhibits/vftp/online-exhibit/)
Booker
T. Washington Elementary School opened circa 1934 during the Great
Depression. The building was a 2-story brick building with stucco floors
and terrazzo tile. The building was known for its stunning solid rugged
brick appearance.
Booker T. Washington Elementary School was
the least affected Galveston ISD school affected by the 1943 storm. The
amount of damage done to the school was $725.63 which was the lowest.
(Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/23456264/)
“The
report disclosed that every school building in the city was damaged to
some extent by the storm. The damage at the Booker T. Washington School
in the amount of $725.63 was the lowest. The damage at the Sam Houston
School was the highest, totaling $8,198.77.”
Joe Palmer and Erwin
Huttne did the plaster work on Booker T. Washington School. M. Reed was
responsible for reconditioning the Booker T. Washington School. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/23450940/)
Booker
T. Washington Elementary School later became Washington Annex.
Washington Annex was the old building across Avenue M from Kermit
Courville Stadium and at one time was a Central High School building
annex. The school was the old Central High School annex.
The
board also authorized establishment of a cafeteria in the Washington
School Annex in 1961. The annex had no cafeteria prior to 1961. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/30144849/)
Remedial
programs for problem students were housed in the Washington School
Annex in 1972 as the Controlled Environment Studies Center. The
Controlled Environment Studies Center funded almost entirely by federal
funds. Galveston ISD approved a spending expenditure of up to $52,000
for improving facilities at the Washington Annex for the new center.
(Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/23385910/)
The
Controlled Environment Studies Center was primarily a detention center
where high school and middle school students were assigned there for
their three to five day suspension periods and for an indefinite period
if expelled. The students were kept off the streets and the school
district kept up its average daily attendance for state aid. The
students brought assignments from their regular teachers and studied as
in a study hall. The "Controlled Environment Center" became the
"Guidance Center" in March 1972. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/22198303/)
[The
Galveston school district last year opened a Controlled Environment
Center, a novel experiment for the district to serve as a "last chance"
for youngsters before being severed from the school district. The
center, opened in an old church educational building at 19th and Avenue I
and since moved to the Washington Annex on 27th Street, was primarily a
detention center. High school and middle school students were assigned
there for their three to five day suspension periods and for an
indefinite period if expelled. The students were kept off the streets
and the school district kept up its average daily attendance for state
aid. The students brought assignments from their regular teachers and
studied as In a study hall. The director was busy, mainly keeping order,
but he counseled the youngsters as time permitted. Then, with the start
of the new semester in January, with additional federal funds
forthcoming at that time, the "Controlled Environment Center" became the
"Guidance Center." "The school district expanded the center to provide
additional instruction, guidance and counseling for these problem
youngsters. Community resources are now being tapped to bring students
into touch with the world beyond school and to give them help in finding
a place in that world. Galveston College students, for example, are
volunteering as tutors. (Other volunteer tutors would be welcomed.)
Local
businessmen are serving as speakers and helping with field trips. Other
speakers are used from the medical complex, local industries and
various agencies. The idea of punishment was dropped in the transition
from "Controlled Environment Center" to "Guidance Center," explains Dr.
Hay Hassctt, assistant director for research and develop - mnt and in
charge of the center while it remains an experimental program. Students
assigned to the center still may call it "tin; rock" and refer to
themselves as "lifers," but the staff concentrates on disgnosing the
reasons for the students' asocial behavior. Every student entering the
center is given aptitude and achievement tests. Mrs. Fran Holcomb.
diagnostician, places this information in their permanent records for
use by the center staff and by teachers and counselors at their regular
schools. Students arc assigned to one of two classes, each with a
maximum student load of 20 and each with a certified teacher. The
teachers use materials of their respective courses and grade levels to
keep them with their regular classes. There is much emphasis upon
individual instruction and individual study because each student could
be in a different course at a different level.
A library and
resource center is being developed with materials for all levels.
Included are reading labs and special equipment for individualized
study. Classes arc held from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., the same as in
regular schools. Students walk across the street to Washington
Elementary School for lunch, A variety of problems has brought the
youngsters to the center, and the staff places great importance upon the
individualized approach to each student. For some students it's a
matter of attitude. They may need encouragement or goals. Another must
have poor study habits. He must learn to study. A most common problem is
reading difficulty which has led to frustration and then boredom in the
classroom and finally to disobedience. Other times physical impairments
are discovered. In the case of youngsters with family problems, the
younger brothers or sisters to care for or the lack of appropriate
clothing to wear, two home - school coordinators are available to be a
liason between home and school. Often these coordinators can point the
way to social agencies which can help. Claud Bolton, resource
specialist, said the community response has been quite gratifying in his
first months of arranging for tutors, speakers, field trips, and such
to augment the regular instruction.]
Washington
Annex was the old building across Avenue M from Kermit Courville
Stadium and at one time was a Central High School building annex.
Galveston's Guidance Center School was located at Washington Annex.
Galveston's new Guidance Center School moved into its new quarters at
39th Street and Avenue T in 1973. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/23870694/)
“Galveston's
new Guidance Center School has moved into its new quarters. The school,
a special counseling, testing and learning center for students referred
from the middle schools and the high school for adjustment problems,
was located in the old Washington Annex. The annex is the old building
across Avenue M from Public School Stadium and at one time was a Central
High School building. The new Guidance Center School building was
recently completed next to the school Administration Building at 39th
Street and Avenue T. The $250.000 facility was built with a loan against
delinquent taxes. Lewis Lloyd Oliver was the architect and 3 - R Trust
and Cecil Hart were the contractors. The one-story brick and metal
building is planned to be used eventually as the school district's
warehouse.”
“The center has been housed in the antiquated
Washington Annex across the street from Public School Stadium. Started
several years ago as a last stop for behavior problems before they were
expelled from class, the center has evolved into a testing and
rehabilitation center for students who for a number of reasons — be they
behavioral, emotional or educational — have difficulty adjusting to
their middle school or the high school environment. Students the center
arc referred by their school principal for an indefinite time, until
they arc deemed by center evaluators and their principals ready to
return to regular classes. The district has arranged with the University
of Texas Medical Branch to receive special psychological consultative
services for the GISD special services division, which includes the
center: The new center building, a project of approximately $225,000,
was built with a student loan. The less severely handicapped attend
classes with other students and receive special assistance from their
resource teachers placed In the schools. The special education program
was put into operation under the leadership of Joe Ellis, director of
special education for a number of years.”
The former Booker T. Washington Elementary School was closed and demolished in the year of 1986. The school was considered obsolete and was no longer needed to educate the children of Galveston Island. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/13806136/)
Booker T.
Washington Elementary School was located at 2712 Avenue M, Galveston,
Texas, US 77550. Its address today is 1217 27th Street, Galveston,
Texas, US 77550 (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/30163490/)
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