By Meghan McDermott
Dr. Arnold Oates dealt with integration head-on as principal of T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria, Virginia. The story became famous in the movie "Remember the Titans."
"It was a different time. We had just gone through major integration in the '60's," said Dr. Arnold Oates.
During this timultuous time, Oates was on the front line as principal at T.C. Williams from 1970-1973.
"We had an imbalance. We did not have the diversity we needed," said Oates.
So three high schools became one.
"The major issues then was the race relations, communications and trying to deal with those," said Oates.
But as Oates points out, the issues of the past remain some of the most prominent today.
"So your teachers today have to really be aware, acute to those differences," said Oates.
Oates identifies race relations, physical and mental handicaps, gender, sexual orientation, and especially age, as some of the biggest problems facing public schools today.
"Because of the different generations that we have. With people living longer today we have a lot of people from the greatest generation to the point of the milennials," said Oates.
Speaking to Tyler educators and community members, Oates delivered this challenge:
"And my challenge is going to be for the community to step up and to help Tyler meet these challenges and assist the foundation itself," said Oates.
Oates is now an educational consultant and president of Texas School Planning, Inc. He and his wife, Martha, live in Tyler.
Last year, the Tyler ISD Foundation raised $400,000 dollars. As Foundation Board president, Tom Slack notes, that money goes toward classroom grants and district programs.
"The district is limited to the funds that they have available for teachers and special projects that they wanna get into and do for kids," said Tom Slack, Tyler ISD Foundation Board president.
This year's campaign entitled: "The Power of Public Education: Transforming Lives" will last until February 2010.
