A CASE STUDY OF BLACK STUDENTS’ EDUCATION AND SOCIALIZATION SINCE PUBLIC SCHOOL CLOSURE IN PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY VIRGINIA by Jeffrey Carlton Scales Liberty University A Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Education Liberty University 2017 2 A CASE STUDY OF BLACK STUDENTS’ EDUCATION AND SOCIALIZATION SINCE PUBLIC SCHOOL CLOSURE IN PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY, VIRGINIA by Jeffrey Carlton Scales A Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Education Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA 2017 APPROVED BY: David Benders, Ph. D., Committee Chair Jared Bigham, Ed. D., Committee Member Al Roberts, Ph. D., Committee Member 3 ABSTRACT The purpose of this case study was to explore the concerns about lower academic and social achievement of current Black students in Prince Edward County Public Schools where many local citizens believe were the results of public schools closing for five years from 1959-1964 and forced court ordered reopening. This single instrument qualitative study was conducted to gather greater knowledge from participants who had firsthand knowledge of the extended closure of public schools or reopening of schools over 50 years ago from former students, and community leaders. This researcher utilized face-to- face interviews, focus groups and extensive historical documentation to explore the residual effects from the five-year public school closure as to its impact on the accomplishments of Black children in Prince Edward County today. The information acquired from those sources were analyzed and categorized thematically as the data was collected and common themes were established. The social cognitive theory and critical race theory were the central focus of this study. There was no correlation discovered as to the achievement of current Black students due to the closure of public schools in that county. Further research study will be needed from Black and White participants for greater correlation of data from this historical event. Keywords: Blacks, Critical Race Theory, Critical Theory, Desegregation, Integration, Massive Resistance, Social Cognitive Theory, Whites 4 Dedication This page is dedicated to those who have stood by me throughout my journey in completing this case study and dissertation. I first want to thank my wife, Olinga, for being the initial spark of encouragement to continue my educational journey beyond the completion of my Educational Specialist (Ed. S.) degree. You have stood by me and never allowed me to not finish this dissertation. Also my daughters, who have endured through my long nights working on my document. Thank you so much! I am also appreciative to my mother who passed away during this process in May 2015. She was extremely supportive and really wanted to see me graduate. I know that she is over me in heaven, as is my father, who never wanted to earn his doctorate. God Bless You, I have done it! To my brother and sisters who have also been very supportive and understanding that I have been working hard to complete this study. I really appreciate your words of uplift for me to keep going. I would also like to thank Dr. Benders for his patience and perseverance as I gradually completed this case study. You have been a wonderful committee chair and I am so thankful for you accepting me to work with. To my committee members, Dr. Bigham and Dr. Roberts, to have both of you on my committee made my dissertation experience very fulfilling. In closing, there are many others, too many to name individually, but thank you for your constant support over the years. Whether you were in Fluvanna, Cumberland and beyond, you all were integral in helping me cross this significant threshold in my life! 5 Table of Contents ABSTRACT ........................................................................................................................ 3 Dedication…………………………………………………………………………………4 List of Tables…...................................................................................................................8 List of Figures....………………………………………………………………..................9 CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………....10 Overview…...………………………………………………………………………10 Background……….…..………………………………………….………………..10 Situation to Self……………………………………………………………………24 Problem Statement……………….………………………………………………..26 Purpose Statement…………………………………………………………….…...32 Significance of the Study……………………………………………………….....33 Research Questions.………………..……………………………………………...36 Definitions…………………………………………………………………………40 Summary………………………………………………………………………......41 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW ……………………………………………42 Overview………………………..…………………………………………………42 Theoretical Framework……….…………………………………………………..42 Related Literature…………...…………………………………………………….53 Summary……………………….………………………………………………....72 CHAPTER THREE: METHODS ..................................................................................... 74 Overview………………………………………….……………………………....74 Design…………… ................................................................................................. 74 6 Research Questions ................................................................................................. 75 Setting…………………..…………………………………………………………76 Participants…………..…………………………………………………………….78 Procedures………..………………………………………………………………..79 The Researcher's Role ............................................................................................. 82 Data Collection ....................................................................................................... 83 Interviews. .................................................................................................. 83 Document Analysis…….…………………………………………………86 Focus Group……….……………………………………………………...87 Data Analysis .......................................................................................................... 89 Trustworthiness ....................................................................................................... 93 Credibility………………………………………………………………...93 Dependability and Confirmability………………………………………..93 Transferability…………………………………………………………….94 Ethical Considerations ............................................................................................ 94 Summary…………………………………………………………………………..95 CHAPTER FOUR: FINDINGS ....................................................................................... 96 Overview………………………………………………………………………......96 Participants………………………………………………………………………...96 Wilson…………………………………………………………………… 98 Brenda…………………………………………………………………….98 Donald…………………………………………………………………….99 Weldon……………………………………………………………………99 7 Adam…………………………………………………………………….100 Edgar…………………………………………………………………….100 Blake…………………………………………………………………....100 Florida…………………………………………………………………..101 Washington……………………………………………………………..101 Tim……………………………………………………………………...102 Results………………………………………………………………………….…102 Summary……………………………………………………………………….…159 CHAPTER FIVE: CONCLUSION................................................................................. 160 Overview…………………………………………………………………………..160 Summary of Findings………………………………………………………...........160 Discussion…………………………………………………………………………161 Implications..………………………………………………………………............165 Delimitations and Limitations……………………………………………..............166 Recommendations for Future Research……………………………………...........168 Summary…………………………………………………………………………..170 REFERENCES ............................................................................................................... 171 APPENDIX A…………………………………………………………………………..187 APPENDIX B…………………………………………………………………………..188 APPENDIX C…………………………………………………………………………..193 APPENDIX D…………………………………………………………………………..196 8 List of Tables Table 1...…………………………………………………………………………...…...112 Table 2...……………………………………………………………………………… 115 Table 3...………………………………………………………………………………..117 Table 4...………………………………………………………………………………..117 Table 5...…………………………………………………………………………..........130 Table 6...………………………………………………………………………………..131 Table 7…….……………..……………………………………………………………..133 Table 8……...…………………………………………………………………………..134 9 List of Figures Figure 1…………………………………………………………………………………61 Figure 2…………………………………………………………………………………62 Figure 3…………………………………………………………………………………65 10 CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION Overview In developing this chapter of the case study, it is necessary to provide primary points for a better understanding of the significance the five year closure of public schools in Prince Edward County, Virginia. This is done by providing background information of the study, as well as how this case is of significant importance to the researcher. Further in the chapter are the problem and purpose statements to give an overview of the case study as this historical event poses significant concerns locally. The chapter also includes the significance of the study and its relevance to the fields of education and social science, which are followed by the research questions that are the focus of the research. The key definitions of the case study are found at the end of this chapter. Background The plight of Black youth in America has been a concern for educational and community leaders for over 50 years but came to prominence in recent years with the passage of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) legislation in 2001. In Prince Edward County, Virginia, where public schools were closed from 1959-1964 to prevent Blacks and Whites from attending schools together, the public schools there in recent years had difficulty