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New School Isn't Rebirth Of Old One

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JOSEPH H. BROWN

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 7, 2008

Six years ago, I attended a ceremony that officially opened the new Middleton High School in east Tampa. The old Middleton, one of the city's two historically black high schools, was closed in 1971, sacrificed on the altar of school desegregation.

More than 1,000 people attended the ceremony that day, many of them old Middleton alumni. Some came from as far away as California for the event because the old school, segregated as it was, stood as a source of pride for the black community it served.

The following weekend I wrote: "The opening celebration is over. Time for the new Middleton students to hit the books, because that's the only way they'll carry on the pride and tradition everyone talked about last weekend."

Fast forward to 2008, and many of the new Middleton's students are trying their best to tarnish the school's good name. Last summer there was a shooting incident on school grounds. This spring the Tampa Police Department had to deploy extra officers to patrol the neighborhood because so many fights were occurring after school.

If that wasn't bad enough, the school district officials have given an ultimatum regarding its low test scores: meet federal standards or we'll close Middleton - again.

Legacy Lost On New Generation
That's the bad news. The good news is that many of the old Middleton alumni have banded together to improve the school and maintain its legacy. Last Sunday the Tribune's John W. Allman wrote an excellent story about how a group of them have decided to do more than talk about Middleton's glorious past and deal with the realities of today.

As one teacher told me, "I had an opportunity to talk to a dear friend of mine who is one of the illustrious alumni of the old Middleton. He explained that the 'new' Middleton is not connected to the 'old' Middleton except in name. When the old Middleton was put out of service there was no legacy to pass the new one because of the lapse in time separating the two."

He added that opening a new school and naming it Middleton simply pandered to sentiments in Tampa's black community and stroked the egos of alumni, making it mostly empty symbolism.

That's because, as Allman pointed out, the community has changed so drastically.

Spirit Of Self-Help Reborn

Back at the 2002 ceremony, I remember one alumnus talking about how all adults in the community were surrogate parents, and if they saw you out of class on a school day, they would turn you in for playing hooky. That could never happen today.

That's because the old Middleton was part of a structure where school, home and church wove a circle of familiarity around residents and where parents, teachers and school administrators all played a cooperative role in influencing kids' behavior. Most homes had two parents, and having a baby out of wedlock carried a powerful stigma.

We may never go back to those days, but it might be good to let today's students know how the old school was a success, even though it was considered separate and unequal. Money alone can't fix a failing school, but pride can do wonders.

Joseph H. Brown is a Tribune editorial writer.

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