Ensley High School
Encyclopedia
Ensley High School, located in the Ensley
neighborhood of Birmingham, Alabama
(USA), was founded in 1901 to serve the then-independent community of Ensley, which was centered around major plants operated by U.S. Steel
and the American Cast Iron Pipe Company
. It began with classes held at the Old Bush School before the last building, designed by architect David O. Whilldin, was constructed in 1908. In 2006, Ensley High School was merged into newly-built Jackson-Olin High School.
when Ensley was annexed into the city in 1910. During its first decade, Ensley principal Roy Dimmitt compiled detailed statistical data on Ensley's male students in order to determine how much cigarette
smoking affected their "efficacy". He found that the students who smoked were consistently outscored by their non-smoking counterparts. By his calculation almost two thirds of those who failed a year or withdrew from school were smokers. His findings were published in Henry Ford
's 1914 anti-smoking volume "The Case Against the Little White Slaver."
In 1936 more than a hundred students at Ensley High School contracted food poisoning
which was traced to profiteroles (cream puffs) purchased from a local bakery. The Jefferson County
Department of Health, which had been unable to maintain their inspections program during the Depression
, found conditions at the bakery to be "filthy". (Ford - 1914)
Previously an all-white school, Ensley High School was formally integrated
, without major incident, in September 1964. Nevertheless, persistent racial segregation
in the Birmingham area, especially after the loss of Ensley's major industries, made it so that the student body had become overwhelmingly African American by the mid 1970s. In recent decades the high school was repositioned as a "magnet school
" within the Birmingham system.
Ensley Magnet High School was closed following the 2005-2006 academic year. In May 2006, the school's last graduating class, 134 strong, received their diplomas. In the fall of 2006, Ensley High School was merged into newly-built Jackson-Olin High School.
The last principal at Ensley High School was Ethel Knight. The school's colors were black and gold and their teams were known as the "Yellow Jackets".
coach Roderick Jackson tried and failed to get the school and board of education to give his team access to the same equipment, transport, and funding enjoyed by the boy's teams. He was fired from his coaching job and sued under Title IX
, 1972 federal legislation that requires non-discrimination in publicly funded education programs. Lower courts upheld the firing but the Supreme Court of the United States
faulted their decisions and called for new hearings on the merits of the case.
Ensley, Birmingham, Alabama
Ensley is a large city neighborhood in Jefferson County, Alabama, United States. It was once a separate and thriving industrial city. It is part of the Birmingham–Hoover Metropolitan Area.-History:...
neighborhood of Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
(USA), was founded in 1901 to serve the then-independent community of Ensley, which was centered around major plants operated by U.S. Steel
U.S. Steel
The United States Steel Corporation , more commonly known as U.S. Steel, is an integrated steel producer with major production operations in the United States, Canada, and Central Europe. The company is the world's tenth largest steel producer ranked by sales...
and the American Cast Iron Pipe Company
American Cast Iron Pipe Company
American Cast Iron Pipe Company, headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, is a manufacturer of ductile iron pipe, fire hydrants and valves for the waterworks industry and electric-resistance steel pipe for the oil and natural gas industry...
. It began with classes held at the Old Bush School before the last building, designed by architect David O. Whilldin, was constructed in 1908. In 2006, Ensley High School was merged into newly-built Jackson-Olin High School.
History
Ensley High School was absorbed into the Birmingham City SchoolsBirmingham City Schools
Birmingham City Schools is the public school district that serves the U.S. city of Birmingham, Alabama.It is currently the fourth largest school system in Alabama behind Mobile County Public School System, Jefferson County School System, and Montgomery Public Schools...
when Ensley was annexed into the city in 1910. During its first decade, Ensley principal Roy Dimmitt compiled detailed statistical data on Ensley's male students in order to determine how much cigarette
Cigarette
A cigarette is a small roll of finely cut tobacco leaves wrapped in a cylinder of thin paper for smoking. The cigarette is ignited at one end and allowed to smoulder; its smoke is inhaled from the other end, which is held in or to the mouth and in some cases a cigarette holder may be used as well...
smoking affected their "efficacy". He found that the students who smoked were consistently outscored by their non-smoking counterparts. By his calculation almost two thirds of those who failed a year or withdrew from school were smokers. His findings were published in Henry Ford
Henry Ford
Henry Ford was an American industrialist, the founder of the Ford Motor Company, and sponsor of the development of the assembly line technique of mass production. His introduction of the Model T automobile revolutionized transportation and American industry...
's 1914 anti-smoking volume "The Case Against the Little White Slaver."
In 1936 more than a hundred students at Ensley High School contracted food poisoning
Foodborne illness
Foodborne illness is any illness resulting from the consumption of contaminated food, pathogenic bacteria, viruses, or parasites that contaminate food, as well as chemical or natural toxins such as poisonous mushrooms.-Causes:Foodborne illness usually arises from improper handling, preparation, or...
which was traced to profiteroles (cream puffs) purchased from a local bakery. The Jefferson County
Jefferson County, Alabama
Jefferson County is the most populous county in the U.S. state of Alabama, with its county seat being located in Birmingham.As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of Jefferson County was 658,466...
Department of Health, which had been unable to maintain their inspections program during the Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, found conditions at the bakery to be "filthy". (Ford - 1914)
Previously an all-white school, Ensley High School was formally integrated
Desegregation
Desegregation is the process of ending the separation of two groups usually referring to races. This is most commonly used in reference to the United States. Desegregation was long a focus of the American Civil Rights Movement, both before and after the United States Supreme Court's decision in...
, without major incident, in September 1964. Nevertheless, persistent racial segregation
Racial segregation
Racial segregation is the separation of humans into racial groups in daily life. It may apply to activities such as eating in a restaurant, drinking from a water fountain, using a public toilet, attending school, going to the movies, or in the rental or purchase of a home...
in the Birmingham area, especially after the loss of Ensley's major industries, made it so that the student body had become overwhelmingly African American by the mid 1970s. In recent decades the high school was repositioned as a "magnet school
Magnet school
In education in the United States, magnet schools are public schools with specialized courses or curricula. "Magnet" refers to how the schools draw students from across the normal boundaries defined by authorities as school zones that feed into certain schools.There are magnet schools at the...
" within the Birmingham system.
Ensley Magnet High School was closed following the 2005-2006 academic year. In May 2006, the school's last graduating class, 134 strong, received their diplomas. In the fall of 2006, Ensley High School was merged into newly-built Jackson-Olin High School.
The last principal at Ensley High School was Ethel Knight. The school's colors were black and gold and their teams were known as the "Yellow Jackets".
Athletics
In 1999 girl's basketballBasketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
coach Roderick Jackson tried and failed to get the school and board of education to give his team access to the same equipment, transport, and funding enjoyed by the boy's teams. He was fired from his coaching job and sued under Title IX
Title IX
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is a United States law, enacted on June 23, 1972, that amended Title IX of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In 2002 it was renamed the Patsy T. Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act, in honor of its principal author Congresswoman Mink, but is most...
, 1972 federal legislation that requires non-discrimination in publicly funded education programs. Lower courts upheld the firing but the Supreme Court of the United States
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
faulted their decisions and called for new hearings on the merits of the case.
Notable graduates
- Cornelius BennettCornelius BennettCornelius O'Landa Bennett is a former American football linebacker who played for the Buffalo Bills from 1987 to 1995, Atlanta Falcons from 1996 to 1998, and the Indianapolis Colts from 1999 to 2000...
(1983), Pro BowlPro BowlIn professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
linebacker in the National Football LeagueNational Football LeagueThe National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing... - Charley Boswell, International Champion Blind Golfer
- Mary Buckelew, Jefferson County CommissionJefferson County, AlabamaJefferson County is the most populous county in the U.S. state of Alabama, with its county seat being located in Birmingham.As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of Jefferson County was 658,466...
- Frank Moore CrossFrank Moore CrossFrank Moore Cross, Jr. is Hancock Professor of Hebrew and Other Oriental Languages Emeritus at Harvard University, notable for his work in the interpretation of the Dead Sea Scrolls, his 1973 magnum opus Canaanite Myth and Hebrew Epic, and his work in Northwest Semitic epigraphy...
(1938), Biblical scholar - Hank ErwinHank ErwinHenry Eugene "Hank" Erwin, Jr. is a Christian evangelical broadcaster and a former Republican State Senator in Alabama , representing the 14th District since 2002. He represented portions of Jefferson, Shelby, Bibb and Chilton Counties.- Biography :...
(1967), Alabama State Senate - Charlie Finley, Owner of the Oakland Athletics
- Bobby Hayes, Mayor of Pelham, AlabamaPelham, AlabamaPelham is a city and suburb of Birmingham in Shelby County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 14,369, but has grown to 21,352 recorded by the 2010 census. It was named for famed Confederate American Civil War officer John Pelham...
- Tony PetelosTony PetelosTony Petelos is the first County Manager for Jefferson County, Alabama, USA having been selected by the County Commission in September 2011.Petelos grew up in Birmingham's Ensley neighborhood....
(1971), Mayor of Hoover, AlabamaHoover, AlabamaHoover is a city in Jefferson and Shelby Counties in north central Alabama, in the United States. The largest suburb of Birmingham, the population of the city was 62,742 as of the 2000 census and 81,619 in the 2010 census. Hoover is part of the Birmingham-Hoover, AL MSA and is also included in the... - Jabo Waggoner (1955), Alabama State SenatorAlabama LegislatureThe Alabama Legislature is the legislative branch of the state government of Alabama. It is a bicameral body composed of the Alabama House of Representatives, with 105 members, and the Alabama Senate, with 35 members...
- Chuck Willis (1986), 2005 Milken National Educator Birmingham City SchoolsBirmingham City SchoolsBirmingham City Schools is the public school district that serves the U.S. city of Birmingham, Alabama.It is currently the fourth largest school system in Alabama behind Mobile County Public School System, Jefferson County School System, and Montgomery Public Schools...
External links
- Ensley High School at BhamWiki.com
- Ensley High School Alumni Association