History of Lauderdale County School District | Page 92

working for the establishment of a larger school, “something similar” to the Middleton Negro
School.
This group is made up principally of parents who feel that their children are being
shortchanged on an education. They say that the present schools fail to provide for either the
college-bound student who needs a greater variety of academic work, or the potential skilled
worker who will get no further education but must have a means to make a living. Also, they
decry a tendency for student to drop out of school; only 51 % of those who enter the first grade
ever graduate in these schools.
The county school board recommended in January, 1958, that a single county white
school be constructed. The State Educational Finance Commission has not acted on this
recommendation based on largely due to lack of funds, but also because of a history of
opposition to consolidation in this county. Now, the Citizens Study Group demands that the
program go forward. The school board has taken a step in that direction by employing a group
of consultants to study the school situation and make recommendation for improvements.
Presumably, if their recommendations were accepted, this would influence the state to provide
aid. This report is due February 1. Meanwhile, Lauderdale County’s white children can ride
past that big, beautiful new Middleton building on the County Home Road – and hope.

Meridian Star, November 1, 1959

New Middleton Negro School is Virtual “Palace”