Harvey B. Scribner
Encyclopedia
Harvey Bertram Scribner was an American educator and administrator who oversaw the voluntary integration of the Teaneck Public Schools
in the mid-1960s. He also headed the Vermont Department of Education
. Later, in the 1970s, he served as New York City School Chancellor
where he dealt with issues of the transfer of greater control to local community school boards.
. Following high school, Scribner found work on Matinicus Isle
, a remote island located 20 miles (32.2 km) off the coast of Maine accessible by ferry from Rockland
. After a series of odd jobs to make a living, he found work as a teacher at a school in Unity, Maine
, having left a teacher training course before its completion. He was awarded an undergraduate degree from Farmington State Teachers College
, graduating in 1946, then earned a master's in education from the University of Maine
in 1960 and was granted a doctorate from Boston University
in 1960.
starting in 1954, Scribner was hired in 1961 by the Teaneck Public Schools to serve as superintendent of the district. There he oversaw the adoption of mandatory busing in 1965 that made Teaneck the first district in the nation to voluntarily integrate its public schools. Despite angry phone calls from some parents and the occasional death threat, Teaneck's integration went smoothly and Scribner recalled that he was "literally crying" on the first day of school in 1965 when buses rolled into school without incident. Teaneck's 1965 busing plan made it the first district in the nation with a white majority to implement a voluntary school integration program. Scribner moved to Vermont
in 1968 to head that state's schools, where he supported greater local oversight and control of school districts.
, Sargent Shriver
and Cyrus Vance
had been offered the post. During his tenure as chancellor, oversaw the process under which 32 local school boards were given control of community elementary schools. Scribner left the post in 1971, citing his belief that the New York City Board of Education
and the teachers unions had worked to undermine local control, later saying that "I don't think decentralization ever was set up to work".
, where he taught education and administration. He was author of the 1975 book Make Your Schools Work: Practical, Imaginative and Cost-Free Plans to Turn Public Education Around published by Simon & Schuster
.
Scribner died at age 88 on December 23, 2002, in Waterville, Maine
. He was survived by three daughters, six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Teaneck Public Schools
Teaneck Public Schools are a comprehensive community public school district in Teaneck, New Jersey, United States, serving students in kindergarten through twelfth grade....
in the mid-1960s. He also headed the Vermont Department of Education
Vermont Department of Education
The Vermont Department of Education is the state education agency of Vermont. It is headquartered in the State Office Building in Montpelier, and it has additional offices in Berlin....
. Later, in the 1970s, he served as New York City School Chancellor
New York City School Chancellor
The New York City Schools Chancellor is the leader of the New York City Department of Education, the agency that handles New York City's public schools. The current Chancellor is Dennis M. Walcott, who began his tenure on April 18, 2011 after the resignation of Cathie Black on April 7, 2011...
where he dealt with issues of the transfer of greater control to local community school boards.
Early life
Scribner was born on July 7, 1914, in Albion, MaineAlbion, Maine
Albion is a town in Kennebec County, Maine, United States. The population was 1,946 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water....
. Following high school, Scribner found work on Matinicus Isle
Matinicus Isle, Maine
Matinicus Isle is a plantation in Knox County, Maine, United States. The population was 51 at the 2000 census, although during the summer that number can triple or quadruple. Remote Matinicus Island is accessible by ferry from Rockland, located away, or by air taxi from Knox County Regional Airport...
, a remote island located 20 miles (32.2 km) off the coast of Maine accessible by ferry from Rockland
Rockland, Maine
Rockland is a city in Knox County, Maine, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 7,297. It is the county seat of Knox County. The city is a popular tourist destination...
. After a series of odd jobs to make a living, he found work as a teacher at a school in Unity, Maine
Unity, Maine
Unity is a town in Waldo County, Maine, United States. The population was 1,889 at the 2000 census. The town is the service center for the northern portion of Waldo County...
, having left a teacher training course before its completion. He was awarded an undergraduate degree from Farmington State Teachers College
University of Maine at Farmington
The University of Maine at Farmington, established in 1864 as Maine’s first public institution of higher education, is a public liberal arts college, and a founding member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges offering programs in teacher education, human services and arts and sciences as...
, graduating in 1946, then earned a master's in education from the University of Maine
University of Maine
The University of Maine is a public research university located in Orono, Maine, United States. The university was established in 1865 as a land grant college and is referred to as the flagship university of the University of Maine System...
in 1960 and was granted a doctorate from Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
in 1960.
School superintendent
After working as chief school administrator in Dedham, MassachusettsDedham, Massachusetts
Dedham is a town in and the county seat of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 24,729 at the 2010 census. It is located on Boston's southwest border. On the northwest it is bordered by Needham, on the southwest by Westwood and on the southeast by...
starting in 1954, Scribner was hired in 1961 by the Teaneck Public Schools to serve as superintendent of the district. There he oversaw the adoption of mandatory busing in 1965 that made Teaneck the first district in the nation to voluntarily integrate its public schools. Despite angry phone calls from some parents and the occasional death threat, Teaneck's integration went smoothly and Scribner recalled that he was "literally crying" on the first day of school in 1965 when buses rolled into school without incident. Teaneck's 1965 busing plan made it the first district in the nation with a white majority to implement a voluntary school integration program. Scribner moved to Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
in 1968 to head that state's schools, where he supported greater local oversight and control of school districts.
Chancellor
Scribner was selected as New York City Schools Chancellor in 1970, having been selected for the position after a series of notables including Ramsey ClarkRamsey Clark
William Ramsey Clark is an American lawyer, activist and former public official. He worked for the U.S. Department of Justice, which included service as United States Attorney General from 1967 to 1969, under President Lyndon B. Johnson...
, Sargent Shriver
Sargent Shriver
Robert Sargent Shriver, Jr., known as Sargent Shriver, R. Sargent Shriver, or, from childhood, Sarge, was an American statesman and activist. As the husband of Eunice Kennedy Shriver, he was part of the Kennedy family, serving in the Kennedy and Johnson administrations...
and Cyrus Vance
Cyrus Vance
Cyrus Roberts Vance was an American lawyer and United States Secretary of State under President Jimmy Carter from 1977 to 1980...
had been offered the post. During his tenure as chancellor, oversaw the process under which 32 local school boards were given control of community elementary schools. Scribner left the post in 1971, citing his belief that the New York City Board of Education
New York City Board of Education
The New York City Board of Education is the governing body of the New York City Department of Education. The members of the board are appointed by the mayor and by the five borough presidents.-Rise, fall and return of Mayoral Control:...
and the teachers unions had worked to undermine local control, later saying that "I don't think decentralization ever was set up to work".
University career
He joined the faculty of the University of Massachusetts AmherstUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst
The University of Massachusetts Amherst is a public research and land-grant university in Amherst, Massachusetts, United States and the flagship of the University of Massachusetts system...
, where he taught education and administration. He was author of the 1975 book Make Your Schools Work: Practical, Imaginative and Cost-Free Plans to Turn Public Education Around published by Simon & Schuster
Simon & Schuster
Simon & Schuster, Inc., a division of CBS Corporation, is a publisher founded in New York City in 1924 by Richard L. Simon and M. Lincoln Schuster. It is one of the four largest English-language publishers, alongside Random House, Penguin and HarperCollins...
.
Scribner died at age 88 on December 23, 2002, in Waterville, Maine
Waterville, Maine
Waterville is a city in Kennebec County, Maine, United States, on the west bank of the Kennebec River. The population was 15,722 at the 2010 census. Home to Colby College and Thomas College, Waterville is the regional commercial, medical and cultural center....
. He was survived by three daughters, six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.