The impact of Joplin’s Lincoln School and faculty
JOPLIN, Mo. — While it may be difficult to believe, schools across America have only been desegregated for about 70 years. Until the 1950’s, Black children had their own, separate schools in many communities, including Joplin.
We spoke to a man who went to that school, and saw the lasting impact it’s had on the community.
You may have driven past it many times without knowing what used to be in this vacant lot off 7th St. in Joplin (above).
“I went to first, second and third grade,” said Jim West, a former student of Lincoln School.
It was named after Abraham Lincoln and served as an all in one educational building for Black students in Joplin.
“In 1924 they got a kindergarten was established there at Lincoln School and it was at that point in time and from the very beginning from 1908 it was an elementary, a junior high and high school all in one,” said Brad Belk, community historian.
It’s principal was Marion Dial.
And for the three years he went there, West saw Dial six out of seven days of the week, because he was also West’s Sunday school principal at Unity Church next door.
“Nicest guy, he’s a nicest guy, and that’s why that reception room at the high school is named after Mr. Dial,” said West.
West credits Dial with playing a major role in the peaceful integration of Joplin schools during the 1955-56 school year.
“It was all good, memories were all good and we got along well, there wasn’t no problem, we integrated schools in Joplin wasn’t all that noise and beating things and tearing things up, it was a very smooth transition with the help of Mr. Dial and Mr. Roi S. Woods the superintendent of schools and that’s how it went well, it was a smooth transition and that’s something to be proud of.”
“The school turned out some fabulous basketball players, several state champions, the 1940’s they had a couple state champions as well as the 1950’s, their track teams did well as and their music, music started in 1950.”
But desegregation wasn’t the end for the building or it’s leader.
Lincoln School would serve as the district’s home for students with special needs, and Dial remained as principal until his retirement from education in the late 1960’s.
The building was demolished in the late 1980’s.
A historical stone is all that’s left of the school that educated hundreds of students for half a century.
