Ruth B. Love

Ruth Burnett Love (born April 22, 1932)^[5] is an American educator, education administrator, author and former public schools superintendent.^[6] She was formerly a professor of education at her college alma mater San Francisco State University. Love served as superintendent of the Oakland Unified School District from 1975^[7] until 1981 and the Chicago Public Schools; 1981–85.^[8] She was the first African-American woman to serve as superintendent for the Chicago Public Schools district. In 1983, Love received the Horatio Alger Award and became a member of the association. She was named as one among 100 of the best school managers in North America by Educator Magazine in 1984.^[9]

Early life and education

Born in Lawton, Oklahoma to Alvin E. and Burnett C. Love^[10] Love became interested in being a teacher at an early age; following in the footsteps of her grandfather, Andrew A. Williams, who was a run-away slave^[6] at age twelve, and a teacher and founder of the first school for African Americans in Lawton. Love received her bachelors degree in Education from San Jose State University in 1954 and her masters degree in Guidance and Counseling from San Francisco State University in 1959. Love received her Ph.D. in Human Behavior and Psychology from the United States International University, San Diego in 1970.

Career

During her career with Oakland Unified Public Schools, Love was appointed several positions. From 1963 to 1965, She was a consultant to the Bureau of Pupil Personnel Services; Director of the Bureau of Compensatory Education (1963–65). Love was chosen as Director of The Right to Read program with the U.S. Office of Health and Education in Washington, D.C. by U.S. Commissioner of Education Sidney Marland. From 1977 to 1982, Love was on the President's Mental Health Commission and Board of Directors for the National Urban League from 1962 to 1970. She received a Honorary doctorate literature degree from Atlanta University in 1984.^[11]

Oakland Unified School District

Love began her career in the education field becoming a teacher and adult education teacher with the Oakland Unified School District in 1960. In addition to becoming a teacher with Oakland schools, Love was a counselor and consultant for a Ford foundation project. She became a Fulbright Exchange Educator; participating in educational experiences in Ghana and England. She was an exchange teacher sent to England in 1961. In November 1975, Love was appointed Superintendent of Schools for the Oakland Public School district after the assassination of superintendent Marcus Foster, who served as the first African–American to head the district. As superintendent, Love was signed to a $49,000 a–year contract. She held that position for six years before resigning and accepting the job of Chicago superintendent of schools in February 1981.

Chicago Public Schools

In December 1980, Love was offered the job of superintendent of schools in Chicago by mayor Jane M. Byrne and school board members. After months of negotiating on a contract, Love accepted the offer in February 1981 and began her job on March 25. At the time, Love was the highest paid local school official in the United States; under a $120,000–a year contract.^[12][13] As superintendent, She created the "Chicago Mastery Learning Program". The program made it mandatory that all elementary school students' reading and math courses be taught in more than one area, with students given an unlimited time to learn one area of the subject, and achieving 85 percent to be promoted to the next grade. Love instituted standardized testing into Chicago public high schools.

Bugging hoax

Shortly after beginning her tenure as superintendent, Love's chief deputy Charles Mitchell Jr. reported to the school board and the public that after an investigation by a Detroit private investigator; electronic devices had been found in her office and car in early April. After the F.B.I and others tried to contact him for more information about the search, Mitchell admitted that he fabricated the story. He said that a Chicago firm did search her office and car, But they found nothing. Mitchell said he created the story for many reasons, most notably to discourage the possibility of future wiretaps and to test the effectiveness of the Chicago Police Department for her safety. Mitchell claimed it was all his idea and that Love knew nothing about the story being false.^[14]

On April 23, Love held a news conference announcing Mitchell's resignation and publicly apologized to the school board and mayor Byrne:

"I had no knowledge of this discrepancy when it was reported to the board and public. I apologize for bringing this embarrassment to the city and to the Chicago schools."^[15]

People questioned her involvement in the hoax when Chicago Tribune reporter Vernon Jarrett quoted Love saying she had seen the electronic bugs herself and telling board members that she saw wires that led straight to Chicago's City Hall. Mayor Byrne called the whole situation 'digusting'.

School strike of 1983

In the midst of a 15-day strike by the Chicago Teacher's Union from October 3–18, 1983, At the time the longest teacher's strike in Chicago; Love was criticized by the union and teacher supporters as being "Ruthless and Loveless" for her approach to the union and her actions to open three schools despite the strike. She claimed she made that decision for the sake of the high school seniors who would need credits to graduate. In statements to local news organizations, Love likened the tension between herself and the strikers at one school to being attacked by a group of "vicious dogs".^[16] The strike was ended with Love and the school board giving the teacher's a 5% raise, 2.5% bonus and a one-year pact.

End of tenure

In August 1984, The school board made up of 11 members; 3 Hispanics, 4 Whites and 4 African–Americans^[17] voted 6–5 to not renew Love's contract as superintendent which expired in March 1985.^[18] Shortly thereafter, she sued the board for $12 million, charging them with sexism and racism; claiming that the three Hispanic and white board members who voted against the renewal of her contract were racist.

Later career and tributes

Love became a commentator for a Chicago television station after her career Superintendency ended. In 1987, She conducted a consulting firm, RBL Enterprises LTD., of which she served as president, in California.^[6] In addition to the consulting firm, Love was the publisher of the Oakland Sun-Reporter, a now defunct local newspaper in Oakland, California.^[19] Love later served as a professor at her college Alma mater San Francisco State University until her retirement in 2014.

In May 2015, Love was honored with a tribute at Lake Chalet in Oakland, California. Oakland mayor Libby Schaaf honored Love with a proclamation of April 26, 2015 as Dr. Ruth Love Day. Schaaf spoke about Love: “It is my esteemed honor to recognize the personal and professional contribution Dr. Ruth Love has made to Oakland and students around the world. In addition to her phenomenal lifetime of work, it is her extraordinary personal character that has made her such an enduring force for educational advancement and equity.” ^[20]

She received a Candace Award for Education from the National Coalition of 100 Black Women in 1983.^[21]

References