Interview with Virginia B. Cox, October 19, 1988

Partial Transcript: This is an interview with Virginia Cox by Janice Crane on October 19th, 1988.

Segment Synopsis: Virginia B. Cox was born in Madison, Indiana. 1908 was when her father and family moved to New York for his PhD. After earning his PhD, he accepted a position at the University of Kentucky. He eventually became the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Cox’s father stayed at the University of Kentucky for 37 years. Cox’s mother was a school teacher.

Keywords: Biography; Family; Teachers; University of Kentucky Department of Mathematics

Subjects: College students.; College teachers--Social conditions; College teaching.; Education, Higher--Kentucky; Universities and colleges--Faculty.; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky. College of Arts and Sciences

Partial Transcript: Then Sayre, was--well, I suppose private schools were like this.

Segment Synopsis: Cox talks about her mother homeschooling her until she reached the age of 8 years old. Kentucky passed a law that private and public schools had the same regulations later into her education, but for a while the two had different textbooks and material. Cox went to private school, which jump-started her education and allowed her to graduate from college early. Sayre’s students were often ahead of those students who went to public schools. Cox went to play basketball at a small high school. Many people took the same classes due to few electives. Public education was actually more expensive than private schools at the time. Sayre School had chapel, but no social clubs. The arts were limited and the teachers even taught manners to the girls who attended Sayre. The only music that was played was hymns for chapel.

Keywords: Lexington (Ky.); Private education; Public education; Sayre School

Subjects: Childhood; Education, Elementary; Education, Secondary.; Education--Kentucky; Education.; Private schools; Public schools; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Tell me about May Day.

Segment Synopsis: Cox attended the University of Kentucky. After graduating, she went on to teach English for two years at Sayre School. At Sayre, they taught religion and celebrated May Day. On May Day, students and teachers would dance/perform Shakespearean scenes. The drama department didn’t exist, so Mrs. Cox was the drama department. David Sayre founded the boarding school and it was an all girls high school with everyday students. The teachers and parents never communicated.

Keywords: Lexington (Ky.); Private education; Religion; Sayre School

Subjects: Education, Elementary; Education, Secondary.; Education--Kentucky; Education.; Private schools; Public schools; Teachers--Kentucky; Teaching; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: What kinds of interactions did the teachers have with the parents?

Segment Synopsis: The entrance process of getting into Sayre was quite difficult. The students and parents both were asked to interview before being accepted into the school. The principal was a minister and most students and their families were members of the Presbyterian church.

Keywords: Entrance process; Lexington (Ky.); Price of education; Private education; Religion; Sayre School; Tuition

Subjects: Childhood; Education, Elementary; Education, Secondary.; Education--Kentucky; Education.; Private schools

Partial Transcript: Um, how were the two schools, the University School and the s--and Sayre different?

Segment Synopsis: Sayre had no athletics besides a class where some girls would play basketball in a wooden building in the back of the school. Sayre was an all-girls school until the 1900s when Sayre allowed boys. There was only one boy who attended Sayre when Cox was attending the school, and the girls made the boy’s life terrible. Cox later came back to teach the 4th and 5th grade. The University High School was co-ed and had athletics. A lot of Eastern Kentucky students came and paid the high tuition. Hamilton School was known as the “rich school.” Now, Transylvania University has a field where Hamilton School used to be.

Keywords: All girls schools; All-girls schools; Athletics; Female; Hamilton School; Kentucky Model High School of the University of Kentucky; Lexington (Ky.); Private education; Public education; Sayre School; University High School; University of Kentucky University Training School

Subjects: Childhood; Education, Elementary; Education, Secondary.; Education--Kentucky; Education.; Private schools; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: How were the University School and Sayre School similar?

Segment Synopsis: The University Model High School had the same education material as Sayre School. Most students took the same material: college prep. Most students didn’t take vocation classes. Cox taught part time during the Second World War due to the lack of teachers and an overabundance of students. At the university school, Cox taught English and journalism, directed the senior play, and took over the school newspaper. All three of Cox's children went through boarding school. She decided to send her children there due to a teacher at Picadome who recommended the school for her oldest. The two oldest had to help pay their tuition.

Keywords: College preparation; Kentucky Model High School of the University of Kentucky; Lexington (Ky.); Private education; Public education; Sayre School; University High School; University of Kentucky University Training School; World War II

Subjects: Childhood; Education, Elementary; Education, Secondary.; Education--Kentucky; Education.; Private schools; Public schools; University of Kentucky; World War, 1939-1945

Partial Transcript: What was the atmosphere like at the Univers--University School during that time?

Segment Synopsis: Cox says that the quality of education was better at the University High School. The teachers were tougher on their students to help prepare them. It was considered one of the finer schools. Cox sent her kids to the University School starting in kindergarten/first grade due to their family moving back. Her husband was overseas and often traveled. Progressive education is something that Cox wasn’t familiar with; she believed it was standard. She believed that those who judged the university were jealous. The teachers at other city schools had much respect for the university. When teaching at the university, Cox was in charge of study hall one day when a boy decided to act out which caused Mrs. Cox to take physical action. The boy threatened Cox that he would tell the police and sue her. Before he could talk to Dr. Ginger, Mrs. Cox told Dr. Ginger first. Dr. Ginger agreed with the action taken against the boy and laughed along with Mrs. Cox. The few wealthy children caused the school to get a bad reputation by stealing flowers off of a grave. It was $50 a semester to attend the university school. Mr. Hartford founded the Model High School and was the first administrator for the school.

Keywords: Discipline; Hartford; Kentucky Model High School of the University of Kentucky; Lexington (Ky.); Private education; Progressive education; University High School; University of Kentucky University Training School

Subjects: Education, Elementary; Education, Secondary.; Education--Kentucky; Education.; Private schools; Public schools; Teachers--Kentucky; Teaching; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: What was the university like during that time?

Segment Synopsis: The University of Kentucky was a lot smaller back then than it is today. It was very small, probably no more than 2,000 students in the College of Arts and Sciences. The College of Education was only a department back then.

Keywords: College of Arts & Sciences; College of Education; College of Fine Arts

Subjects: Education, Higher--Kentucky; Education--Kentucky; Education.; Universities and colleges.; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky. College of Arts and Sciences; University of Kentucky. College of Education; University of Kentucky. College of Fine Arts

Partial Transcript: Would there be a difference in the socioeconomic groups that went to one school rather than the other one?

Segment Synopsis: A lot of people decided to send their children to a coeducational school. People who attended Sayre School tended to have a higher socioeconomic status than some of the kids in public schools. Cox also says that students at Model High School received free tuition if they had a family member working for the University of Kentucky.

Keywords: Coeducational; High schools; Kentucky Model High School of the University of Kentucky; Lexington (Ky.); Private education; Public education; Sayre School; Socioeconomic status; Status; Tuition; University High School; University of Kentucky University Training School

Subjects: Childhood; Education; Education, Elementary; Education, Secondary.; Education--Kentucky; Education.; Private schools; Public schools; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: What--was there an overall emphasis in Sayre?

Segment Synopsis: Religion was stressed at Sayre School, however it was also very focused on college preparation. There was a good balance of both, according to Cox.

Keywords: Academics; Chapel; Lexington (Ky.); Private education; Religious; Sayre School

Subjects: Childhood; Education, Elementary; Education, Secondary.; Education--Kentucky; Education.; Private schools; Public schools; Religion

Partial Transcript: Do you know by any chance where a lot of the graduates from either Sayre or University School went to college?

Segment Synopsis: Cox says that some students attended Ivy League schools after graduating from Sayre School. The majority of the graduates went to the University of Kentucky. Centre College was also a very common school to attend after graduating.

Keywords: Centre College; Graduation; Ivy League colleges; Lexington (Ky.); Private education; Sayre School; University of Kentucky

Subjects: Childhood; Education, Elementary; Education, Secondary.; Education--Kentucky; Education.; Private schools

Partial Transcript: But I look back on the years I was associated with the University High and elementary school too...

Segment Synopsis: Cox says that prom at University High School was a big deal. The band and choir were always very good and had top ratings.

Keywords: Band; Classes; Kentucky Model High School of the University of Kentucky; Lexington (Ky.); Private education; Prom; Students and teachers; University High School; University of Kentucky University Training School

Subjects: Childhood; Education, Elementary; Education, Secondary.; Education--Kentucky; Education.; Private schools; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: What do you think it was about Sayre that made it last when all the other ones--

Segment Synopsis: Cox thinks that one of the reasons that Sayre has lasted so long is because there is a tradition behind the school. There was a lot of support from people in the community and church. Most professional people like lawyers and doctors would send their children there.

Keywords: Education; Higher social class; Lexington (Ky.); Money; Private education; Sayre School; Social classes; Society; Socioeconomic status; Status; Tradition; Wealth

Subjects: Childhood; Education, Elementary; Education, Secondary.; Education--Kentucky; Education.; Private schools

Partial Transcript: But I think that--as I say there--I wish Fannie Miller felt like talking to you right now because she just has a world of information.

Segment Synopsis: David was a business education major at the university. David was there until the university closed. His wife taught English at Lafayette High School. The university school had the same facility for years and years. The employees grew closer together and as a school. Many have passed away, but some are still around.

Keywords: Education; Employees; Kentucky Model High School of the University of Kentucky; Lexington (Ky.); Private education; Scholars; University High School; University of Kentucky University Training School

Subjects: Education, Elementary; Education, Secondary.; Education--Kentucky; Education.; Private schools; Public schools; Teachers--Kentucky; Teaching; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Do you remember at the time, I think it was sometime in the forties, when they tried to close down the school?

Segment Synopsis: When they closed the University High School, many were upset by the news. The reason given for closing the school was that they believed people didn’t need the study. This made many people dislike Dr. Oswald, the president of the University of Kentucky.

Keywords: Closure; Kentucky Model High School of the University of Kentucky; Lexington (Ky.); Private education; Shutdowns; Unhappy; University High School; University of Kentucky University Training School

Subjects: Childhood; Education, Elementary; Education, Secondary.; Education--Kentucky; Education.; Private schools; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Was there a farewell party?

Segment Synopsis: Cox says that the classes would still gather and held reunions after the school closed. The last one Cox went to only had two people from her old school. “Most people passed away,” Cox stated. The Model High School opened in 1918-1919 and Cox graduated in 1923.

Keywords: Class reunions; Kentucky Model High School of the University of Kentucky; Lexington (Ky.); Private education; Reunions; University High School; University of Kentucky University Training School

Subjects: Childhood; Education; Education, Elementary; Education, Secondary.; Education--Kentucky; Education.; Private schools; University of Kentucky