INTRODUCTION

     A school is a reflection of its community. The historic, social, and economic foundations of the community influence the school's response to the community's needs. An effective school, therefore, must recognize the uniqueness of its community, build upon its strengths and overcome its weaknesses.

TANGIER IS UNIQUE IN ITS HISTORY

     The Island was visited in 1608 by Captain John Smith on one of his first expeditions from the Jamestown Colony. Tradition has it that he named the island Tangier, but the first known mention of that name does not occur until 1713. Captain Smith charted a line of islands, beginning with Tangier and extending northward through Smith and Bloodsworth Islands to the mainland of Maryland's Eastern Shore. He named these islands Russels Isles, after the surgeon of the party.
     There was no permanent settlement until 1686, when John Crockett, a Cornishman, moved to the Island with his sons and their families. These hardy Englishmen occupied the former Indian hunting grounds. At that time, the Island was more than twice its present size. Stands of pine trees covered much of the southern and western areas. Large tracts of tidal marsh provided nesting areas for migratory birds of all species. Other English families, particularly the Pruitts, Parks, and Dizes, settled on the Island. Today these four family names predominate. Much of the original English accent and dialect remains as well.
     In 1814, the British fleet sailed up the Chesapeake Bay to attack Fort McHenry in Baltimore. Tangier became their base of operations with some ten thousand troops encamped on its beaches. The Reverand Joshua Thomas, known as the Parson of the Islands, preached to the troops on the eve of their departure for Baltimore, predicting their defeat. It was during that battle that The Star Spangled Banner was written.
     The sea provided the sole means of livelihood for the early settlers. Large fleets of fishing vessels sailed the Bay. Oystering and crabbing industries began in the nineteenth century.
     The Island remained virtually isolated from the mainland. The only contact was by boat or steamer . Electricity was first generated locally in 1947. The system was upgraded in 1966, when the Rural Electrification Act provided funds for Tangier to become part of the Accomack-Northhampton Electrical Cooperative. Telephone service to the mainland began in 1954; residential service was established in 1966.
     Tangier Island has a long history of formal schooling. In the 1800's, formal schools were established. These schools were under the direction of the church, the state, and private enterprise. Shortly after the Civil War, formal education, supported by the state and local government, was established on a firm basis. Certified teachers were employed as early as 1877. In the beginning these schools were designed to teach reading, writing, and figures of a limited nature. Moral and religious concepts were a vital part of the curriculum. These were usually incorporated in the reading instruction but were a vital part of daily living also.
     By the year 1890, the curriculum was expanded to include a complete elementary school offering grades one through seven, and a limited offering of an advanced nature in mathematics and history. It was not until the early 1900's that high school courses were offered, limited to only the eighth and ninth grades. In the late 1800's, the educational plant was expanded from a one room structure to a three-storied building with separate rooms for each grade. This building was located to the west of the church and near the site of the present structure. In 1932, a new building was completed which was designed for a high school as well as an elementary school.
     The first high school class graduated in 1935. In 1956, a multi-purpose room was added. In 1966, a new kindergarten, home economics room, library, laboratory, industrial arts shop, and enclosed corridors were added. At this time, the name was changed to Tangier Combined School.
     Tangier School has had many excellent dedicated and caring administrators,teachers, and support persons.The debt we owe them cannot fully be repaid. However, their lessons were well taught and we can honor them by making our institution's future worthy of the foundation they laid.

TANGIER COMBINED SCHOOL IS UNIQUE

     Tangier Combined School is one of only two schools in the state of Virginia that includes grades kindergarten through twelve. It is physically isolated from the county, which is isolated from the rest of the state.
     Tangier Combined School has an enrollment of one-hundred twenty-two students, seventy-one in elementary grades kindergarten through seventh, and fifty-one in high school grades eighth through twelfth. There is a teaching staff of thirteen. Support services include a librarian and a special education instructor. Four Chapter One teacher aides are assigned to grades one through seven to assist with reading and mathematics instruction. Classes are small. There is only one section of each grade with an average class size of eight students.

     More than half of the teachers are natives of the Island and graduates of the school. Because of the low mobility of the population, most of the parents of the pupils attended the school and know the staff very well. The stability of the student population is high. Ninety-five percent of the students in grade eight through twelve have been enrolled in the school since kindergarten. There is no wide fluctuation in age or background within grade levels. All of the students are caucasion. There are no other races or nationalities represented.

     Tangier is part of the Accomack County School Division. Although the system is one of the smallest in the state, it is committed to excellence for its schools. In addition to one combined school, there are three high schools, three elementary schools, and two primary schools. There are also two branches of a vocational school opened in 1983, and 1984.

     Many county programs and services are not available to Tangier students because of the transportation barrier. In 1988, the county installed an electronic classroom at the school. Students may take Advanced Placement English, Latin I and II, and Calculus via satellite and direct telephone hook-up. The second phase of this program will be a live hook-up with Nandua High School. This will allow students to participate in modern foreign language, advanced mathematics, science, and English classes. Faculty will also benefit through access to WHRO Public Educational Television. Graduate courses will be available through Old Dominion University and the Tidewater Consortium.

TANGIER IS A UNIQUE COMMUNITY

    Tangier is only three and one-half miles long and one and one-half miles wide. It lies twelve miles from the nearest mainland port, Crisfield, Maryland. There are seven hundred inhabitants living on three stretches of high land approximately one mile long and one and one-half miles wide.

    The Main Ridge includes approximately two-thirds of the Island. The school, both churches, the Post Office, grocery stores, and commercial wharves are on the central part of the Island. West Ridge lies on the western side of the island. A line of homes extends the entire length of the ridge. the airport, town office, and recreation building are located on West Ridge. To the east is a small residential neighborhood called Canton.

    The entire Isalnd is at sea level and subject to tidal waters. The Island is literally fighting for its life, facing a serious erosion problem. A seawall has been constructed by the United States Army Corps of Engineers. this extends the length of the island on the western side. it hopefully will arrest the relentless onslaught of the Bay.

   Because it is dependent upon the sea for its livelihood, Tangier is accutely aware of the pollution problems of the Chesapeake Bay. The delicate balance between man and nature can be easily upset by forces beyond the Island's control. This makes Tangier particularly vunerable.

POPULATION TRENDS

    There has been a slow but steady decline in population over the past twenty years. High school graduates have left the Island to enter college, the military, or trade schools, and have chosen to remain on the mainland. More than a dozen families have moved to the Eastern Shore where the husband can still work on the water, yet enjoy the conveniences of mainland life. This migration, coupled with a low birthrate has resulted in a decline in school enrollment.

PROJECTED GROWTH

    Housing is scarce and most land is not suitable for real estate development. Therefore, few people move to the Island. Prospects for future growth of school and community are not good.

RELIGION

    There are only two churches on the Island, both are Protestant. The larger one is of the United Methodist denomination; the smaller is an independent denomination called The Church of the New Testament Congregation. There is a strong relationship between the churches and the school. Both make every effort to work together since the community values religious education as highly as public education. More than ninety percent of the students regularly attend church.

HEALTH CARE

    Tangier has been without a resident physician for more than twenty years. Weather permitting, doctors representing family practices from both the Eastern and Western Shores of Virginia fly to the Island twice weekly. Two resident registered nurses, who are also teachers at the school, provide twenty-four hour emergency care and referral for follow-up treatment. Dental care is provided by a dentist who flies in from the Western Shore approximately twice a month. The Accomack County Health Department conducts several clinics annually. Eastern Shore Rural Health conducts an annual Health Day which provides screening, referrals, and some same-day treatments and services. Also, there are two providers of skilled home health care.

    The nearest hospital is in Crisfield,  Maryland, approximately forty-five minutes travel time by boat.  Medical helicopter service is available from the Maryland State Police Aviation, in Salisbury, Maryland, and the Sentara Norfolk General Hospital in Norfolk, Virginia.  Most residents arrange health care and specialty care with private physicians in Crisfield and Salisbury, Maryland. Transportation problems make it difficult to seek care on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.

INDUSTRY AND ECONOMY

    The economy of the Island is based on commercial fishing.  More than ninety percent of all parents are employed in crab, clam, oyster, or conch harvesting. The remainder are employed in community support occupations such as retail, food stores, utilities, carpentry, electrical, plumbing, postal, teaching, or health care.  A growing number of men leave the Island for two- or three-week tours working on dredge boats for the United States Corps of Engineers or for oil company tug boats.

    Only twenty-one percent of families in this school community have incomes below the poverty level.

    There are no migrant or seasonal workers on the Island.

    There is no heavy industry or large scale production of any kind on the Island.

    Over twenty-five percent of mothers are employed seasonally in the crab shedding business with their husbands, or as clerks in local businesses. Almost sixty-nine percent of mothers are full-time homemakers.

HOUSING

    Housing is above standard. All are single family dwellings. There is no subsidized public housing.  Rental properties and building lots are markedly limited.

TRANSPORTATION

    There is no public transportation system.  A mailboat for passengers and freight runs daily between Tangier and Crisfield,  Maryland. There are less than twenty vehicles (cars or trucks) on the Island.  Most people travel by golfcart, moped, bicycle, or on foot.

CRIME

    The crime rate is low, limited to rare instances of vandalism and motor vehicle violations. There is a Sergeant, hired by the Town, who handles minor problems and refers more serious ones to the Accomack County Sheriff's Department. There is no jail on the Island.

COMMUNITY RESOURCES

    Limited space and physical isolation have greatly limited community resources. There are no parks, theaters, cinemas, or fine arts museums. There is no organized sports program other than the school's high school basketball team and cheerleading team. The town maintains a recreation center for supervised basketball, volleyball, and roller skating. This building is also used by the school as its gymnasium.

    Library services are provided by request from the Eastern Shore Public Library in Accomac, Virginia, or by special arrangement with the school's library.  Networking allows access to audiovisual aids and reference resources.

    Civic clubs are limited due to a lack of resource personnel and a limited number of interested participants. There are no Boy or Girl Scout troops, no "4-H", or organized youth clubs. There are no Lions, Rotary, or Ruritan clubs. There is a small VFW contingent and a tribe of Red Men.

IMPACT ON SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY

    Because of the lack of community resources, the school serves as the social and cultural focus of the community. The Parent Teacher Association (PTA)  is very active with nearly one hundred percent parent participation. The PTA and the school hold regular fundraising events to support student activities and field trips. School skit and fashion shows, plays, and concerts are highlights of the year. There is excellent community support for all school-sponsored events.  Local businesses participate  annually in a work-study program for seniors.