A Historical View of the Magnolia Independent School District, Magnolia, Texas, 1900-2009

Abstract

For individuals and organizations, the events of the past shape and affect the decisions made in the present, to the benefit or detriment of the person or group. Historical research can make available information about the past that aids understanding of the future. This qualitative explanatory historical study of the schools of Magnolia, Texas creates a record of the Magnolia Independent School District by focusing on the political climate, growth patterns, and ethnic influences from 1900 to 2009. The methods of data collection consist of personal interviews, oral histories, school district documents, school board minutes, and newspaper articles. The research questions that guide the study are: (1) What is the history of Magnolia Public Schools and what influential people and events have shaped the district? (2) What were the causes of growth periods in the Magnolia Independent School District, and what were the effects of such growth? and, (3) How did the district’s ethnic and socioeconomic groups affect its growth and instruction? This explanatory historical study identifies the connection between the development of the schools in Magnolia, Texas and the surrounding community that has grown due to urban expansion. By recording the perceptions of the key people who have witnessed the district’s history, noting the influential events that have occurred, and documenting the district’s periods of growth, this study will help preserve the history of the schools in Magnolia for current and future leaders and researchers. By assisting with an understanding of the causes of decisions and actions taken in the past, this study has the potential to become an important resource for school administration and staff, community members, and other stakeholders as they seek to positively impact the present and the future.