School Integration & Busing At Oxford Elementary In Berkeley

A KRON-TV news report by Ed Hart from September 10th 1968 featuring scenes from Oxford Elementary school in Berkeley, where as Hart puts it during his introduction: "The Berkeley Plan Integration '68 is reality today. As Berkeley became the first major American city to achieve total integration in its public schools. The method is busing, in itself one of the most controversial issues before boards of education throughout this country. But Berkeley is out to prove that it works." Includes views of students playing in the yard, working in class and walking along corridors. Also an interview with Oxford Elementary school Principal Mel Gartenberg and views from a press conference by an official. Note that according to this report in 1967 Oxford Elementary had only one African American pupil but by the time this news feature aired, 40% of the school's 325 students were African American. Opening graphic designed by Carrie Hawks.