Harris County Department of Education

Duane's take

Here's my telling of what the official marker has to say about the Harris County Department of Education. Now, most stories about education start in a schoolhouse. This one starts with a revolution.

When Texans sat down to write their Declaration of Independence, they had grievances — plenty of them. And right there among the reasons they were breaking away and striking out on their own, they called out something that might surprise you: the lack of a public education system. Not just a complaint.

A compelling reason. That's how serious they were about it. So when the Republic of Texas got on its feet, President Mirabeau B.

Lamar led Congress to do something about it. He pushed to set aside land — in each county — to support primary schools and colleges. The foundation was being laid, one county at a time.

As Texas grew through the 19th century, legislation began stitching together something that looked like a real, cohesive system. By November of 1856, Harris County was already funding schooling for indigent children. Within two years, they were using public money to examine teachers before putting them in front of those children.

You can feel the thing taking shape. The state eventually created the office of the State Superintendent of Schools, and that opened the door for each county to establish its own County Superintendent. Harris County was moving in that direction — through district systems, through community systems — building piece by piece.

Then came 1889. Harris County created its Department of Education, and just like that, all schools fell under its jurisdiction. The man who stepped into that role first was B.L.

James — the first County Superintendent — and he had his hands full. He oversaw more than fifty Common School Districts. Together, those districts served approximately nine hundred students.

Nine hundred students. Fifty-plus districts. You do that math and you start to appreciate the work involved.

The system kept evolving. In the 1920s, once a district's enrollment reached five hundred, it could attain independent status. Districts were growing, breaking away, standing on their own.

And through all of that change across the 20th century, the Harris County Department of Education had to change with it. In 1978, the Legislature abolished state funding for county school trustees. That was a blow that knocked most county-level departments right out of the picture.

By 2003, only two such entities were still fully functioning in the entire state — Harris County and Dallas County — and they'd reinvented themselves as non-profit support organizations just to survive. Two out of all of Texas. Still standing.

And today, the Harris County Department of Education supports students, teachers, administrators, school boards, and public schools with a wide range of programs. What started as a line in a declaration of independence — a grievance, a dream, a demand — is still showing up to work every single day.

What the marker says

The Texas Declaration of Independence specifically noted the lack of a public education system as one compelling reason for establishing a separate republic. Later, as a result, Republic of Texas President Mirabeau B. Lamar led the Congress in setting aside land in each county to support primary schools and colleges. As Texas continued to develop during the 19th century, additional legislation began to define a cohesive educational system. By November 1856, Harris County funded schooling for indigent children; within two years, the county also used public monies for teacher examinations. During the next decades, the state created the office of the State Superintendent of Schools, allowing each county to establish the office of County Superintendent. Early Harris County schools were served by district and community systems. In 1889, the county created its Department of Education, and all schools became part of its jurisdiction. B.L. James became the first County Superintendent, and he oversaw more than 50 Common School Districts. These districts together served approximately 900 students. In the 1920s, once a district's enrollment reached 500, it could attain independent status. As the Texas school district system changed throughout the 20th century, services of the Harris County Department of Education evolved. In 1978, the Legislature abolished state funding for county school trustees, and by 2003 only two such entities fully functioned -- in Harris and Dallas counties -- existing as non-profit support organizations. Today, the Harris County Department of Education supports students, teachers, administrators, school boards and public schools with a wide range of programs. (2005)