Ruth B Love

Early life and education

Born in Lawton, Oklahoma to Alvin E. and Burnett C. Love, Love was raised in Bakersfield, California. Love became interested in being a teacher at an early age; following in the footsteps of her grandfather, Andrew A. Williams, who was a run-away slave at age twelve, and a teacher and founder of the first school for African Americans in Lawton, Oklahoma. Love received her bachelor's degree in Education from San Jose State University in 1954 and later her master's degree in Guidance and Counseling from San Francisco State University in 1959. In 1970, Love received her Ph.D. in Human Behavior and Psychology from the United States International University, San Diego.

Career

Before beginning her tenure as school superintendent and during her career with Oakland Unified Schools District, Love was appointed to several different positions. Love was a consultant to the Bureau of Pupil Personnel Services; Director of the Bureau of Compensatory Education beginning in 1963 until September 1965. Love also served on the President's Mental Health Commission and Board of Directors for the National Urban League from December 1962 until 1970. In August 1977, Love was chosen as Director of The Right to Read program with the U.S. Office of Health and Education in Washington, D.C. by then-U.S. Commissioner of Education Sidney Marland where she served until resigning in April 1982, A year after beginning her tenure as superintendent of schools in Chicago. Love received an honorary doctorate literature degree from Atlanta University in May 1984.

Oakland School District

Love began her career in the education field becoming a teacher and adult education teacher with the Oakland Unified School District in 1960. In addition to becoming a teacher with Oakland schools, Love was a counselor and consultant for a Ford Foundation project. Love became a Fulbright Exchange Educator; participating in educational experiences in Ghana and England. Love was an exchange teacher sent to England in 1961. In November 1975, Love was appointed Superintendent of Schools for the Oakland Public School district after the assassination of superintendent Marcus Foster, who served as the first African–American to head the district. The school district at the time was made up of 55,000 students and $125 million budget. As superintendent, Love was signed to a $49,000 a–year contract. Love held that position for six years before resigning and accepting the job of Chicago superintendent of schools in February 1981.

Chicago Public Schools

Love was offered the job of superintendent of schools in Chicago by mayor Jane M. Byrne and school board members in December 1980. After a month of negotiating on a contract, Love accepted the offer on January 9, 1981 and began her job on March 25. At the time, Love was the highest paid local school official in the United States; under a $120,000–a year contract. The excepting of the job by Love received mixed responses from city school board members, community members and political leaders. Some school board members and black political leaders wanted Chicago schools deputy superintendent African–American Dr. Manford Byrd Jr. to serve as superintendent, to addition Chicago Public Schools language specialist Dr. Joann Roberts called Love "Overrated" and said she didn't have the proper concern for African–American children in Chicago. Despite that opposition, Love received support from numerous people including Reverend Jesse Jackson, who was quoted saying that her skills were "tailor-made" for the Chicago school district.

In May 1981, Love proposed the reinstating of the traditional grading system in the city's elementary schools. As superintendent, Love created and implemented the "Chicago Mastery Learning Program" during the 1981–82 school year. The program made it mandatory that all elementary school students' reading and math courses be taught in more than one area, with students given an unlimited time to learn one area of the subject, and achieving eighty-five percent to be promoted to the next grade. In November 1981 Love proposed Report Card Pick-Up, ordering only parents or guardians pick up student report cards from school, prior to previous years. Love implemented the "Adopt–a–School" program in which schools within the district received money, equipment and other support from specific individuals and corporations in January 1982. In March 1982, Love created an anti–vandalism incentive, which funds saved by reducing vandalism was given to schools for art subjects. Love created discipline codes within the district. In addition to instituting standardized testing into Chicago public high schools, Love began the Chicago High School Renaissance Program during the 1982–83 school year. The program served as an attempt to keep students performing at class level; basing the program studies in reading, writing and mathematics. In the midst of a 15–day strike by the Chicago Teacher's Union from October 3–18, 1983, At the time the longest teacher's strike in Chicago; Love was criticized by the union and teacher supporters as being "Ruthless and Loveless" for her approach to the union and her actions to open three schools despite the strike. Love claimed she made that decision for the sake of the high school seniors who would need credits to graduate. In statements to local news organizations, Love likened the tension between herself and the strikers at one school to being attacked by a group of "vicious dogs". The strike was ended with Love and the school board giving the teacher's a 5% raise, 2.5% bonus and a one-year pact.

Bugging hoax

In April 1981, Love's chief deputy Charles Mitchell Jr. reported to the school board and the public that after an investigation by a Detroit private investigator; electronic devices had been found in Love's office and car. After the F.B.I and others tried to contact the investigator for more information about the search, Mitchell admitted that he fabricated the story. Mitchell said that a Chicago firm did search Love office and car, But they found nothing. Mitchell said he created the story for many reasons, most notably to discourage the possibility of future wiretaps and to test the effectiveness of the Chicago Police Department for Love's safety. Mitchell claimed it was all his idea and that Love knew nothing about the story being false. On April 23, 1981, Love held a news conference announcing Mitchell's resignation and publicly apologized to the school board and mayor Byrne: "I had no knowledge of this discrepancy when it was reported to the board and public. I apologize for bringing this embarrassment to the city and to the Chicago schools." People questioned Love's involvement in the hoax when Chicago Tribune reporter Vernon Jarrett quoted Love saying she had seen the electronic bugs herself and telling board members that she saw wires that led straight to Chicago's City Hall. Mayor Byrne referred to the bugging situation as "disgusting".

Love v. Byrne

During the Chicago mayoral election campaign in late–1982, Love chose not to attend public appearances with Byrne upon her request. Love stated that she objected to the mayor using her picture and name in her campaign literature. Despite being hired under the Byrne administration, Love decided not to identify herself as being connected to the administration; ultimately deciding not to endorse Byrne in her 1983 re–election bid. During an interview with Chicago Tribune reporter Vernon Jarrett, Jarrett asked Love was she the superintendent of school because Byrne chose her; Love was quoted saying "That is not my understanding. I have a pretty good knowledge of how I was chosen and of the individual school board members who had enough faith in me and my reputation to push for my appointment. I do not feel obligated to any public figure." After losing the vote to not serve as superintendent in July 1984, Love reached out to Byrne via. phone call in August 1984; asking her to sway board members who she had appointed to vote in her favor. Byrne stated to Love that her appointees were split in the contract votes and that she wouldn't intervene on their decisions.

End of tenure

In July 1984, The school board made up of eleven members; three Hispanics, four Whites and four African–Americans voted 6–5 to not renew Love's contract as superintendent which expired in March 1985.Love sued the board and allies of mayor Harold Washington for $12 million, charging them with sexism and racism. Love claimed that her civil rights were violated when she was denied a new contract, charging that three Hispanic and white board members who voted against the renewal of her contract were racist in October 1984. Love asked a judge to order her re-instated by the Chicago Board of Education as superintendent under the guides Love claiming she had been removed from office in a discriminatory manner in November 1984. Love settled with the board out of court for an undisclosed amount.

Later career/tributes

Love became a commentator for a Chicago television station after her career superintendency ended. In 1987, Love conducted a consulting firm, RBL Enterprises LTD., of which she served as president, in California. In addition to the consulting firm, Love was the publisher of the Oakland Sun-Reporter, a now defunct local newspaper in Oakland, California. Love later served as a professor at her college Alma mater San Francisco State University until her retirement in 2014. In May 2015, Love was honored with a tribute at Lake Chalet in Oakland, California. Oakland mayor Libby Schaaf honored Love with a proclamation of April 26, 2015 as Dr. Ruth Love Day. Schaaf spoke about Love: "It is my esteemed honor to recognize the personal and professional contribution Dr. Ruth Love has made to Oakland and students around the world. In addition to her phenomenal lifetime of work, it is her extraordinary personal character that has made her such an enduring force for educational advancement and equity."