"Elite high schools have a social impact. Admiral H.G. Rickover of the United States Navy was an advocate for specialized high schools. He described his ideas in a book, Education and Freedom, published in 1959 by Dutton in New York."

"You can provide for school teachers in the summertime by offering social studies for re-certification. You will be especially useful to students who attend high schools in rural areas of North Carolina which cannot offer a comprehensive program of advanced courses in the social studies. Your graduates will go on to college in North Carolina, and will remain in North Carolina."

March 7, 1985 - Ed Meade, The Ford Foundation

"Gifted students in specialized high schools can do individual research projects. Your school will listen to students and be receptive to their ideas. This approach was pioneered by Mrs. Marion Reiss in the Social Studies Department at 'Bronx Science' in the early 1980s."

March 8, 1985 - Maritza Tsaggos, Head, Social Studies, Bronx High School of Science

"Your admissions policy will be based on many factors, not just SAT scores, and that's the way to go. Your students will make good use of their afternoons because you will have boarding schools which enable them to stay on campus each day. You will be able to identify and admit motivated and mature students from 'underdeveloped' backgrounds."

"You can produce tri-lingual students who can master English and use two other languages. Your curriculum will be good because you will require courses in music and art as well as physical education, and science."

March 29, 1985 - Dr. Virginia Wilson, Head, Humanities, N.C. School of Science & Mathematics

"Your schools will be surrogate parents, nurturing all the students, so you will have hall counselors, to discipline, challenge, and befriend students. College graduates will serve as hall counselors by listening to the high school students, who will develop self-confidence, coping skills, and emotional stability. The students will not return home each night or each weekend even if they happen to live in the same town."

April 2, 1985 - Tim Tyndall, Director, Post-Secondary Education Services, Carolina Power and Light Company

"This will acknowledge receipt of the article 'A High School for Social Studies in North Carolina.' I have found this concept to be interesting."

"I just want to take this opportunity to personally commend you on coordinating conferences to consider a North Carolina high school of social studies. This is a marvelous idea."

"It is with great enthusiasm that I have been reading about your group's efforts to establish a high school of social studies for North Carolina. Emphasis on languages should be a priority. We give you our endorsement."

"I was excited to hear recently about plans for the North Carolina School of Social Studies."

"The College of Arts and Sciences at East Carolina University would be an ideal home for one of the high schools, since you are seeking broad geographic distribution to enable students to go home on weekends, and to target communities whose educational needs are often inadequately served. I would be grateful if you would keep me informed of progress with your important initiative."

"North Carolina will soon have an educational tool that will help broaden the scope of knowledge that our future leaders need. The proposed Academy of National/Global Economic Leadership will be a great asset to our state."

"Please keep me informed of efforts in garnering future interest for a specialized school. I commend you for forethought and vision and am certain that students could benefit from this school as the global marketplace continues to shrink and the need for language skills continues to expand."

"I am sure you are deserving of financial support. We wish you the best in your endeavors."