Evening star., 1932-02-04
DELAY APPROVED
ON CHOICE OF SITE
FOR NEW SCHOOL
Delegation of 80 Opposes
Plan for Elementary Build
ing on Allison Street.
PROTESTS ARE HEARD
BY EDUCATION BOARD
Postponement of Land Deal Backed
as Stormy Session Is
Threatened.

An aggressive delegation of 80 men
and women, including representatives
of citizens associations and business
and church interests of the community
won a partial victory in a fight to pre-
vent construction Of a new colored ele-
mentary school at Allison street and
Rock Creek Church road late yesterday
when in a lively session with the Board
of Education it secured the boards
determination to seek poStponement OF
the final purchase of land needed for
the proposed school.
Several times during the audience
which occurred at the regular public
meeting of the School Board, bitterness
threatened to break out as statements
were made by SpokeSmen for the group
which the colored members of the board
construed as aSperSionS upon their
race. Under the chair ruling Of Rabbi
Abram Simon, president Of the board
however, the heat was diSpelled and
the board took action on a motion made
by Henry Gilligan.
Ask Postponement Of Deal
The motion was that the board re-
quest the District Commissioners to
postpone the closing of the deal for
the site, and 1t was carried by vote
Of to 8, the three ColOred members
of the board dissenting
The opposition to construction Of the
proposed fOur-roOm elementary school
which would replace a fiimSy frame
portable now in use by colOred pupils
in the same neighborhood, was led by
the Chillum Heights Citizens ASsocia-
ton.
A brief presented TO the board by
that body was signed by Thomas w
Joy, president, Chillum Heights Asso-
citation; D. Bruce Dillon, secretary,
Hampshire Gardens Apartments, Inc.
C. F. Neagle, president, Columbia Park
Citizens Association; Horace ]. Phelps
president, Petworth Citizens Associa-
ton; Mrs. C. B. Finnell, secretary, J.
R. Keene School Parent-Teacher ASso-
citation; w. H. Seaquist, president
Manor Park Citizens Association; I. E
Shoemaker, real estate men; Rev. w
A. Roberts, pastor Lewis Memorial
Methodist Protestant Church; R. O.
Howell, treasurer, Rock Creek Gene
terry and John A. Mccarthy, secretary,
D. j. DUNCAN, Inc.
In the brief the protesting group
contended that there is no need for a
new colored school at Allison street and
Rock Creek Church road. because, 1t
contended, the colored school popula-
ton is decreasing 1t further charged
that figures submitted by Dr. Frank w
Ballou, superintendent, were out of date
The delegates asserted that their CEN
Sus, taken January 30, 1881, showed
only 81 colored school children living in
the area to be served by the four room
school. OF these 81 live in the imme-
diate neighborhood of the proposed
school, six live in Brookland and some
live in Maryland.
williams Letter Included.
The brief included also a copy Of a
letter written by John B. Williams, as
SiStant United States attorney for the
District, in which that official asserted
that the neighborhood in which 1t is
proposed to build the school is an active
theater for bootleggers.
Allison street, Port drive and Hare
wood road, just south Of the National
Cemetery of the Soldiers Home" Mr..
Williams wrote, according to the sub
mitted brief, have been used constantly
by bOotleggers for the last several years.
The United States attorneys Office has
padlocked three different premises in
that section within the last year We
have some now in jail from that sec
ton for bootlegging whisky, and we
have written reports from enforcement
officers to the effect that several parties
residing in that section are still con-
tlnulng their bootlegging activities"
1t was during oral discussion Of the
points in their brief that spokesmen for
the protesting group aroused the Ire OF
board members. One Of the man dele
gates referred to the alleged bootleg
ging operations of the "colored' resi-
dents Of the community, and DR.. J.
Hayden johnson, colored member of
the board and dean of its members In
length of service, countered.
On my way down to this building, ;
DR.. Johnson said, Il saw policemen put
ting paddock on handsome red brick
residence right up the street, and that
is white neighborhood."
New Development Planned.
Another man, who said he represent
ed the Cafritz Construction Co., an
nounced that his concern planned tc
build a white residential DEVELOPMENT
in the immediate neighborhood of the
site for the proposed school. This
statement was greeted with applause
from the assembled throng, which crowd
room. Rev. F. I. A. Bennett, a colorec
member, objected to the "grandstanc
play" of such applause, and Rabbi
Simon ended the demonstration from
the chair, adding that the board woulc
not be sWayed by applause of any issue
In conclusion, the protesting group
contended that the present frame struc-
ture, known in school circles as "the
Bates road portable" is adequate fol-
"the present and future needs of the
colored residents of this area" The
plea was ended by a reference to the
housing Of SO white pupils in portables
at the Keene School in the same
vicinity.
A second lively discussion was threat
ened in the same meeting when vigorous
opposition to the eXcusing of four un-
identified children from further attend
ance at school because of their mental
condition was presented by Maj. Gran
vile MunSon, U. S. A, of the Judge Ad-
vocate Generals Office. Maj. Munson
appeared before the board on behalf OF
two of the excluded children and ar
gued against the maintenance of a pol
icy (which leaves no place in the school
system for these children" The chill
dren were relieved of school attendance
rlgnLS Wnen pSyCnlaCrlStS OF the school
system adjudged them mon n-educable. u
The board maintained its stand with
respect to the children on the ground
that it has no means of providing q
special class for only four such children
Would Amend Book Law.
Continuing with its regular order OF
business, the board approved a motion
of Mr.. Gilligan that the Legislative
Committee, of which he is chairman
submit to the Commissioners an amend
ment to the present free text book
law" providing free text books for night
school students. The board will ask the
Commissioners to transmit the bill
through the proper channels of Con-
gress for enactment.i In brief discus
sion of the text book situation at yes
terdays meeting Mr.. Gilligan said that