Evening star., 1947-10-02
Fight on Play
Segregation at
Schools Slated
Issue on Recreation
Program Raised in
Board of Educuion
By Colt HendIey, Jr.

Lie ldCldl segregation pTaCLlCeC
by the District Recreation Boarc
in it's administration of the public
schools and Fairgrounds is under
fire by colored members of the
Board of Education.
Permission for the Recreation De-
partment to use 81 schools for It's
recreation program was granted
yesterday by the board only after
prolonged debate between coloreo
and white members. AS it stands
permission was given, but the mat.
ter will be reopened at the next
meeting for final determination.
The controversy began when Mrs
James w. Williams asked that the
question OF approval of use of the
schools be held over until George
E. c. Hayes, board member, could
present certain facts about the
policies of the recreation group. Mr.
Hayes could not be at the meeting
Board Members Adelbert w. Lee
and c. Melvin Sharpe took issue
with Mrs. Williams proposal, say
ing the board has no authority to
refuse the use of the schools, unless
the rules are being violated.
Certain Limitations.
Under the rules the Recreation
Department requests use of the
buildings and grounds to establish
recreation centers and Fairgrounds
The board requires that the school
property should not be used for
sectarian purposes, for activities
tending to create unrest and acri-
monious discussions or for teach
ings contrary to the spirit of Amer
lean institutions.
There has been criticism of the
methods the Recreation Board has
been using in handling both schools
and Fairgrounds" Mrs. Williams
said. I'VE have gone far afield in
giving it too much power in the
use of the schools. 1t may be that
We may have to amend our rules.
She cited the instance of the
Parkview Elementary School, saying
that in that area colored children
have no place to play and ere re-
fused admittance to the playground
by recreation workers.
Its q white school," Mr.. Sharpe
said.
II don't see how children can
poison each other by playing on the
same playground" Mrs. Williams
countered.
Banneker Case Cited.
Mrs. Williams said that at the
Banneker Recreation Center white
and colored children used the facili-
ties jointly at first, but that the
white children finally were restrict
ed from that playground.
II don't care if they are white or
colored children" she declared. Il
don't like the idea of having them
driven out of a public playground
paid for by the taxpayers.
Mr.. Sharpe pointed out that the
Recreation Board program began
yesterday and that to withhold ap-
proval of the list of schools would
delay the program for at least two
weeks. Mr.. Lee added 1t would
create a lot of discomfort.
Board Member DR.. James A. Gan
non said:
Whether we like 1t or not. the
school system is segregated. If the
board took any other action, 1t
would be inconsistent.
"The time has come to give serious
consideration to the segregation
question:" Mrs. Williams put in. If
you are going to intimidate any group
of children, I'm against it."
Intimidation Attempt Charged.
"You are trying to intimidate this
board in the hopes it will follow
your policy" said Mr.. Lee.
"1f you deny this permission, the
blood is on your head" Mr.. Sharpe
asserted. "Tne citizens will want to
know why the public schools are
denied them and you will have to
answer to the public"
The approval was given finally
after about an hours debate, with
the understanding that Mr.. Hayes
would present his views at the next
meeting. g..
Mrs. Williams was in position
to block the action because 1t need
ed the approval first of the School
Boards Recreation Committee. She
and Mr.. Sharpe were the only men,
bers Of that committee present.
The Recreation Board came in
for criticism from the National AS
sociation for the Advancement OF
Colored People on September "a,
when the colored organization
charged that anti-Negro statements
were made at a meeting of the
Dahlgreen Terrace Citizens Asso-
citation, held in a school building
Milo F. Christensen, District rec
reation superintendent, at that
time sent a notation to. all civic
groups reminding them of a PRO-
hibition against promoting "un-
rest, acrimonious discussion or
teachings contrary to our American
institutions"
Hayes to Reopen Question.
The absent board member, Mr.
Hayes, told The Star later he would
open the question again as soon as
possible, mainly to get into the
record correspondence between Off
cials of NAACP, of which he Is a
board member, and Mr.. Christian
sen.
Mr.. Christensen was asked ques-
tions on policy in regard 10 the use
of the schools, Mr.. Hayes said, ano
answered bluntly that white per-
sons would not be allowed to ad-
dress colored groups, colored persons
would not be allowed to address
white groups and no activities which
involved mixing of the races in
anv manner would be allowed.
"I want to go on record as oppos-
ing any board that uses that as
basic principle" Mr.. Hayes said.
Hotel Association Elects
H. F. Duqon President