Evening star., 1947-10-05
Arlington Candidates
Call New High School
For CoFored a Must

one OF Jne muSCS lOr ATllngC COIl
education is an accredited new COL
ored high school. five candidates for
the county's first popularity elected
School Board agreed yesterday after
a tour of five schools.
Mrs. Elizabeth P. Campbell, one
of the five candidates, admitted that
while opponents of such a proposal
might contend that colored high
school enrolment does not justify
a new school, 1t could be expected
that Arlington colored students who
now pay to attend Washington
schools would attend school in
Arlington if and when facilities be-
came adequate.
At least 200 colored high school
students could be expected to enroll
If proper school were provided,
she said. At present there are only
30 colored students enrolled in senior
high school classes in the county.
Colored School Visited.
The need for a new colored high
school was emphasized after visit
to the Hoffman-Boston colored
school by Mrs. Campbell, Barnard
Joy, Colin c. Macpherson, o. Glenn
Stahl and Curtis E. Tuthiu. They
are members of the slate of
the School Board Nominating
Convention, which was sponsored
by 81 citizens groups. Seven other
candidates also are in the race. The
election will be November 4.
Hoffman Boston School, which in
|cludes every grade from the first,
lis the only colored high school in
the county. Major criticism Of the
school was that students of such a
wide age range must use the same
facilities.
In addition, the candidates termed
inadequate" the laboratory facil-
tiles for the teaching of high school
sciences.
The groups comments on other
schools visited yesterday included:
Fairlington-One of the "better"
school plants in the county and an
excellent" example of the good use
of school facilities, according to the
candidates. Chief problem in con-
nection with the school will be to
relieve the anticipated growth In
enrolment, they added.
Probably the best possible way to
do this, the group asserted, would
be to build school In North Fair
lington instead of adding to the
existing building which is in South
Harrington. This would keep the
present school at q suitable size,
they said.
Shirley Homes School-This can
scarcely be called school," the
candidates declared. Although the
temporary nature of the school Git
is in q Government war housing
project) was recognized, 1t would
not take much money to improve it,
they said. The group was critical
of the scarcity of light bulbs, un-
painted walls. stacking of school
supplies in the corner of a room
and absence of an eraser tray for
a blackboard.
Nellie Custis Excellent.
Pickett Homes School-This was
compared with the Shirley Homes
School, since it also is in Gov
eminent war housing project. How
ever, the group stated, it felt there
was a possibility Of much improve
ment. There are only three class
rooms for six grades having liz stu
dents. Three teachers instruct all
grades and in most instances two
CLASSES are taught at the same time,
the candidates said.
Nellie Custis-Praised by the cam
didates as an excellent school.
Yesterdays was the third In a
series of Saturday tours that will
cover all of Arlington's 81 schools
before the election,