Evening star., 1947-10-14

trict population. That year, BAL per cent of
the total District population of school age-6
years to II years-were colored however)
The large increase in the District population
during the war years and the lag in construc-
tion caused by the halt in building during the
war found the Districts colored population
without schools in certain parts of the city or
with inadequate schools. The colored popula-
ton now is estimated to be about 80 per cent
of the total District population.
similar situation existed after World War I
as far as the white schools were concerned, due
to the large increase in the Districts popula-
ton at that time. 1t was met largely through
use OF portable school buildings They remained
in use many years after the war.
Efforts to make up the present deficiency
began in 1945 when 52.6 per cent OF the capital
outlay went to colored schools. In 1916, this
percentage rose to 576 and in 1947 to 723.
The record as thus shown is that for the
past II years the colored schools have received
an average of 80 per cent Of school appropria-
tions.
Although the percentages are impressive, the
facts are not SO encouraging when the g. 783, :
$50 appropriated in the fiscal year 1947 for both
white and colored schools and the $4,269, ,230
appropriated in the fiscal year 1948 are COM
pared to the estimated $50,000,OO0 needed to
bring the schools up to par.
AS for the attitude of the courts, it has been
held repeatedly in both State and Federal
courts that states are not prevented from con-
Quoting separate schools but if they do the
schools must be equal.
White and colored schools specifically were
established in the District by Congressional
act in 1878. This act was replaced by another
in 1906 which did not specifically legislate sepa-
rate schools-but throughout spoke of white
and colored schools and provided for appoint
ment OF two assistant superintendents, one for
colored and one for white schools.
What the Courts Held in the Past.
The separate but equal principle was estab-
lished in two Supreme Court cases.
One in 1896 was a ruling on Louisiana law
which required separate but equal railroad ia
cilities for colored passengers. The Supreme
Court then said:
The object of the 14th amendment was un-
doubtedly to enforce the absolute equality of
the races before the law, but in the nature of
things, it could not have been intended to
abolish distinction based upon color or to en-
1orce social as distinguished from political,
equality or commingling of the two races
upon terms unsatisfactory to either"
In 1888 the Supreme aCourt considered the
case OF colored student who sought admis-
sion TO the law school at the University of
Missouri The State maintained no colored
Ia" school but paid tuition for colored appli-
cants to out-of-State schools.
The Supreme Court in this case said.
He was entitled to the equal protection OF
the law and the State was bound to furnish
MIN within its borders, facilities for legal ed,-
tn ~,
Tor persons of the white race whether or not
other Negroes sought the same opportunity"
In the District, colored parent filed suit in
District Court in 1914 to require the Board of
Education to permit his child to enter the
school nearest his home. He cited that his
5-year-old child had to travel approximately
four miles to get to a colored school although
white school was near his home Before the
case came to trial, however. the Board of Edu-
cation recommended to Congress the appro
priatlon OF funds for land and a building and
temporary structure was erected across the
street from his home.
This same view of the auestion-which allows
equal but separate schools under the law and
the Constitution-has been held by courts
IN both Texas and South Carolina recently,
Howard University study of segregated
schools. made by the bureau of educational
research, was published In the Journal of
Negro Education. It's editor, Charles M.
Thompson, has this to say
ITO date, the validity of the separate but
equal education Principle has not been demon
strated anywhere; and theoretically it is i'm
possible as well as undemocratic. ). It is
clear that segregation in education based upon
race must be abolished The question is when
and where to start"
The question in the District Is now heading
for another court test