Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-12-15
Parents Attend
Browne School
To Back Protest
Eliot Junior Hiqh
Transfer Urged to
Meet Problem


companied their children to school
today in furtherance of their pro-
test against the division of classes
between Browne and two annexes,
the Webb and Blow Schools.
The upshot was discussion of
plans-and what appeared to be
agreement-to send small COM
mittee to the Board of Education
to ask for the transfer to the use
by colored pupils Of Eliot Junior
High School, now used by white
pupils.
While the parents met in the
school cafeteria with DR.. Garnet C.
Wilkinson, assistant superintendent
of schools, and Principal. William
B. Stinson, about 125 children who
are scheduled to start their school
day in the annexes remained in
the Browne auditorium.
At the end of the meeting DR..
Wilkinson, who is in charge of col
ored schools, said he would report
to DR.. Hobart M. Corning, school
superintendent, the parents wishes
that the Eliot School be trans
ferred.
Already Considered by Board.
Speakers pointed out that this
would obviate the necessity for
shifting the 1900 pupils of Browne
between that school and Blow and
Webb.
DR.. Wilkinson said the Board of
Education already had discussed
the transfer of Eliot and had de-
cided against it. He said the par
ents of the colored pupils would
have to present new evidence of
the desirability of such a move in
order to bring it up again.
Mrs. Phoebe Nelson, 1928 Benning
road, said that when Blow and Webb
were transferred Eastern High
School, with capacity of 2726, had
an enrolment of 1,700 and that Eliot
had 765 pupils. 1t was pointed out
the pupils at Eliot could be sent to
Eastern without overcrowding.
Edward G. Brown, president of
the National Negro Council, said the
proposal concerning Eliot and the
sending of a small committee of par
ents to confer with the board ap-
peared to be favored by most of
those present. He said this could be
considered at mass meeting at 8
o'clock tonight at Jones Methodist
Church, 4400 Benning road, with
Mrs. Nellie v. Greene, head of the
parents steering committee, pre-
siding.
Day Starts With Assembly.
The day began at Browne School
with an auditorium assembly. When
that ended and the pupils who start
their day in Browne had gone to
their classes, show of hands in
dictated about rs pupils who start at
Blow and about SO at Webb re-
manned.
At the principals Office it was an
nounced that A pupils had reported
to their classrooms in Blow
and "a in Webb
Webb pupils in the auditorium to
go to their schools. Mrs. Hannah
P. Harris. 1888 Grant street NE,
vice president of the Browne Par
ent-Teacher Association, said she,
instead, would advise her children
to go home.
That is not a lesson in good
citizenship" DR.. Wilkinson said
later in the meeting in the cafe
terra. The disputer should he kept
among adults, he asserted.
Mr.. Stinson asked the parents to
express their opinions and objections
were registered to shutting the chill
dren between the schools through
rain and traffic, and to the lack of
Junior high school facilities-shops
for example-at Blow and Webb.
The toilets in the Webb School also
were criticised.
Telegram Sent to Truman.
- On another front OF the school
dispute telegram was sent to the
President today as the result of a
mass meeting yesterday at the Met
ropolitan Baptist Church, Twelfth
and r streets NV. The message
asked the President to intervene on
behalf of colored parents and their
children of Junior high school age.
Mr.. Brown said the telegram sent
the President today read:
THE National Negro Council re-
specially asks the President to
intervene on behalf of the 5000
Negro parents and their children of
Junior high school age after Today
boycott of the dictatorial and high
handed disregard of the constitu-
tional rights equal educational rights
and equal educational prerogatives
OF their sons and daughters.
Original Demand Reiterated.
ION yesterday Saturday more
than 200 of these same mothers and
fathers and their children marched
to the White House and renewed
their demands for a conference with
the President and were refused
admittance to the Presidents offices
or an opportunity to present their
tragic plight and heart-breaking
experiences to secure equal justice
for themselves as patriotic, loyal
citizens and taxpayers.
Again respectfully asking for
conference with the President, we
reiterate our original demand for
the augmentation and guarantee
of equal rights and the abolition of
discrimination against Negro chill
dren in the District school system
on account OF their race and color,
and in keeping with the recommen-
dations of your own committee, So
called Presidents Committee on
Civil Rights, which is now gathering
dust in the White House files"
at is our firm conviction that the
best way to stop the spread of COM
munism on the home front, and
particularly in the Nations Capital,
Is for the President to call upon
Congress now for immediate action
and necessary legislation from the
special session of Congress just as
the President so successfully has
done in securing more than $780,
000,0o0 In the foreign relief and aid
bill now on your desk to help the
innocent and suffering fathers and