Evening star., 1947-12-04
By Colt HendIey, jr.


and Webb schools as anneXes for
the Browne Junior High School con-
tinued today as many parents OF
Browne School again refused to SEND
their children to classes.
Repeating yesterdays actions,
more than half of the 1900 students
at the three schools were absent.
w. B. Stinson, principal OF Browne
School, reported today that only 36
students showed up at Blow and
only % at Webb. Less than half OF
the boys and girls who were sup
posed to report at the Browne School
appeared this morning, he added.
Mr.. Stinson said large group OF
children who we're supposed to go
to the annexes this morning congre-
gated on the Browne grounds. He
told them either to go to their classes
or return home to their parents.
They went home, he said.
A dozen parents resumed plcketlng
at Blow shortly after the school
doors opened this morning. Two
policemen were assigned in front
of the school.
The dispute over the transfer OF
the Blow and Webb Schools to col
ored pupils to relieve part-tlme IN
struction at Browne fared up
Yesterday, when dlsgruntled par
ents picketed the Blow School IN
the morning and the Board OF Edu-
cation as it met in the Franklin Ad-
iministration Building in the after
noon. Signs carried by pickets
bore variations of 1--WE don't want
Blow and Webb" and Down with
segregation
BY tomorrow, school authorities
will be faced with the prospect OF
bringing court action against the
parents who continue to keep their
children out of school.
Under the compulsory school at
tendance law, parents who keep
their children out of school two
days or more without lawful rea-
son are committing a misdemeanor.
The penalty upon conviction Is STU
fine or five days in Jail.
School officials pointed out the
law requires principals OF the
schools to report absences to the
school attendance officers. They
in turn, are required to bring court
action.
Corning Silent.
School Supt. Hobart M. Corning
had no comment to make on the
situation.
A representative of the parents
Gardner Bishop, lib Montelle
street NE, read to the board q
petition signed by 160 parents ir
which they charged the board with
total disregard of the will OF the
parents" and Indifference to the
physical, mental and psychological
health and protection of the chill
dren of Browne
I'VE, therefore, do announce tha
we shall withhold our children
from use of the Blow and Webb
7 Elementary Schools and the Brown
Junior High School until the Boart
of Education justly performs it
| duty by designating for the us'
| of our children educational facill
ties which will be adequate relic
from time schooling-inflict
ing no jeopardy on the life, liml
or health of our children" tn
petition said. g..
The board accepted the petition
with no comment and took nj
action on It.
The group also said a mass meet
ing will be held at 8 o'clock to
, night in the Jones Memorial Meth
odist Church, Forty-fourth stree
and Benning road NE, to discus
further action.
About GAO of the 1900 boys. sanc
girls at Browne, Blow and Webt
Schools were absent as classes be.
gan yesterday and their parents
started picketing. After lunch an
, other 200 left and Blow was empty
| Webb had 26 pupils and Browne
was lacking about half Of those sup
posed to be in class there.
Controversy over the transfers be-
gan last month when DR.. Corning
presented to the board plan for
|, five white schools to be transferred
to the colored boys and girls. The
program provided for the transfer
of $500 colored students from part
to full time classes. 1t also called
.. for five other school buildings to be
closed for economy reasons.
After a hectic public hearing, the
i board approved the plan and the
transfers were made on Monday
, with students going to their new
classes. Most of the protests came
from colored civic groups.
Although the transfer of the othel
three schools, Hayes, Bowen ane
Lenox, was objected to at the hear
ing, they are not involved in thu
present squabble.
= Still on part-time instruction II
the schools are more than 3,OO'
other students, of whom about 1,O0'
), are white
= The parents stand, as explained
e by Mr.. Bishop, is that use OF tn
; Blow and Webb schools create
a problems which are in themselve
7. worse than part-time schooling
He said they feel that placing JUNO
2 high school pupils in buildings de
i signed for elementary pupils is un
deeiroble He cited hazards OF eX