Evening star., 1948-06-11
Inter-Race Recreation
plan for Some Schools
.Up 10 Board for Action
By Colt HendIey, Jr.

py AOtt 0eHuteyg -.
The Board OF. Education now has
before it a suggestion that 1t IN
struct the Recreation Department
to allow inter-racial meetings In
some of the public schools used in
the recreation program.
The suggestion has come from
Harry S. Wender, recreation board
mead.
This situation developed at the
second hearing held yesterday by
the School Board on what it should
do about the Recreation Depart
ments request to use 79 schools
this summer for its program.
Mr.. Wender said he feels 1t
proper that colored schools be made
available for inter racial meetings
of certain types. He added:
But from the standpoint OF pub
lie policy, it would not be wise at
the outset to use the white schools
for integrated meetings"
20 Groups at Hearing.
Emphasizing he was rejecting
only his personal opinion, because
the Recreation Board had taken no
vote on the suggestion, Mr.. Wender
said it would be a good way to
make a contribution to settling the
segregation problem,
More than 40 groups appeared at
the hearing YESTERDAY. They were
split evenly for and Against removal
of the segregation policy in con1ec-
ton with the city's Fairgrounds. At
the first hearing tNo weeks ago.
some 70 groups were against segre-
CATION and 4, led by the Federation
of Citizens Associations, wanted It
continued.
The reason the hearings were
called by the School Board Commit
tee on Community Use Of Buildings
and Grounds, headed by Albert E.
Steinem. is this:
Each year the School Board gives
the Recreation Department permis-
sion to use certain schools for its
program. The program follows the
segregated setup of the school sys-
tem-and of the playground system.
Colored board members held up per-
mission this year until a hearing
could bring out the racial policy Of
the Recreation Department.
Action Probable Next Week.
Action probably will be taken at
the meeting of the full Board OF
Education next week.
Mr.. Steinem explained his COM
mittee wanted to know if the Board
of Education has the right to tell
the Recreation Department what
it's policy should be.
Mr.. Wender answered:
1T is none of the Board of Edu-
cations business how, the Recrea-
ton Department operates the facili-
ties which come under its jurisdic-
ton only. And once the Board of
Education assigns schools to the
Recreation Department.. it has
nothing further to say"
He pointed out, however, the
school board always has set down
certain conditions to which the
Recreation Department had to agree
TO use the school buildings for its
program.
The Recreation Department now
does not allow meetings at which
both white and colored people either
perform or sit in the audience.
Cites School Segregation.
sarrt,. Doorl 1f El,,oo a
segregated policy whether you like
it or not" he exclaimed. 1T would
be sheer hypocrisy 10 set another
policy for U.s."
Among those appearing to plead
for on-segregation on the play
grounds was the Rev. o. G. Rob-
inson, pastor of the Calvary Meth
odist Church, representing the social
welfare department OF the Wash
ington Federation Of Churches. He
said racial discrimination was con-
trary to the highest religious and
democratic principles"
C. Melvin Sharpe, school board
member, asked him: rs that Chris
tian brotherhood extended in your
churches?"
No, it is not. We, too. have a
problem" DIR. Robinson answered
When John H. Connaughton.
president OF the Federation of Cit
izens' Associations, was heard, he
denounced DR.. Robinson. saying he
did not express the feelings of the
Protestant churches
Other Groups Represented.
Others appearing in favor Of
abolishing segregation were:
The Interchurch Fellowship, the
Washington chapter of the Uni
tartan Fellowship for Social Justice.
The Washington Chapter of the
American Jewish Congress, the Bar
risters' Wives of Washington, the
Potomac Cooperative Federation.
the Washington Council of East
and West Associations, the indie
pendence Lodge of B'nai Birth. and
Mrs. Evelyn Freyman. co-producer
at the Olney Theater.
In favor Of keeping segregation
were the following citizens associa-
tions:
Randle Highlands, Hampshire
Heights, North washington Council.
Fort Dupont. Rhode Island Avenue,
Dahlgren Terrace and Thomas
Circle.