Evening star., 1949-11-23
Readers Disagree With d. C. Teacher
Who Favors Segregation in Schools
To the Editor Of The Star:

at least two Of our community institutions
church and school, have helped nightly to
convince the writer's of those letters Of the
sanctity Of racial segregation.
I shall never cease to wonder that there
should be white people-Some from the very
citadels Of prejudice-to champion the cause
of black people. Down through American
history they have arisen, forsaking the SNUG
security of their heritage, risking their social
standing, striving to help black citizens live
normal lives, too. It may be that persons like
these are afflicted with too much conscience
and too much God.
There is no doubt that the feelings Of
D. c. Teacher and the P.-T.A president are
strong. They are unwilling to extend their
social horizon to see that in some places
individuals, differing in race but identical in
humanity. mingle in a happy. mutually en-
riching manner.
I fear we must leave them to their own
conservative seldshness or to "the pruning
knife of time" j. w. HAYWOOD.
To the Editor Of The Star:
TOO often the man who should be criti-
cizing institutions expends his energy in
criticiZing those who would reform them.
What he really objects to is any disturbance
of his own vested securities. comforts and
privileged power" says John Dewey IN
Human Nature and Conduct" page 1853.
AS another experienced teacher in the
public school system here and as lifelong
resident Of the Nations Capital, I can
empirically state that segregation is malo-
dorous practice that is definite liability.
not an asset, to our school system, our city,
our Nation and the world. Hardly any one
now needs to be told that the inequalities
existing in the dual school system are
direct result of segregation. Perhaps it Is
not as widely realized that both white and
Negro pupils are being limited in their
education by artificially being kept apart and
deprived of knowledge concerning each other
despite the tremendous need in our society
races.
only by the most perverted type Of
naturalization can any one deny that
segregation based upon race or skin color
is contrary to the spirit of the Fourteenth
Amendment of s4our Constitution. Segrega-
ton creates q feeling Of inferiorfty in Negro
pupils and superiority in white pupils.
whether we admit it or not. Segregation in
our public schools Is used as justification
for the extension OF segregation in commu-
nifty life; viz, employment, public facilities.
etc. Segregation In the Capital Of the Nation
Is q shocking denial to the Nation and to
the world of the brotherhood Of man and
respect for the individual.
II segregation were to be abolished in
our public schools. problems of an inter-
cultural nature most asSuredly would arise
in many schools: But a true teacher can
meet these problems without fear and
trembling if she sees each of her pupils as
q sacred individual personality and not as
a person having certain skin color. Would
any one deny that the opportunity to make
democracy living reality In the classroom
is one that real teacher would shirk or
find distasteful? Can a good doctor shun
the opportunity to bring scientific medical
care to an enlightened people?
Democratic education helps the individual
to develop his potentialities for his own
benefit and for the good Of society," It per-
petuates the highest ideals Of society and
encourages the individual to improve So
ciety's deficiencies. Does segregation pro-
mote this kind Of education?.
Let us practice the brotherhood we preach
and cease laboring under the delusion that
new. racially separate buildings and equip
ment can heal the wounds in the human
spirit that segregation inficts.
D. c. PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER.
To the Editor Of The STAR
For the benefit Of D. c. Teacher whose
letter you printed on November 49, would
like to call attention to the following ex-
cerpt from an article by Lem Graves. Negro
writer, published recently in Negro news
mocracy is not winning the world popularity
contest Is that its main showcase-Wash-
ington, D. C-continueS to get smeared with |
the ugly paint Of Jim Crow These marks
tend to obscure the commodity on display |
in the window and to make it less attractive
to prospective customers. -"
1t is time we Washingtonians began to
recognize the Fatherhood of God and the |
Brotherhood Of Man, for we are about to |
come to grips with atlaeistic. antidemocratic |
communism in a fight to the death with all |
the democratic ideals at stake.
D. c. Teacher and others Of her ilk, |
unwittingly or purposely, are aiding the |
cause Of communism in its theological battle |
with democracy. II we in Washington are |
in charge Of democracys main showcase,
1t is our responsibility to display it in its
most attractive form.
It Is alarming to realize D. G.. Teacher is |
in a position to corrupt and confuse the |
minds of our young people who will be called /
upon In the crises to come to defend the |
cause Of democracy both morally and |
physically. Her defense Of segregation on q |
"common-sense" basis demonstrates her
mother-taught narrowmindedness and her
utter ignorance Of the world situation today.
LIFELONG RESIDENT.
Praises Mr.. Bergman a. Cartoonist
And Expresses Hope for His Recovery
To the Editor Of The Star:
The serious illness Of Clifford K. Bergman
one Of Americas outstanding cartoontsts-
has, am sure, left thousands Of your readers
with feeling Of sadness. sense Of daily
loss.
We sincerely hope for his recovery, so that
he may enjoy more years Of life; and his
hand and humor may again, so expressively,
portray history-with smile.
Most OF us know Mr.. Bergman only
through his work; but talent such as
his is far-reaching, precious and influential
thing. L / HUTCHINSON. l