Evening star., 1949-09-07
Speedy Decision
Due on Transfer
0fCentra|H High
Testimony at Hearing
On Needs'of Curdozo
Students Studied

The Board of Education is ex-
pected to reach a speedy decision
on whether Central High School
will be turned over to colored
students to relieve overcrowding
at Cardozo High School.
c. Melvin Sharpe, school board
president, said today he believes
the matter can be settled within
the next few weeks. He pointed
out it will take that long for
School Supt. Hobart M. Corning
to study the testimony presented
at yesterdays public hearing and
to bring in a recommendation to
the board
There is no chance that the
Board of Education will take the
question up at today's regular
meeting or before school opens
tnext Monday, Mr.. Sharpe said.
The three plans proposed by
DR.. Corning are the temporary
transfer of Central to the Cardozo
students, the permanent trans
fer Of Central or the shifting Of
Wilson Teachers College students
to Central so that Cardozo could
use the Wilson plant for its over
flow.
Central Alumni Protest
The question before the school
board is one that boils down to
sentiment over a famous old
school, Central, and the cold facts
that Cardozo has an enrolment
of more than 1,700 in a building
designed to house 1,040 students.
The sentiment was apparent as
alumni of Central testified at yes
terday's hearing. Among the old
alumni of the school was Harry
Bowling, who was president of
the class of 1886.
Almost forgotten in the concern
of the Central alumni is the con-
Germ of the Wilson Teachers Col
lege student body and alumni over
the possible fate of their small
school. More than a dozen STU
dent leaders from Wilson attend
ed the hearing. A representative
of the Wilson Alumni Association
testified strongly against any
shift of the college.
Miss Emile Russell. president
elect of the student body at VIII
son, pleaded with the board not
to wreck the spirit the student
body of 400 has been building at
Wilson. The college would "lose
it's identity completely" if it were
moved into a high school build
ing. she declared.
70-Year History of Central.
Central High School, the CEN
ter of the controversy is an his
toric landmark of Washington.
The present building has been on
the Thirteenth and Clifton streets
NV. site for the past 33 years.
But, its history goes back nearly
10 years.
In 1880. the Advanced Grammar
School for Girls and the Advanced
Grammar School for Boys were
combined to form the Washington
High School at Seventh and O
streets NV. The name later was
changed to Central High School.
The stadium at Central was
dedicated in 1920 to Emory Will
son, principal of the school from
1902 to 1920. The corridors of
the school are hung with pictures
and lined with cases containing
hundreds of trophies won by Cen
tral students. A memorial plaque
for the 145 Central men killed in
World War II has been dedicated.
The frieze in the library was pre-
sented to the school by the grad
uating classes from 1923 to 1929
as a memorial to Central boys
who died in World War I.
The school prides itself on its
alumni and has a strong alumni
association. which holds reunions
each. year and honors Central
graduates who have made a mark
in their professions.
It is estimated that more than
$4,000 boys and girls have been
| pdIlcafed in its c1a assrooYrc