Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-10-26
Lawyers Argue
Points in County
School Bias Suit
Prolonged Hearing
On Conditions and
Opportunities Ends

SppOI lOU1ItIVS LIND
Attorneys argued today in Fed
eral Court, Alexandria. the ques-
ton whether Arlington County
discriminates against Negroes in
providing public education.
The arguments before Judge
Albert v. Bryan concluded pro-
longed hearing on conditions and
opportunities at Hofman-Boston
School, which is for Negro pupils,
and Westinghouse High School,
which is for whites. The Virginia
Constitution requires segregation
Of the races.
When the testimony ended late
yesterday, Judge Bryan made an
inspection of the two school
plants. His decision in the dis
elimination case is not expected
Immediately and. regardless of his
ruling. there is possibility that this
case, like others involving similar
charges, will be carried to higher
Federal courts.
Original Plaintiff Married.
The original plaintiff in Airing
ton was Constance Carter, then a
pupil at Hoffman-Boston. She
said she could not obtain instruc-
ton in certain courses. though the
same subjects were offered white
children. Now married, she Is no
longer a student Two other chill
dren, currently enrolled in the
colored school, were permitted to
intervene with similar complaints.
The Arlington School Board
and its officials are accused Of
failing to provide Negro students
as good a building. as desirable
school grounds. equal facilities
and comparable instruction to
those provided at Washington
Lee Judge Bryan is asked either
to require equalization or to re-
quire Arlington to permit the COL
ored plaintiffs to enroll in the
white school.
The defendant board presented
witnesses who testified that all
colored children are and will be
given equal opportunities with
whites. either at Hoffman-Boston
or at the Manassas Regional High
School. The latter is a vocational
institution with which Arlington
has an agreement for enrolling
pupils.
Final Witness in Case.
The final witness in the case,
called by Arlington, was R. Worth
Peters, superintendent of the
Prince William County schools.
and, as such. director of the Ma
nassas regional school. His tes-
timony was designed to show that
instruction there is Of a high
quality and physical facilities are
being improved constantly.
Before him. however, several
colored educators contended Ma
nassas is inferior to Washington
Lee; therefore, cannot provide its
pupils as good an education. From
their point of view, Arlington pu-
pills sent to the regional school
are suffering because of their
color.
Earlier, Arlington officials testi-
fled that almost so white children
also are sent to a white regional
school in Manassas because they
cannot be accommodated at WASH
ington-Lee. Furthermore, the Of
flcials denied pursuing a policy Of
discrimination.
Testimony Conflicts.
They said Hoffman-Boston, with
only 48 high school pupils, enjoys
some advantages over Washing
ton-Lee, with 1881. But DR.. M.
D. Jenkins. president Of the COL
ored Morgan State Teachers Col
lege in Maryland. told Judge
Bryan small schools are not as
efficient as larger ones. His testi-
A4O1Ay SO11141SCCo Will l1ldG VI III.
Howard A. Dawson, director Of
rural service for the National
Education Association.
Among the educators who at
tackled facilities and instruction at
the colored regional school were a
former principal, William H.
Barnes, and j. Rupert Picott,
executive secretary of the colored
Virginia Teachers Association.
Mr.. Barnes said one reason
Manassas is inferior is that the
teacher pay scale is low and the
school, therefore, does not attract
the best-qualif1ed faculty. Mr..
Picott said vocational classes lack
tools and equipment.
A colored teacher said, however,
that his vocational pupils are all
beginners and. consequently, do
not need equipment used in adj
vanced courses. He said the school
has basic tools and is adding
others.