Evening star., 1949-10-20
Garfield Turner PTA Head Lists
Problems in C0lored Schools

10 tne GolIor Oh Inc Star.
agree that "the way to get action on
school problems is to attend board meetings
in such numbers that will make the walls
shake" as was stated by DR.. Phillip john
son, neophyte member of the District Board
Of Education in recent address to men,
bers Of the National Association for the ADJ
vancement of Colored People. Theoretically.
indorse his view that Negroes should make
their demands as united citizens. Apparently,
DR.. johnson overlooks the fact that the
dual separate but equal system was set up
because we are Negroes, not just citizens.
At times 1t is very difficult for a Negro
mother to realize that she is just plain
Mrs Joe Citizen, United States of America"
This is especially true in Washington, D. c.
The viciousness OF an educational system, in
the capital of the foremost democracy in the
world. which through the years has jammed
her Negro child into secondhand. out
moded, and even condemned school buildings
and allowed deplorable school conditions to
tester year after year is a daily reminder
to the Negro mother and her child that, at
least to the powers that be-" we are Negroes
first. then citizens.
Due to the number and complexity OF the
problems confronting the Negro parent.
simply because he was born Negro. can
not but recommend and indeed urge Negroes
to write hundreds Of letters to the Board
of Education stating your hundreds Of edu-
cational needs instead Of "a small number Of
letters from the Negro community these
making about fifteen different suggestions
and demands"
Cites Number Of Inequalities
Would that the following inequalities cited
here prove starting round of the "ammuni-
ton" needed by DR.. johnson and his fellow
board members to fight our battles:
The setting aside of certain Srho01S for
the Negro child simply because Of the color
of his skin and the irreparable mental health
condition resulting from such practice.
2. Lack Of ungraded classes for atypical
children on the Junior high school level in
Divisions 1913. Two of these unfortunate
children can undermine not only their junior
high school classes which they are forced
to attend by law until they become sixteen
years Of age-but also upset whole school
by their inability to grasp the normal junior
high school curriculum. This is especially
true in building shared Jointly by students
from kindergarten through junior high.
Temporary transfer of Junior high
school students from q bulging Junior high
school building to inferior elementary school
buildings with no junior high school facili-
ties-specifically the Blow and Webb schools
for the overflow of Browne students. Pro-
posed transfer by March Is, 1850, of Turner
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twenty-four room old Birney elementary
school upon completion Of the new "a room
Birney elementary school. These students
will never receive full benefits of the highly
specialized junior high school training.
4. No comprehensive senior high school
for the Negro child.
S. Great distance Travelled daily to school
by an overwhelming number of Negro stu
dents who pass schools with accommodations
which will not admit ft,esv, hocouSo of rocn
6. Adjustment Of coaching classes for
slow learners in Divisions 1913 due to
critical overcrowding and the need of former
coaching teachers for regular classes
Z. One athletic field shared by the three
Negro high schools.
MRS. JUNE PARKS LEWIS,
President, Garfield Turner P.T.A