Evening star., 1949-10-25
School Bias Suit
Hearing Enters
final Phase
| Judge Bryon Plans
Inspection Tour to
| Compare Conditions


Final witnesses we're being
examined today in a suit in which
colored patrons are trying to
prove that Arlington school Off
cials discriminate against Negro
pupils.
Judge Albert v. Bryan, who is
hearing the case in District Court.
expressed hope that
lawyers would complete their
work in time for a tour of inspec-
ton to two schools late this after
noon.
Judge Bryan wants to see con-
ditions at Hoffman-Boston School
for Negroes and at Washington
Lee High School for whites, on
which the court issues are
drawn.
Noted Educator Heard.
AS the hearing entered its final
stage, Judge Bryan had the testi-
mony of acknowledgement edu-
Gator that there is no evidence
that the Arlington School Board
and its officers discriminate
against pupils because of race
or color.
The official, DR.. Howard A.
Dawson. is director of rural
service for the National Education
Association. He emphasized that
his individual views do not neces-
sarily reflect the official opinions
of the NEA.
Judge Bryan also had received
a categorical denial of discrimina-
ton, from Mrs. Edmund Camp
bell, vice chairman of the School
Board. Both of these witnesses and
William A. Early, new superinten-
dent of the Arlington public
schools, testified yesterday. Then
the defense rested.
Dr. Dawson maintained that ed
ucatlonal equality cannot be
Judged from the labels" attached
to courses, or the amount of
equipment used at a school. He
said the value of schools depends
more directly upon the quality
OF instruction, the spirit" of the
establishment and a well-in-
tegrated curriculum.
The colored plaintiffs contend
that Hoffman-Boston is inferior
to Washington-Lee with respect
to courses offered, cafeteria facili-
ties, gymnasium facilities, athletic
fields, libraries and other matters.
They said white high school
pupils can study retail sales, auto
mobile mechanics, sheet metal
work and Journalism; have op-
for driver training and
have a cadet corps. None of
these is available at Hoffman,
Boston, they said.
DR.. Dawson observed that Ar
lington must operate under Vir-
ginia constitutional provision for
segregated schools. He said only
48 students attend the high school
section at Hoffman Boston,
whereas 1881 white children are
enrolled in the Washington-Lee
High School.
He said each school enjoys some
advantages over the other. He
agreed cafeteria should be estab-
lished at Hoffman-Boston and
that driver training should be
added to the colored curriculum.
He said, however, the pupils at
this school are much better off
than whites at Washington-Lee
insofar as space is concerned. He
also said the colored pupils can
benefit from more individual at
tention of instructors.
Points to His Record.
When a lawyer for the colored
patrons raised a question about
DR.. Dawson's possible bias or
the educator said he
has long fought for improvement
of Negro schools and would not
favor segregation in Arlington
County if State laws did not re-
quire it.
He said that while Hoffman,
Boston is not as large as the
ideal" student body, Washington
Lee is far larger than the ideal.
He said it is possible to obtain
better results with one competent
teacher instructing small class
in several related subjects, than
for several specialists to teach the
various courses in large. separate
classes.
Thus, he testified, the course
labels" which can be found in the
Washington-Lee curriculum do
not necessarily prove the white
students enjoy advantage over
pupils at Hoffman-Boston, whose
lists no such courses.
Denies Discrimination.
Mrs. Campbell, who formerly
was dean at Mary Baldwin Col
lege and whose husband is chair
man of the board of that institu-
tion, emphatically denied any dis
elimination against Negroes.
I'm fact" she stated, "the School
Board has been accused by some
people, who don't think as we do,
Of having shown decided prefer
ences to the colored pupils of Ar
lington." She said there are diff
ferences in physical equipment and
curriculums but declared she be-
lieves educational opportunities to
be equal between the races.
The suit, filed about two years
ago, was brought in the name of
Constance Cartel, now II, for
merly a Hoffman-Boston student.
She recently married and is not
now enrolled. Yesterday, her at
torneys obtained permission to
add the names of two more pu-
pills as plaintiffs. These are Peggy
ord If,1i,,S Rrevard