Evening star., 1950-06-02

coiumnS interfere with games. 1t
has no basketball court, dressing
room, lockers or shower facilities.
Washington-Lee has a large we'll
arranged cafeteria In which lunches
are served. Hoffman Boston has no
cafeteria or lunch room facilities
but plans have been made for a
cafeteria to open in September, 1850.
Washington lice has an infirmary
equipped with six beds and first
aid equipment. Hoffman Boston has
no infirmary, clinic or first-aid
room but nurse spends three after
moons a week there.
There are many subjects taught
at Washington-Lee that are not
given al Hoffman Boston. The list
of these subjects includes courses in
speech, journalism, solid geometry,
commercial arithmetic, bookkeeping
automobile mechanics, woodworking,
printing, etc.
Washington-Lee Is accredited by
the we'll recognized regional ac-
crediting agency, the Southern As
sociation of Colleges and Secondary
Schools and by the Virginia State
Department of Education.
Never Fully Accredited.
Hoffman-Boston was accredited
by the latter for the first time in
1948-49 on a probationary basis but
has never been accredited by the
former.
The white pupils at Washington
Lee enjoy various extra -curricular
activities, such as glee clubs, cho-
ruses, cadet corps, publication staffs,
Hi-Y organizations, debating clubs
and various athletic teams and are
eligible for nomination to the Ma
tional Honorary Scholastic Society
and for the receipt of the Bausch
& Lomb Honorary Science Award.
None Of these activities and
awards are availableto the colored
pupils at Hoffman Boston.
The failure to provide these op-
portunities cannot be defe Ided on
the ground that their absence is
mainly attributable to the size or
location of the school.
1t is contended that many courses
are not given at Hoffman-Boston
because they have not been re-
quested or desired by the students
and that to provide for such a de-
mand If it should arise q survey is
made in the spring Of each year to
ascertain what subjects the students
will desire for the following session.
Interrogatories are issued to the
students in attendance as to their
desires for the next session and
inquiries are made at public meet
ings of parents in parents and
teachers associations and similar
organizations; and 1t is said that
If any course is found needed, 1t is
provided.
This procedure, however, Is not
followed at Washington-Lee where
all courses in the curriculum are
available each year to every eligible
pupil without previous demand or
request. This difference in pro-
cedure cannot be sustained.
Burden ON ColOred.
1t places a burden upon the
colored student and deprives him
of the opportunity of taking q
course of instruction unless he has
determined to take it months in
advance, whereas the white student
may apply at the opening of the
session and obtain the desired in
struction. >. (Supreme Court case
In f6fthar defense sff ii sghe failure
to furnish certain courses to the
students at Hoffman Boston, it is
pointed out that the school author
tiles of Arlington County have
adopted the policy Of sending Negro
vocational pupils to- the MANASSAS
Reg1 g1onal @choel lswhieh siss sitaaated
rs miles distant in Prince William
County, Va. Only one Negro stu
dent has availed himself OF this
opportunity.
1t does not offer, in our opinion,
an equivalent advantage for colored
students desiring courses which are
given to white students in Washing
ton-Lee in Arlington County.
(Cites similar question in Pulaski
County CVa.) case)
Recited for Illustration.
The above recital of existing con-
ditions at the two schools Is not
intended to cover the whole field of
physical plant and instruction, but
rather to demonstrate by illustra-
ton that discrimination in the
treatment accorded the students of
the two races undoubtedly prevails.
. Footnote appended reviewing
District Courts findings and COM
parisons.)
It is established, however, that
the right Of the individual student
to the privilege of public instruction
equivalent to that given by the in
dividual student of another race. is
a personal one and equivalency can
not be determined by weighing the
respective advantages furnished to
the two groups of which the indlvid-
uals are members. Ceases cited }
The view was expressed by the
trial court that the differences be-
tween the two high schools are not
determinations outlawed by the
Fourteenth Amendment, but cnly
such variations as might be ex-
pected to exist between any two
schools, spring from differences OF
size, location or methods of in
Struction; and that the State need
not furnish the same or similar
treatment to its citizens, but may
vary the form of its benefits pro-
vided all citizens receive shares OF
equal value.
Again it was said that differences
may exist between the provisions
made for white and for colored citi-
Zens without fouling the amend
ment, If the differences result Only
from unattentive stewardship OF
faulty judgement, and that such
shortcomings are defects of admin
istration to be corrected by the re-
sponsible authorities and are not
constitutional defects for judicial
interference.
Are Not Safe Guide.
These holdings may not be taken
as safe guides by the school au-
L u