Evening star., 1950-09-04
RagerStandsPa
On Segregation
End Colleges
Dr.. Corning Criticizes
Distribution of Report
On Teachers Schools

On ] euchers Schools
| DR.. Walter E. Hager, president
of Wilson Teachers College for
white students, today strongly re-
iterated his proposal to end segre-
cation in the college level Of the
District school system.
Just back in Washington after
being out of town four weeks, DR..
Hager expressed surprise that his
recommendation urging the Board
of Education to merge Wilson with
Miner Teachers College for colored
had become public.
The proposed plan was con-
tanned in the presidents required
report to DR.. Hobart M. Corning,
superintendent of schools, which
was revealed over the week end.
At that time, it was found that
copies Of the report had been re-
ceived by members of the Board
of Education and the Wilson Col
lege faculty.
Circulation Criticized.
This wide distribution of such a
report today was called "very un-
usual by DR.. Corning. who ex-
planned he considered such cor
|respondence confidential" He
added that it was the first time,
to his knowledge, one had been
circulated generally.
"Such circulation" DR.. Corning
said. would tend to eliminate
frankness between the reporting
officers and the administration"
Although DR.. Corning had no
comment on the proposal itself.
Adelbert w. Lee, vice president of
the board. called it a radical"
move. adding that DR.. Hager had
been "insubordinate" in instigat-
ing the "unorthodox" distribution
Of the report.
Stands on Report.
II certainly do stand on my
report" DR.. Hager said today. "I
made it with complete sincerity"
DR.. Hager denied that he ever
had gone on record-offlcially or
f1cially-in seeking to remove
the administration of the teachers
college from the District school
system.
'I really haven't given any
thought to such an action" he
said.
1t had been reported by school
officials that DR.. Hager had voiced
the opinion that a consolidated
teachers college should be set up
under separate controlling board
as in similar State institutions.
No Comment on Administration.
Asked if he were in favor Of
the present school administrative
structure which subordinates him
and DR.. Eugene A. Clark, Miner
College president. to the two first
assistant superintendent rather
than to DR.. Corning, DR.. Hager
replied:
'T have no comment on this
matter"
II have had no evidence that
DR.. Hager objects to the organi-
zation Of administration Of the
schools in the District" DR.. Corn
ing said today. 1--WE. have always
worked quite harmoniously to-
gether."
DR.. Hager. however, pointed out
that II believe" the Strayer re-
port recommended that the
teachers colleges be directly re-
sponsible to the superintendent of
schools. ..
Report Urged Change.
The report, which recommended
the two college presidents be
freed entirely from the control
and supervision of administrative
officers of the central school ad-
miniStration subordinate to the
superintendent" added further
that:
'The two presidents would, un-
der this proposal Irresponsible di-
rectly to the superintendent ,,
fserve as the chief administrative
officer Of the colleges with respect
to all matters that concern the
operation of their respective in
stitutions."
Several board members today
remained silent as to whether DR..
Hager had ever shown evidence of
ranking under the present sys-
tenn of reporting to Norman j.
Nelson, assistant superintendent
over teachers colleges.
They did, however, point out
that the setup was critized in the
Strayer report.
"Dr. Corning has been asked re-
peatedly by several of us to ana
lyze and report on the various rec
concentrations in the Strayer re-
port" one board member empha-
sized. "He has not done So"
Observation-Disclosures. m