Evening star., 1950-09-11
Negro Student
Offered Course
At WI. High
Would Get Instruction
When White Glasses
Were Not in Shop


Arlington school officials today
offered to instruct a Negro stu
dent at Westinghouse High
school for white students.
Under the proposal, the instruc-
,tion would be given in a classroom
not being used at the time by
white students.
The offer was one of four choices
given a student at the county's
Hoffman-Boston School for Ne
groes, who requested an auto me-
chanics course which is not now
taught at that school. Last Fri
day the School Board was ordered
+ by Federal District Court. Alexan-
dria, to provide facilities for Negro
students equal to those for white
children.
The State constitution, section
140, says: white and colored
children shall not be taught in
the same school"
The course was requested at
Hoffman-Boston this morning by
Richard o. Green. II. of 1906
South Eighteenth street. He is a
senior.
Ransom Advises Parents.
Assistant Schools Supt. Charles
j. Walsh said he told young Green
he could choose between taking
the course at Hoffman, Boston,
where he would be the only stu
dent in the class (this would re-
uuire bringing a teacher and
equipment from Washington-Lee
each day; taking the course in a
District school with tuition paid
by the Arlington School Board:
taking the course at the Manassas
Technical School. or taking it in
the Washington-Lee automotive
shop in the afternoon when white
students are not being instructed.
The youth said he would like
to talk the proposals over with
his parents, Mr.. and Mrs. Rich
ard H. Green, before making a
decision.
Leon Ransom, Washington at
torney, said he had advised the
youths parents to accept the Of
fer of instruction at Washington
Lee because there is a fully
equipped shop room there.
Schools Supt. William A. Early
announced later. however, that
Mrs. Green had elected to have
her son study the course at Hoff-
man Boston Mr.. Early said
plans were being made accordingly
to have the necessary equipment
and books ready there as soon as
possible.
Informed of Mrs. Green's choice,
Mr.. Ransom was attempting to
get in touch with her. He said he
wanted to see if she knew of all
alternatives offered Richard at
the school this morning.
School Additions Planned.
Last weeks court order came
as the result of suits brought by
colored students at Hoffman
Boston, who claimed they were
denied the same courses taught
white students. Mr.. Ransom was
counsel In that case. The suit,
known as the Constance Carter
case, was won by the Arlington
School Board when first argued
in Federal Court, but was reversed
on appeal and remanded to the
Alexandria court, which then is
sued the final order in the case.
Miss Carter. meanwhile, dropped
out of the case, but it was car
ried on in the names of Julius
Brevard and Peggy Council.
Arlington has plans for an ad-
dition to Hoffman-Boston. The
court, however, instructed Arling-
ton to have the same or equal
facilities for Negroes "as soon as"
they are provided for children of
any other race. Today is the
first school day since entry of
that order.
Young Green began his school
ing at Kemper Elementary School
in Arlington. He said he decided
to study printing when he reached
the 7th grade, and attended Shaw
Junior High. School in Washing
ton ~ -
He later attended Armstrong
High School here to study brick
laying, he said, but transferred tc
Hoffman-Boston when he learned
the same course was offered there.
He said he got interested in
auto mechanics last year, and
started to study that subject
nights at Armstrong while con-
tinuing day classes at Hoffman
Boston. Now he has decided ne
no longer wants to go to school at
night. 81.
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