Arkansas State press., 1951-01-26
DOWN OUR Way

THE MERRILL HIGH SCHOOL GYM
NASIuM according to announcements made
through local newspapers will be ready for
Use by the beginning of the 1951-1952
school term. II Is regretted that there has
not been sufficient organizational interest
IN improvements at the high school which
won aecredation more than year ago
without any physical facility for adequate
recreation for the students of Merrill. Sever
al students have made some complaints
which ought to receive the consideration of
some organized group in Pine Bluff, and if
what is reported by them is half true, then
some very drastic action ought to be taken
IN helping round out the administrative diff
fculties and problems which are reported
and eventually bring about the change in
personnel which has oftimes in private been
suggested Except for the gymnasium at the
Jefferson High School there Is no other such
facility provided for the students in high
SchOol in the city. 1t Is strange that no such
facility has been provided, and even more
perplexing that the leaders of this commu-
nifty have not been sufficiently aroused to
act with vigor toward remedying the situa-
lion. Promises have been made for MANY
years. but all of the promises have only
served TO bolster the complacency which is
so necessary to further the policy of provid-
ing for white students first and colored chill
dren last. Without engaging in PERSONAL
Ties, 1t appears that the office of principal,
ana the superintendent of schools in this
city, owe some more direct and positive ex-
PLANTATION of the delay in providing ample
ana adequate school facilities for Negro
children. The piecemeal expenditures which
are being made under the threat and pres
sure which the Negro leaders have repre-
sented to the officials, seem not quite so
effective. AS Nation, we are now called
upon for trained bodies and minds. The is
sue OF segregation Is the one great problem
when we must face, and we might as we'll
Degin to undertake the task despite what the
appeasers declare 1.-THE time amt ripe"
segregation in our schools is doomed and 7
am optimistic enough to believe that 1t will
happen in our day and time. If our money
is spent, let it be spent for permanence and
adequacy for we will all be using the same
SCHOOLS IN not too many years afar. The
more We spend In an effort to hold on To
the traditions of the south will do more to
convert the taxpayers and citizens to the
christian like way than any thing I now
mink Of &c. spend up and we will soon be
speaking up for DEMOCRACY with the
* completely out in meaning!
THE WAR EFFORT AND BOMB
SHELTERS will probably come up for dis.
cussion In state legislative bodies as we'll
as local city councils. 1t will be interesting
to watch the trend as to the problem of
SEGREGATION. I wonder will the bomb
shelters have signs such as FOR WHITE"
and FOR COLORED". The Army has taken
down the signs on the walls In the camps
here at home, and even in the south. and
me soldiers seem to be doing quite nicely.
The boys are fighting together in Korea
ana the color question does not plague us,
except that we find 1t necessary to send
lawyer there to defend Negro soldiers in
TOKYO courts-martial. But, these times pose
an interesting question, what Is to be the
physical arrangement Of the shelters IL and
'when our country Is attacked? can ONLY
nope that whatever the arrangement is that
we snail not have to 60 around to the back
door which reminds me of the FEUD IN
THE JEFFERSON COUNTY HEALTH DE-
PARTMENT, where the present health Of
ficer or director, or whatever the official
title may be, has found himself on the de-
tense and the Negro people here well re-
call that DR.. w. H. Bruce through his policy
at the Health Center, has made way for the
entrance of the Negro patrons via the BACK
DOOR ONLY! The Negroes here will well
come change and trust that the present
feud will not only bring about a change in