Evening star., 1952-09-07

ton next week.
Public schools reopen a week
from tomorrow. Teachers expect
to welcome over 101.700 young
sters-a record number.
Crowding will be a problem. An
other problem, even more veXing,
will be teacher shortage. Both,
however, primarily affect Negro
schools. although a few white
schools also will feel the space
pinch. Some part time classes are
expected.
For the third straight year, Ne
gro pupils will outnumber white.
The margin this year is expected
to pass 5000.
Two former white schools
Eliot Junior High and Fairbrother
Elementary-will reopen for Ne
groes. More white-to-Negro school
transfers are being talked about,
although no more are scheduled
Immediately. Three brand-new
Negro schools also are about to
open.
The teacher unbalance has
rocked the school system. Many
permanent white junior and senior
high teachers now are being re-
assigned to lower grades. They
will replace white temporary
teachers. The money saved will
be used to hire more Negroes.
Some white temporary teachers
may have to be released.
This emergency move un-
precedented in the Washington
schools reduce the Negro
teacher shortage. But it won't
eliminate it. And it's only STOP
gap. By a year from now even
more Negro teachers undoubtedly
will be needed. More white teach
ers may have to be fired.
A revamped Board of Education
is graphing with these problems.
Four new members have been ap-
pointed since last term-three to
replace members whose terms ex-
pired, one to replace member who
resigned. There is hope for closer
cooperation with Supt. Hobart
M. Corning. but the cooperation
won't always be unanimous.
Two of the new board members
have advocated publicly letting
the superintendent do his own job,
without interference from the
board. But some citizens are out
spokenly critical of the school ad-
miniStration. Pressure on the
board is inevitable. Fireworks
especially on the racial issue-are
possible.
A more basic question is in the
hands of the courts. The Supreme
Court is due to rule on some keyI
school segregation cases this win
ter. Although they don't affect
, the District directly, their out
come could spell the eventual end
of the segregated system. This
would mean new administrative
headaches.
The court situation is outlined
in another story on this page.
Here is how the chief problems
look in greater detail:
Crowded Clossrooms
Spingarn High School for
Negroes, the Districts first new
high school since World War II,
is ready to open. This term It'll
will probably be 200 short of its
1874 capacity. At midyear its
student body is expected to topI
capacity. Other Negro senior highs
already are full.
Terrell Junior High and Doug
lass Junior High, replacements for
older buildings. also are being
readied for opening. These two
new Negro schools will provide al
few extra claSSroomS, but they
don't do much to meet a rapidly
growing Negro Junior high popu-
lation.
= Both schools are being COM
pleted ahead of schedule. Two
weeks ago, builders went on over
time to finish Douglass classrooms.
It's gym, shops, cafeteria and audi
torium won't be ready for some
time. If the clasSrooms aren't
ready on time, pupils will have to
use the old Birney School, forcing
overflow Garfield Turner elemen-
tary pupils, now scheduled to
move there, onto temporary part
time.
Four classes are expected to go
on halliday schedules at the
Payne Elementary School, and
two at nearby Maury School, both
for Negroes. Payne had eight
part-time classes the first semes-
ter last year. Parents staged al
school strike in protest against
pupil shifts caused by crowding.
Garfield and Turner might need
part-time classes even if Douglass
opens, because of mushrooming
housing. Officials hope not.
About half of the Negro elemen-
tary schools will be crowded, butt
officials hope to avoid any more
doubling up.
Expect 500 Over Capacity.
Simon, the city's biggest and
newest white elementary school,
will be the worst crowded among
white schools. Nearly 500 pupils
over its 936 capacity are expected.
Part-tine classes are possible, but
may be avoided. Two converted
shower rooms will house some
pupils.
other crowded white elemen-
taries are Patterson. Congress
Heights, Stanton, Davis, Kimball,
Bunker Hill, Keene and Shepherd.
Three white junior highs-Paul,
Taft and Kramer-wil be Is per
cent over normal capacity, and
Deal will be full. The rest will be
only about so or 70 per cent oc-
cupied.
New construction will help some
crowded schools soon. Turner will
have a new top floor next spring.