Evening star., 1952-07-10
Eliot Transfer Goes
To Board Today With
Committee Backing
BY james 6. Deone

By james 6. Deone
Proposed transfer of Eliot
Junior High School to colored
use was due back before the
Board Of Education today, this
time with the support of a board
committee.
The Buildings and Grounds
Committee reversed itself yes
terday and recommended the
transfer. Two months s-ago the
committee and then the full
board rejected the move.
A new board member, Miss Mary
Harriet Parker. cast yesterdays
decisive vote. She would not state
whether she would vote similarly
today, but it appeared likely she
would. This probably would swing
the transfer. which was defeated
earlier by 5-4 vote.
Yesterdays action followed a
stormy session at which Spokes-
men for white and colored groups
Iagain stated strong opposing
views.
White residents vigorously OBJ
jected to the transfer, several
urging a switch Of Mckinley High
School instead. Some Negro citi-
lzens also urged a Substitution-o1
Eastern High School--but this was
on the ground that Eliot isn't big
enough.
Some Remarks Stricken.
One Eliot parent bitterly at
tackled the actions of Supt. Ho-
bart M. Corning. This brought q
quick rebuke from two Negro
board members, and some of the
remarks were ordered stricken
from the record.
West A. Hamilton, new Negro
member, Joined with Miss Parker
in the committee Endorsement.
Mrs. Frank S. Phillips, committee
chairman, expressed opposition.
Mrs. Phillips,s Board President
C. Melvin Sharpe, Albert E
Steinem, Adelbert w. Lee and
Mrs. E. c. Madgeburger killed the
proposal two months ago. Mr.
Lee and Mrs. Madgeburger since
have been replaced. With the
exception of another new men,
Der, Walter N. Tobriner, the rest
OF the board was expected to sup
port the move today.
Mr.. Tobriner said last night he
had not yet made up his mind.
He planned to study the ques-
ton this morning.
John M. Curran, president OF
the Southeast Washington Citi-
zens' Association. and Mrs. Mar
garet L. Stouffer Of the Eliot
Parent Teacher Association advo-
Gated the Mckinley transfer. So
did G. c. Glenn. Of the Lincoln
Park Citizens Association.
Mr.. Curran proposed switching
Mckinley pupils to Eastern. con-
verting Armstrong High School to
q junior high and using Mckinley
for both senior and Junior high
Negro pupils.
See Later Need.
Mr.. Curran and Mrs. Stouffer
both contended Eliot will be need
ed by white students in the future
even though it is half empty now.
Opposition was raised to the
transfer OF present Eliot students
to Eastern. This move, making
Eastern a combined senior-junior
high, was recommended as part
tof the Eliot plan by DR.. Corning
and was approved by the COM
mittee.
Another feature Of the plan
the elimination Of Eastern Ele-
mentary School-also aroused op-
position.
Mrs. Edna N. Quantrille. an
Eliot parent drew the rebuke after
she declared:
We're tired Of weakness. vacil-
Ilation, intrigue and above all pro-
|crastination."
Mr.. Hamilton and Mrs. Velma
9. Williams protested. Mr.. Ham-
iiton said he resented the "attacl,
on the superintendent" Refer
ring also to remarks by other
speakers, he added:
! think it takes on the nature
OF . smear campaign"
Won't Fill Full Need.
DR.. Corning told the board
members the Eliot transfer would
not fully meet the need Of new
space for Negro pupils, but he
said 1t would give very vast re-
lief"
Regarding Mckinley, he said
Armstrong pupils couldn't be
switched there at this time be-
cause no funds are available for
alterations which would be
needed. as well as provision of
technical equipment elsewhere for
displaced white students. He told
q reporter any switch of Eastern
IS out Of the question.
One board member predicted
last night that something might