Evening star., 1952-12-18
Board Will Seek
Views on Way:to
IntegrateSchoo|s
Votes, 5 to z, to
Assay Ideas for
Possible Order
By jones G. Deone

lie 0OdTO OF EQucaClOn is PLAN
ming to seek the views of District
civic leaders on the mechanics OF
ending public school segregation in
case the Supreme Court orders It
The date Of the meeting is YET
to be set.
The board voted S to 2 for the
move yesterday after Walter N
Tobriner, who proposed it. said the
board would be highly derelict if IL
didn't make plans to meet such a
possibility.
City officials, leading citizens
clergymen and spokesmen for civic
groups will be invited to appear
In addition to the question of
mechanics, they will be asked what
educational preparation they think
might be necessary to make in
tegration work smoothly.
Mr.. Tobriner said he was advised
that Supt. Hobart M. Corning al
ready is making plans to meet a
possible integration order. DR..
Corning recently refused to discuss
this matter with reporters, but he
has disclosed that he has made in
quiries Of other cities with integra-
ton experience.
Two Call Move Premature.
Mrs. Frank S. Phillips and
Robert r. Faulkner opposed yes
terday's action. They said they
it premature.
Vice President Albert E. Steinem
said he felt the Districts cor
poration counsel should be con-
suited first to make sure his posi-
ton before the court would not
be prejudiced. The District is in
volved in one of the five school
segregation cases now before the
high court.
Mr.. Steinem did not vote, how
ever, since he was presiding in
the absence of President c. Mel
vim Sharpe. who was out of. town.
Mr.. Tobriner discounted the
concern about the corporation
counsel. asserting the board ac-
ton would not prejudice the case.
West A. Hamilton, colored
member, said it is important for
the board to get advice from a
cross-section of the community
so we won't be embarrassed, and
so we won't be running around
in circles" if integration is or
dered. He said the advice would
help soften the blow"
KOrman's Action Protested.
Wesley S. Williams and Mrs
Velma G. Williams, the other COL
ored members, complained that
Assistant Corporation Counsel
Milton Norman had not sought
the opinions of school board mem
bers before presenting the Dis
trlct's case. Board members tech
nically are defendants in the case,
which involves the boards refusal
to admit a colored child to the
white SouSa Junior High School.
Mr.. Norman is acting as the
boards attorney.
Mr.. Tobriner. however, said it
was unfair to criticize Mr.. Kor-
man. since it was his duty to up
hold the law.
Mr. Norman last week told the
Supreme Court the dual school
system was established by Con-
gress and should be ended only
BY Congress. Asked if he thought
it was time to end it, he said he
did not.
Mrs. Williams, commenting on
the court case. told the School
Board there is mo such thing"
as separate but equal schools.
She declared:
II know we do not have equal
facilities. enough teachers or any
thing"
Others Fail to Comment.
Other board members did not
comment on her assertion.
Supt. Corning told the board
the purpose of the meeting with
civic leaders would not be to
argue the question of segregation
or integration, but to get advice
on how integration could operate
best.
Mrs. Frances c. Payne Of the
colored Bruce Elementary School
PTA asked the board to transfer
the white Raymond or Petworth
school to replace Bruce. She COM
planned of overcrowding. cold
stairways and washrooms and in
adequate play facilities at Bruce,
part of which was built in 1898,
School officials already have
said a Raymond or Petworth.
transfer is under consideration
for some future date. DR.. Corning
was asked to report to the board
on what can be done to remedy
the Bruce situation.
William Mackey. education
chairman of the Federation OF
Citizens Associations. protested
recent transfers of teachers and
counselors in the white schools
to provide money for more Negro
teachers. The Federation adopted
a resolution on the subject at its
last meeting.
Lloyd Buchanan. Of the Janney
PTA, told the board the trans
fer of one Janney teacher is caus-
ing an "upheaval" throughout the
school. He asked the board to find
some other way Of meeting the
Negro teacher need. Mr.. Steinem
said the board is doing the only
thing it can, however.