Evening star., 1952-07-17
Mckinley Head
Sees Reluctant
on Shift
Agrees Thut Transfer
To Negroes Is in Best
Interest of District
By james 6. Deone

The end of Mckinley High as a
white school would be difficult
thing for many people to accept,
it's principal says.
1T will be difficult" he declared,
"for me-"
But I feel" DR.. Charles, E.
Bish added, that they will ac-
cept it when they understand it is
in the best interest of the city as
a whole"
This was the reaction of McKin-
ley's present head to the an
nouncement yesterday that the
schools transfer to Negroes prob
ably is in store.
School Supt. Hobart M. Corning
said he isn't ready to recommend
the transfer formally yet. But he
said he probably will do so early
next term. which starts in Sep
tember.
The actual transfer probably
couldn't take place for two years,
he said.
Other Proposals Seen.
Mckinley would replace Arm
strong High, part of which prob
ably would be torn down and the
rest converted to a junior high.
DR.. Corning said he also
probably will propose switching
the two teachers colleges-Wil-
son to Western High and Miner
to Langley Junior High. Langley
pupils might go to Mckinley too,
while Westerns would go to Will
son High.
The superintendent said the
three switches could save SIS
million in new construction, minus
certain renovation costs and re-
placement Of Techs mechanical
equipment. He refused to dis
close another IS million worth of
transfer suggestions, calling them
too preliminary.
DR.. Bish has been McKinley's
principal for only four years. His
predecessor. Frank c. Daniel, held
the post for 36 years and has pro-
portionately more reason for re-
GREETING the schools possible pass
ing. Mr.. Daniel is out of town
just now.
But I feel as deeply as many
old Techites about the school," DR..
Bish said.
He pointed out that he has good
reason.
The school in origin is one of
the city's oldest. It's present build
ing is one of the city's finest.
And it has always been noted
for that intangible called spirit.
This demonstrated itself especially
this past school year with a month
long celebration of Techs 50th
anniversary. It has always dem
onstrated itself in sports, parent
teacher activity and the general
conduct of the student body.
The anniversary celebration
marked the opening Of Techs first
building at Seventh street and
Rhode Island avenue NV. Actu-
ally the schools history began II
years earlier, in 1885, with a
manual training hobby group at
Central High School which even
tually expanded into some rented
houses opposite Central and a
formal training program.
Cost $3,175,000.
The present building opened in
1923. It cost $3,175, ,O00-a lot for
those days-and was considered
the very last word. The Star
called it second to none in the
East. On its elevated site at
Second and T streets NE, it still
is one of the Capitals most i'm
posing.
Once it had more than 2,700
students. For next fall DR.. Bish
forsees barely 900. This-and the
recent evolution of the schools
surroundings-are the crux of the
transfer matter.
The city's Negro schools are
overcrowded. A year ago, Langley
Junior High School-next door to
McKinley-became a Negro school.
This accelerated a population
change in the Mckinley neighbor-
hood. And the change is still con-
tinuing, while Mckinley becomes
emptier.
Maintaining a half empty plant
is expensive, according to DR.. Bish.
Some would term it luxury.