Evening star., 1952-11-19
By jones G. Deone

A shortage of books and supplies
is seriously hampering instruction
at two of the Districts Negro
junior high schools, it was learned
today.
The schools are Eliot and
Douglass. Eliot is the harder hit.
At both schools some pupils
have no books on some subjects
and others are doubling up on
those available. In many cases
they can't take the books home.
Teachers are mimeographing
lesson sheets for bookless classes.
Supplies Must BE Borrowed.
Both schools also are so low on
paper, pencils, erasers and other
school essentials that their prin-
cipals have had to borrow from
other schools on a personal basis.
At Eliot, the sewing teacher has
had to provide her own needles
and thread. Geography teachers
have bought their own maps.
Eliot is putting on a movie FRI
day to try to raise $148 for mimeo-
graph paper purchased by its prin-
cipal. ...
Eliot was transferred from white
to Negro pupils this fall. Douglass
has just moved into a new build
ing. Both are crowded, and Eliot
also has a critical teacher short
age. The Board of Education was
due to consider the teacher prob
lem today.
Officials Aware of Problem.
School officials also are aware
of the supply situation. What will
be done about it is not too clear.
however.
There is also some mystery
about why it came about.
Eliot was ordered transferred
to colored pupils last summer, to
relieve crowding at several colored
junior highs. Supplies and books
were supposed to be transferred
from other schools with the stu
dents.
But colored junior high enroll
ment jumped more than 1,400
pupils this fall. AS a result. while
Eliot has taken almost 1,100 pu-
pills, the other schools have filled
up behind them.
So, according to Associate Supt.
Francis A. Gregory, there hasn't
been any surplus Of books and
supplies to send.
AS for Douglass, it had 428 pu-
pills a year ago, but now has 802.
The pupils have jumped far
ahead of available supplies.
Many Books Outdated.
Faced with this situation, Off
cials before schools opened or
dered a collection Of surplus books
from the white schools. Eliot got
about 5000 and Douglass has been
given several thousand more.
But they aren't enough. And
many of them are worn and OUT
dated.
Charles N. Zellers, assistant to
Supt. Hobart M. Corning in charge
of school business affairs, said to-
day the schools haven't enough
money to order new books for the
two schools now. The lack of
money also was the reason no
special supplies were bought
earlier for Eliot, he said.
Mr.. Zellers also explained that
the schools established budget
procedure prevents buying in ad-
vance for an expected higher en-
rollment. The budget Is always
based on enrolment a year ago,
he said. So it wouldn't have been
possible to order new books last
summer. even though officials
knew more colored youngsters
were coming.
Some Books to Be Returned.
Mr.. Zellers said he received q
memorandum on the Eliot book
situation from Mr.. Gregory No
vember 6. A business advisory
committee, which he heads, win
consider the matter Monday. he
added.
But he said another search for
surplus books In the white schools
appears TO offer the only immedi-
ate relief. New books can't be
bought until next fall. he said.
Requests from Eliot for home
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