Evening star., 1953-12-18
Corning Cites
Difficulties in
Equalization
Attaining Goal on
Teachers ImmediuteI\
Held Impossible
By jones G. Deone

AAAOAAAOS OAA04AZAAA6 VI O1lC
Districts white and colored
teacher stats would cause seri-
GUS difficulties in the white
schools, according to top District
school officials.
Supt. Hobart M. Corning and
his top deputy, Norman j. Nell
son, took this stand yesterday in
reaction to the Board of Educa-
tion's Wednesday order either to
equalize facilities or explain why
they can't.
DR.. Corning told reporters fiat
ly that immediate teacher equal
ization is impossible. He also
stated that doing it by February
1.-The start of the next semester
is also virtually an impossi-
bility."
Mrs. Margaret j. Butcher, COL
ored board member, demanded
Wednesday that the present
white teacher surplus and what
she labeled as other striking in
equalities" between the two divi-
sions be wiped out no later than
the beginning of February. The
school board, while instructing
the superintendent to try to end
the inequalities, didn't insist on
it, but the board did vote to call
him to account.
Report Due January 20.
DR.. Corning is due to report
back to the board January 20.
He made it clear yesterday that
he has not retreated basically
from his position in a report
made month ago, when he said
he already was equalizing condi-
tions in the two school divisions
as quickly as possible.
School officials concede a cur
rent surplus on paper-of 1873
white teachers. They also con-
cede a colored teacher shortage
of IS. Both figures are mathe-
matical, averages. DR.. Corning
and his aides say the white sur
plus, in practical terms. actually
isn't that large.
The two school officers said
yesterday that complete elimina-
tion of this surplus now would
mean:
l. Dismissing some white tenn
porary teachers.
2. ReaSSigning some white
high school teachers to lcNer
grades for which they have no
experience or training. This
already has happened in some
cases, to the harm of instruction
being given white children, Mr..
Nelson said.
3. Depriving some white Junior
and senior high pupils of some
courses. Mr.. Nelson said the
number of students affected by
this would probably not be many.
however.
Transfers a Problem.
4. Transfer of some whit e
buildings to Negroes. DR.. Corn
ing said he doesn't know yet
how many transfers might be
necessary. He also pointed out
he can't make them-transfers
must be ordered by the school
board after public hearings.
5. Possible construction of new
buildings
The school system, DR.. Corn
ing pointed out, actually has
been doing all these things ex-
cept the third for several years,
in an effort to catch up with
mushrooming Negro enrolment.
Some white teachers were dis
missed and many more were
shifted to lower grades last win
ter. And some dismisSals are
slated next month. when 81
more salaries will be transferred
to the colored schools.
The school boards action on
Wednesday simply requires, said
the superintendent, that he and
his colleagues "do the same as
we have been doing but to step
1t up"
Plans DiSmiSSaIS.
The superintendent agreed
that he has changed his posi-
ton of a month ago to the extent
of planning new white teacher
dismisSals. On November 18 he
said. by contrast, that reductions
in the white teacher force could
proceed only "as rapidly as
vacancies occur"
But DR.. Corning said he is
standing by the rest of that re-
port. which has been attacked
sharply by DR.. Butcher.
One declaration in the Corn
ing report was that it would be
impossible to operate the white
schools if all surplus teachers
were dispensed with. This, DR..
Corning said, is because the
children "are not all under one
roof" but are too unevenly as
signed over the city to be able
to spare the so-called surplus
teachers.
The report also said nothing
could be done about moving
Armstrong High Schools colored
students to Mckinley High
School-now white-without an
appropriation to renovate Nc
Kinley and provide technical
equipment for white pupils else
where. It also said little could
be done about reducing colored
kindergarten waiting lists with
out more money for teachers and
buildings.
Plans Another Look.
DR.. Corning, until Wednesday,
maintained he would propose no
Armstrong Mckinley shift pend
ing a Supreme Court race-segre-
cation ruling. He said yesterday
he will take another look at the
matter now. He also indicated
he will consider other possible
building transfers in the light
of Wednesdays board action.
Every possibility of giving
additional relief will he thor