The Illinois times. (Champaign, Ill.) 19??-19??, 1953-05-28

lohesen sad She described Tx y
pctvntes 81 hef Two children. who
Revived lstni>sion 10 attend Colum-
h'a School (which principally has a
white enntllnNnt two wears ago.
1 wanted ny children 10 have
>omc CONTACTS ,ilh white children
l,cto,c goins 10 unim high 4hool."
Mrs. Johnson sli,l. Sincc Columbia
School has a lunch program. could
uN III. own time lor administrative
and supcr isorv duties without wor-
nine about mn ehilduns' lunches,
she added.
Ii "a> onlv after pressure that
the board established the Illinois
Central RAILROAD tracks as tho cast
ern boundary al { Columbus School, =
Mrs. Johnson sud. Board has stat
cd only boundary lines in the dis
trict arc those which arc necessary
because OF crowded enrollments.
Mrs. Johnson said she made no
issue of the indcceneies and threats
she received because her children
were attending Columbia School.
She found it necessary. however, to
ask Tor police protection and taxi
service for them.
She added the children were adj
lustina with white children an d
many lasting friendships were
made" Mrs. johnson said it was
the voice of parents and non-parents
who maintained Columbia School
should not be trespassed upon by
colored children. .
Mrs. Johnson letter To the Cour-
icr oiIcl. the >e,ond ol two possible
solutions L. iniegra,ion. Her first,
offered ue>dss, involved establish
ing boundary lines throughout
{ hampa,gn and employment Of Ne
gro teachers in schools other than
Willard, La"hcad and Washington.
Seeo d snlution, suggested
"Wednesday. involves bus trsnspor-
tation Tor children IN Carver Park
and Burch Village across the rail-
road tracks and Market Street 10
Columbia School.
he administrative mechanics OF
intcgration are very simple" Mrs.
Johnson said She added: Il know
that another Negro family asked to
have their children attend Colum-
bia School and they were refused"
II boundary lines are established
they should be respected. Yet we
have white children crossing the
railroad tracks which have been set
up as the BOUNDARY (White chill
drcn living near Marquette School
east OF the tracks attend Columbia
School west OF the traoks.)
Ii this decision OF the board
for a boundary line at the tracks)
has been rcscinded because OF the
ncw addition TO Columbia School
providing more space, then it should
be known and Negro children in
this area allowed to attend a school
thai has hot lunch program.
" bus could pick up the chill
drcn in Carver Park and Burch VIII
LACE and take the Youngsters across
the railroad tracks and Market Street
IN Columbia School. Two or three
Negro teachers could be placed in
thai school too Then we would
NOT have an al Negro group with
negro teacher As ue have now.
At the same time, a bus could
bring load OF pupils from Stadium
Terrace and lllini Village to our
school Washington SCHOOL,, thus
relieving the over-crowded condi-
ton at AVestview School. One or
two white teachers could be en-
ployed in our building very sim
pie adninistrativcly, but very diff
cult if the public viii NOT speak
and let the board know il is ready
for Indignation.
4set4o,-e, Airs. I.alss~soss~ open
leucr Alon,la, l,,s.i,a'sIs viii l~ con
,,l,...I bv National Association Tor
i fala,sd i'sssf,ic af