Evening star., 1954-05-20
School Board Maps
Pledge Of Fairness
During Integration

"A pIeuSc 10 carry OUT racial
integration in the District school
system fairly and without dis
elimination is being prepared by
a committee of the Board of
Education.
The board is scheduled to hold
its first meeting on integration
plans at 10 am. Tuesday, and
the pledge will be submitted at
that time.
Walter N. Tobriner proposed
the pledge during yesterdays
regular monthly board meeting,
and he was named chairman of
a special committee to do the
drafting.
Mr.. Tobriner first labeled the
proposed statement "a set of
principles. precipitating wran-
gle between board members and
Supt. Hobart M. Corning, who
protested that such a statement
might conflict with recommended
tions he plans to submit to the
board Tuesday. The board split
in a 4-to-3 vote in approving the
Tobriner move.
Conflict RecOnciIed.
After the meeting, however,
Mr.. Tobriner said he saw no
possibility of conflict with the
superintendent's proposals, since
he intended only a very general
statement. And DR.. Corning to-
day said he had not understood
this fact during the meeting and
that he also now expected no
conflict.
Mr.. Tobriner said his inten-
tlon was for a statement Of
moral principle, which would
promise that there would be no
discrimination in hiring and fir
ing OF employees or in pupil as
signmentS to schools. He said
he had no intention of trying to
decree the speed of integration
or when it will start, or to deal
with administrative procedures,
in advance Of DR.. Corning's re-
port.
1T will be hardly more than
saying we are against SIM" Mr..
Tobriner said.
DR.. Corning did not make clear
yesterday just how far his own
recommendations will go. The
superintendent and top aides
have been working on them for
some months, but they have been
kept a close secret.
Will Have "Set of Principles"
DR.. Corning did state that they
include a specific set of prin-
ciples" intended to govern ad-
ministrative procedures. He
added:
This is not a detailed admin
istrative report, except in so far
as to illustrate how the principles
to be recommended will operate
and make clear what the prin-
ciples actually stand for"
Problems to be dealt with in
clude pupil and teacher reassign-
ments, merging of the present
dual administrative staffs, teach
er examining and hiring, and the
future of a number of school
buildings.
A majority of the school board |
members have told The Star they |
favor ending race restrictions by
September, but the board has not |
vet considered formally the ques- |
ton of when the integration pro-
gram will start and how fast it
will proceed.
CrOwding to Be Dealt With.
Mr.. Tobriner said today that
he would like to see no over
crowded schools remaining in the
city in September, however, and
it is expected that the board will
try to deal promptly with all
emergency crowding situations.
References to separate Negro
and white schools in existing
laws still must be cleared away
by Congress. 1t is not known
whether this necessity will prove
a stumbling block to quick in
tegration.
DR.. Corning has already stated
publicly that he favors prompt,
rather than gradual, integration
and a majority of the board is
eXDected to po along