Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-09
School Board
HarInonyUrged
0n|nequa|ities
District Congress
Of PTA Calls for
Statesman Attitude

The District Congress of Pa.
rents and Teachers today urged
members of the Board of Educa-
ton to work together in dealing
with inequalities in the school
system.
The PTA organizations Board
OF Managers called for States
manlike attitude" on the part of
school board members and urged
that issues be decided "in terms
OF what is best for all children
The action follows criticism of
the school board last week bv
the District Branch of the Ma
tional Association for the ADJ
vancement of Colored People.
The NAACP branch's executive
committee called for the resig-
nation of two colored board
members for not supporting de-
mands by third colored mem
Der, Mrs. Margaret j. Butcher,
that the board declare it cannot
equalize the colored and white
schools.
No Direct Reference.
No direct reference to this
controversy was made in the
statement approved by the PTA
board today. But the statement
declared that there are inequali-
ties within both colored and white
divisions. 1t also took issue in
directly with statistics showing
colored inequalities, asserting
that more than statistics are
involved"
The PTA organization has
more than $1,000 members in
81 of the city's white public
schools. The statement issued
today follows:
AS parents and citizens whose
common concern is the welfare
of their children we have fol-
lowed the actions of the Board
of Education with deep interest.
We believe that when the board
is facing some of the grave re-
SponsibilitieS involved in direct
ing our large city school system
it is imperative that all problems
be weighed in terms of what is
best for all children.
I'VE do not believe that a true
picture of a school system can
be found in percentages alone.
More than statistics are involved.
In the words of a Federal Court,
equality of school facilities can
not be decided by averaging the
facilities provided each group
In each division there are old
and new schools, which vary
widely in size and equipment.
In each division there are in
Vulnerable instances of classes
much larger than the boards
standards There is ample evil
dence of inequalities and I'M
solved problems within each divi-
sion. But we will not build the
better school system we all want
unless We consider equally the
needs of all children in all parts
of the city.
Based on Individual Merits.
I'VE urge that every effort be
made to reach all decisions on
the basis of the best interests
OF the total pupil population.
And we believe that all impor-
tant decisions should be made
on the merits of the specific is
sue. This should be done after
careful study of the data and
thoughtful consideration of the
needs of all children. The integ-
rity of each board member and
school official should protect him
from group pressures so that he
can arrive at his decision through
the exercise of his best judg-
ment.
This requires a statesmanlike
attitude which is essential to
each member of the Board of
Education. Today our city and
our schools are a focal point of
national interest. We can solve
our problems. but we can solve
them only if we work together"