Evening star., 1954-04-14
Use Of White Schools
For Negro Meetings
Is No Longer Banned
By jones 6. Deone

A long -standing-although un-
written-ban against use of white
schools for after-school Negro
community meetings has been
ended by the District Recrea-
tion Board
The board yesterday authorized
Recreation Supt. Milo F. Chris
tiansen to grant permits for after
school use of school buildings en-
tlrely at his own discretion.
The board, in adopting the
new policy. made no reference to
the racial question. But the ac-
tion has the effect of leaving it
up to Mr.. Christensen to decide
whether to grant individual ap-
plications for use of schools.
And both board members and
the superintendent said it was
the intention to allow such use
without regard to race whenever
this appears justified.
Might OK Application.
Mr.. Christensen said he might
grant an application of colored
group for use of a white school,
If the colored group had no
other convenient place to meet.
He refused to commit himself on
any specific case in advance,
however.
No applications are pending
now, the superintendent said.
1t was an application by the
colored Woodbridge Civic Associa-
ton to meet in the white Wood
ridge School that brought the
policy change. The Woodbridge
group complained to the Board
Of Education when its applica-
ton was denied, and the school
board referred the matter to the
Recreation Board.
The subject was argued at a
public hearing recently. Some
white organization spokesmen
opposed the granting of the
broader authority to the recrea-
ton superintendent, but a ma
jority of witnesses testified
favorably.
DR.. Osborn T. Smallwood, pres
ident of the Woodbridge, group,
said today the association expects
to hold all its future meetings
in Woodbridge School. Mr.. Chris
tiansen and Mrs. Alice C. Hunter,
Recreation Board secretary, said
DR.. Smallwood's statement was
premature, however, since the as
sociation still must make formal
application.
Normally civic groups are re-
quired to apply in the spring for
use of school buildings during
the following fall and winter.
Deadline for such applications
is April 26.
Affects Playground.
Besides schools, the new pol
icy also leaves to Mr.. Christian
sens discretion the granting of
permits for special use of all
Fairgrounds and other facilities
controlled by the Recreation
Department.
Yesterdays action leaves un-
affected, however, the status of
play areas for regular use. The
department. has some all-white
and all-Negro Fairgrounds in
addition to number that are
open to both races, and these
will continue to operate as at
present.
Mrs. o. G. Hankins was the
only board member who voted
against the liberalized policy yes
terday.
On other matters yesterday
the board:
Adopted a rule forbidding en-
ployeS from using alcoholic bev-
erages while on duty at recrea-
ton units, but lberalized an
other rule to allow smoking, ex-
cept where signs are posted pro-
hibiting it.
Forbade gambling at recrea-
ton units.
Authorized National Capital |
Parks to use surplus of equip
ment and improvement funds to |
install extra drinking fountains, |
fences, backstopS, drains and |
other facilities at various units. |
The surplus resulted from q drop |
in construction costs. Mr.. Chris
tiansen reported. It is expected |
to be from $1,000 to $4,000.