Evening star., 1954-09-23
Text Of School Supt. cornins's lntesro-
tion Report to School Boord. Pase All

tion Report to School Boord. Page AT
ferring several hundred Junior
high school pupils to different
schools according to new non
racial boundary maps.
Principals today were instruct
ed to invite junior high students
who live outside the zone for
their present school to request
transfers. if they wish. The re-
quests must be in by Monday.
This step. following similar
moves on the senior high and
elementary levels, will have the
effect of putting all the new
boundaries in full
effect, except in cases where
transfers can't be made because
of crowding or lack Of teachers.
This move had not been sched-
uled until later in the school
year and possibly not before
September, 1855.
Corning Reports Success.
School Supt. Hobart M. Corn
ing yesterday reported to the
Board of Education that the
opening Of schools on an inte-
grated basis had proved "amaz-
inolv SI1ccnSSfI11
On opening day, the superin-
tendent said, he had no word OF
difficulties, and he declared that
parents, children and teachers
out-did themselves in a deter
mined cooperative effort that
resulted in a very satisfying
record" He praised both school
personnel and the community at
large for understanding and
cooperation.
DR.. Corning told the board
about TOO requests had been reG
ceived from parents since last
spring for transfers because of
changes connected with integra-
ton. About 200 remain to be
processed by a special commit
tee. Of the others. about 60 per
cent have been granted and 10
per cent have been rejected, DR..
Corning said.
TheYemaining 80 per cent win
be taken care of by the new
transfer program now getting
under way at all grade levels,
he, said. al
Some Children Divided
The most frequent complaint.
DR.. Corning said, has been from
parents whose children have
been divided between schools by
integration. This has occurred
because all new pupils have been
assigned to school buildings &C
cording to new non-racial bound
aries, but most old pupils so far
have been left in their old
schools.
Where a zone change has left
q family outside the territory OF
the old school, this has some
times resulted in having the
older pupil attending a school
still primarily of his own race
while a brother or sister has
entered a school predominantly
Of the opposite one.
This can now be taken care
Of in many cases, by transferring
the older pupil to the school just
entered by the younger one, DR.
Corning explained, although this
does not meet objections based
on race.
Flexibility Urged.
Mrs. Henry A. Bartlett, pres
ident of the Federation o1
Citizens Associations, in an ap.
pearance at the board meeting
urged that hexibility be allowed
in applying the new boundary
lines.
Declaring that hardship l.
being caused pupils required X
attend a school in which they
are a racial minority, Mrs. Bart.
lett said parents are keeping
children - especially kindergar.
teners who are not required tt
attend school-at home and thai
some families are leaving thu
District.
The Federation leader also re.
ferred to the cases of divided
families. She criticized DR.. Corn.
ing's transfer plan in these cases
asserting that the choice for ths
children involved is "either tt
leave their friends and associ'
ates, the interests and loyal
ties that they have established
or to leave younger brothers o.
sisters stranded"
Robert r. Faulkner, boart
member, also criticized tn
school administrators handling
of pupil assignments. calling tn
new boundary rules "arbitrar,
and capricious."
Corning Answers Critic.
| DR.. Corning, in answer to MI
Faulkner, reiterated that Schol
officials will refuse to allo,
any transfers based on rae.
however. He was backed in thi
stand by Wesley S. Williams, Co
West A. Hamilton and DR.. Mar
garet j. Butcher, Negro boar
members.
Col. Hamilton suggested, how
ever, that some transfers Nigh
be granted where officials fe,
they would avert emotional UP
. set" And a school official sal
today a few transfers have bee
allowed on the basis of "neede
. adjustment for the children.
1--WE are trying to take care
individual cases." the offici;
said.
Gerhard p. Van Arkel, {
Americans for Democratic Al
, ton. praised the integratio
program and told the board AID
} would deplore any step back
ward.