Evening star., 1954-04-22
Future Of ; Schools
Hazy After Petworth
Transfer Is Rejected

Inc iuture OF Petworth. Ray
mond and Woodbridge Elemen-
tary Schools still is undecided.
The Board Of Education yes
terday voted down-at least for
now-Supt. Hobart M. Corning's
proposal to transfer Petworth to
Negro pupils. Board members
asked the superintendent to sug-
gest an alternative-possibly q
transfer Of Raymond.
The board also asked for more
information about the Wood
ridge situation, refusing to settle
that definitely. DR.. Corning had
recommended against a school
transfer in the Woodbridge area,
which is being sought by Negro
parents.
Board Splits, 5 to 2.
Board members split 5 to 2 en-
the Petworth issue. Col. West A.
Hamilton and Miss Mary H.
Parker voted to transfer the
school this summer. But Wesley
s. Williams and DR.. Margaret
J. Butcher urged the substitu-
tion Of Raymond School, and
after considerable wrangling
they were joined by Walter N.
Tobriner, Robert r. Faulkner
and DR.. Rowland F. Kinks in in
structing the superintendent to
submit an alternative plan by
May 13.
DR.. Corning was told to pre-
pare such a plan in time for a
public hearing on that date.
Since 10 days notice must be
given for any hearing. this gives
the superintendent only q week.
and-a-half to get UP such q
plan.
The board first. asked DR..
Corning a month ago to consider
Raymond In lieu of Petworth.
DR.. Corning opposed this sug-
gestion yesterday, however.
Mrs. Butcher opposed a Pet
worth shift on grounds the
school at Eighth and Shepherd
streets NV. is under par" She
also argued that Raymond is
needed to meet growing Negro
population needs because it has
two more rooms.
Mr.. Williams argued that
Petworth is less advantageously
located for Negro pupils than
Raymond.
DR.. Butcher suggested that. in
the event Petworth is trans
ferred, Powell School ought to
be transferred also.
"Petworth, I'm convinced, will
not do the job" she asserted.
Is Close to Pupils, He Explains.
DR.. Corning said he recon-
mended Petworth because it is
closer to many colored children
living to the north Of both
schools.
Petworth on April / had 154
white pupils, and Raymond had
280. Raymond's enrolment in
cludeS Is children in three slow
learner classes who do not live
in the neighborhood, however.
Some claSsrooms in both schools
are being used for Offices. The
District Congress of Parents and
Teachers has its headquarters in
Raymond.
w. Austin Williamson of the
Northwest Boundary Civic Asso-
ciation asked for Raymond yes
terday for Negro pupils. Mrs.
Harvey o. Craver of the Pet
worth Citizens Association and
Mrs. Elmer E. Rothe, president
Of the Petworth PTA, also urged
switching Raymond.
Col. Hamilton took the lead
in opposing DR.. Corning's recon-
mendation against any school
transfer in the Woodbridge neigh
borhood. In one vote, DR.. Corn
ing was supported by a bare
majority, but later the board
instructed him to make a new
report on this question in June.
Charles T. Greene of the
Woodbridge Civic Association
made a new plea for a transfer.
Henry Miller and Mrs. Paul w.
Smith, Woodbridge School par
ents, said white children need
the school, however. and Mrs.
Smith warned that uncertainty
about its future "can demoralize
a community"