Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-03-12
Co|ored Use
Of Raymond
School Studied
Plan Advanced
Instead of
Petworth Shift
By jones G. Deone

By james 6. Deone
The possible transfer Of the
Raymond Elementary School,
Tenth street and Spring road
NV. to Negroes is due for study
by the Board of Education.
The board asked Supt. Hobart
M. Corning for a report on this
idea yesterday, after it was sug-
gested by several civic leaders.
The board expects to hold a pub
lie hearing on the proposal on
a date still to be set.
Spokesman for both white and
colored groups urged a Raymond
transfer yesterday, instead of a
transfer of the Petworth School
at Eighth and Shepherd streets
NV. which has been urged by
DR.. Corning. A Raymond switch
was vigorously opposed, however,
by Samuel C. lark. president of
the Raymond PTA.
DR.. Corning has recommended
that Petworth be shifted next
summer to relieve crowding at
the colored Park View. Bruce
and Monroe Schools.
Parents appeared at a hearing
before the boards Buildings and
Grounds Committee.
Mrs. Etienetta D. Weeks,
president Of the Park View PTA,
said Petworth is too small to
house all of Park Views overflow
and that it is too far north to
benefit Bruce and Monroe suffi-
GENTLY She and Hubert B. Pair,
president Of the Northwest
Boundary Civic Association, said
colored residents would prefer a
transfer of Raymond.
Mrs. Elmer E. Roth. president
OF Petworth'S PTA. said transfer
of Raymond would be better be-
cause Raymond is larger and in
safer location. Harvey o.
Craver of the Petworth Citizens
Association, and Mrs. Craver
representing the Petworth Wom-
ans Club. also urged switching
Raymond.
Zark CHARGES presxure
Mr.. lark, however. opposed
any immediate transfer decision
at all. He charged that "pres-
sures" are being brought to ac-
celerate a transfer. He objected
specifically to transferring Ray
mond on the ground that it
would force many pupils to
travel farther to school.
Mr.. lark urged a school Gen.
sus to determine whether there
is any basis for rumors that some
colored children in the area are
not legal residents.
Wesley S. Williams, colored
member, objected to Mr.. lark s
allegations of pressure. Mr.. Will
liams also cited the school sys-
TENS use of affidavits to de-
termine the legal status of
pupils. DR.. Corning asserted that
maps have been made showing
the residence of all children in
the neighborhood.
Mrs. Robert G. Kissner. a Pet
worth parent. fatty opposed any
transfer
Park View is not as crowded
as we are told" she asserted.
462 Reported Gain.
She said the school had re-
ported an increase of 462 pupils
in two months. and she asked:
How is this possible?"
DR.. Corning said this figure
must be mistaken. however.
Mrs. Weeks asserted that the
crowding situation at Park View
lis the worst in the city" She
complained that damp basement
rooms are being used for classes
and that children are being
forced to leave coats on benches
because of a lack of cloakroom
space.
She also charged that crowd
ed conditions are responsible for
a "ringvorm condition" among
pupils. Miss Edith A. Lyons. as
sociate superintendent. told re-
porters she plans to check into
this but had heard no reports of
any unusual health problem.
Park View now has an enroll
ment of 1859, or an average Of
43.5 per class, compared to the
official standard of SO. Bruce has
752 pupils. about ITS over nor
NAL capacity. and Monroe has
656, or about 80 over normal
capacity.
Petworth has only 152 pupils,
although it was constructed for
SIS. Raymond has 284. with a
capacity of 648. Raymond also
houses a dental clinic and the
Office of the District Congress of
Parents and Teachers.