Evening star., 1954-09-21
Last Race Curb
On Elementary
Pupils 10 End
Moy Ask Transfer
In Accordance With
New Boundaries
By james 6. Deone

NSW DOuHOOIbGS
By jones 6. Deone
District public school officials
today announced plans to lift
the last remaining race restric-
tions for elementary school pu--
pills October 4.
This fall the city's schools
were reorganized into new, non-
racial school boundaries, but the
new boundaries affected only
newly enrolling pupils.
Today Supt. Hobart M. Corn
ing instructed principals imme-
diately to invite old elementary
pupils who would attend q diff
ferent school under the new
boundary system to apply for
transfer to that school If they
wish. Pupils need not transfer
unless they wish to.
The superintendent set next
Monday as the deadline for the
transfer applications.
Approval Of Most Seen.
No guarantee is being given
that all transfers can be ap-
proved Immediately, DR.. Corning
said, but another official said it
Is expected that most If not all
can be carried out.
Ut least several thousand
transfers are expected. most Of
them of Negro pupils into for
merly white schools. this OFF,
cial said.
The transfers will take place
October 4.
Today's action, which was an
nounced to principals at a meet
ing at Raymond School, was
forecast last week when officials
invited high school students to
apply for transfers on a similar
basis. Assistant Supt. Harold A.
Haynes said then that about 438
colored students were expected
to want transfers, and officials
today were awaiting a formal
count Of the applications. It is
not yet known how many of
these viii be granted.
Act to Avoid Disruption.
The school system had planned
to invite students affected by the
boundary changes on all levels
to apply for transfers next
month. No actual transfers had
been planned. however. before |
mid-November, and DR.. Corning |
had said some might not occur |
before September. 1855.
The decision to move faster
was made. Associate Supt. Carl
r. Hansen said today, in order to
avoid disruption later in the
term. Some teacher transfers
may be necessary along with the
pupil shifts. and the sooner any
reorganization Is completed the
better, DR.. Hansen pointed out.
On the junior high school
level no transfer plan such as
those now under way in ele-
mentary and high schools has
been announced. Junior high en-
rollments are tighter, making
transfers more difficult, and one
of DR.. Corning's aides said no
new step on this level is expected
soon.
Junior high seniors being pro-
moted next February already are
slated. however. to enter high
schools according to the new
boundaries. without regarG tS
race.
Could Bring Many Transfers.
Today's action on the elemen-
tary level could result in large
numbers of transfers at many
schools.
Under the school systems in
tegration program, all children
who did not attend a District
school last year were required
to enroll this month according
to the new non-racial boundary
maps. Pupils who changed resi-
dence during the summer also
entered school according to
these maps.
But the integration plan per-
mits old pupils-those enrolled
last year or earlier-to remain
in their present school buildings
until they are promoted to a
higher level. provided this causes
no crowding.
Therefore, both white and
colored pupils enrolled last year
who now find themselves living
outside the proper new, nom
racial zones will have the priv
ilege Of choosing for themselves
whether to seek transfer to the
school served by the new zone
in which they live or stay where
they are.
DR.. Hansen told elementary
principals this morning that all
affected grade school pupils, in
cluding sixth graders, will be
able to make this choice. Pupils
who have been specifically trans
ferred to q school outside their
own zone because of crowding
viii not have such q choice.
however.