Evening star., 1954-10-05
Crowds al Schools
Dispersed by Police;
Absences Affect Nine

Police today followed a policy
Of dispensing crowds of students
around school buildings and
ordering them to return to school
or go home.
School authorities reported
three high schools and six Junior
high schools were affected by
student absences growing out of
protests over integration.
Both Franklin School head
quarters for the school system
and individual schools reported
that many of the absences were
the result of parental fears of
trouble at the schools. At East
ern High School alone, Principal
John Paul Collins said that more
than so parents called to say
they were keeping their children
out of school today because they
didn't want them to be in any
possible disturbance.
Police Keep Order.
Police, however, kept the Vi
entities of the schools orderly
through their policy of ordering
all students who did not return
10 school to leave the area.
Members of the police force
were instructed to get the names
and addresses of students driv-
ing cars to participate in any
disturbance. Police said that ju-
veniles using their automobiles
to transport students from one
school to another for demon
strations risk having their driv-
ers' permits revoked.
Between $50 and 200 students,
mostly from Mckinley High
School, marched to Franklin
School. Police sent them into
nearby Franklin Park. A COM
mittee of two boys and a girl
was admitted to the school
headquarters and talked with
DR.. Norman j. Nelson, first as
sistant superintendent.
After the meeting, the trio
went across the street, reported
that DR.. Nelson said he would
"do everything he could to help
us" and quickly dispersed the
crowd of students. DR.. Nelson
said he promised to look into
their complaints. He told them
to report back to him in a few
days.
719 AnacoStia Absentees.
At Anacostia High School,
where approximately half the
students were absent yesterday,
TIC absenteeS were reported to-
day-31 fewer than yesterday.
Unlike yesterday, when striking
pupils were permitted to remain
around the school, they were dis
persed as they appeared today.
Demonstrations in the vicinity
led police to take six persons
into custody by II am. All but
two were released. Those booked
at the Eleventh Precinct on
charges of disorderly conduct
were Martin E. Burch, 81, a
clerk. of 1903 Twerty-third
street Sc, and Edward v. JEFF
ford, 18, student, of 2810 Evarts
street NE. They were held pend
ing the posting Of $100 collateral.
Other Schools Affected.
School authorities gave this
list Of other schools affected to-
day:
Eastern-Between 500 and 600
are absent, compared with a nor
NAL absent rate of 200. Between
200 and 800 were in the vicinity
of the school. The rest stayed
home. Groups of between three
and six at a time filtered back
into school during the morning.
Mckinley - Principal Charles
E. Bish met with 81 students in
the morning, but was unSucceSS-
full in persuading absentees to
return to school. approximately
200 remained outside the school
and were dispersed by police.
Another meeting between DR..
Bish and the students was ar
ranged for this afternoon. DR..
Bish reported SIS students alb
sent at the start of classes.
Taft Junior High-Principal
John Koontz, police and teach
ers talked to an estimated 600
students gathered on the play
ground at the opening bell and
the majority had returned to
classes within 20 minutes. At
IL am, DR.. Koontz reported a
total of about 100 absentees.
Kramer Junior High-Approx-