Evening star., 1955-11-28

ed, two of them later notified
the school principal they were
happy over their children's train
ing and wished to withdraw their
protests.
Parents have been most vocal
ON the junior high school and
high school level. This showed
lup In Montgomery County.
which enrolled 100 pupils on
the secondary level. Prince
Georges County has but three
Negroes in white high schools.
One Junior high principal said
his Negro pupils were trying
hard TO make adjustment. Some
Iare real good students. some not
$50 good" The Negro children
went slow at first" In partici-
lpating In intra-murai sports and
Iafter-School activities. he said.
The only issue which arose at
the school came when white par
ents confronted him with ques-
tions about social activities. par
ticularly dancing.
The school doesn't mix races
lin teaching dancing and so far
none of the Negro students has
lattended evening dances. There
the matter stands.
On the high school level. inte-
grafton brought about one switch
in school policy at Montgomery
Blair and Bethesda Chevy Chase
High Schools, both Of which en-
rolled Negro pupils for the first
time this year.
No Stag Dances
Stag dances have been elini-
mated.
High school students in sub
urban Montgomery County took
readily to integration because so
many students have lived over
seas and take a liberal view Of
the race issue, one principal
explained.
At Chevy Chase. the Student
Council has voted for several
years to urge the inclusion Of
Negro councils in the county
wide organization of student
councils. This was banned by
school autorities until this year.
At Montgomery Blair, menu
bers Of the school band elected q
Negro student one Of its two
drum majors. His fancy twirling
display was q highlight Of the
half-time show at the recent
Montgomery Blair-B.C.C. foot
ball game.
On the parent-teacher level,
segregation is whitening. The
County Council of Parent
Teacher Associations and the
Montgomery County Education
Association both embrace Negro
membership.
While few Negro parents OF
pupils In integrated schools have
become active in PTA work. their
numbers are Increasing. Several
take regular stints at cafeteria
volunteer work.
Decisions in Offing
The policy makers--the two
Boards Of Education--are mark
ing time on the next step to-
ward complete integration. Soon.
however. decisions must be made,
for serious work usually begins
in December on the schools budg-
lets effective six months later.
Integration affects both the
number and types Of BUILDINGS
that win be needed. as well as
THE number of regular and spe-
Iciaiized teachers.
/ Or. Forbes II. Norris. Mont
Igomery County superintendent OF
schools, while satisfied with the
results Of the integration expert
sment Of the current school year
takes q cautious approach to-
ward the adoption Of rigid time
tables for completing the process
lof ending the color line in county
schools.
1 He has directed Fred G. Dunn,
ia special assistant on personnel,
Ito compile q comprehensive re-
lport on the lessons learned in
the % schools.
From these should grow recon-
mendatioas indicating how soon
the 2.700 Negro pupils still In
segregated schools win be as
signed tor given an option
Of attending schools nearest
their homes.
4