Evening star., 1955-11-28


At the same time, "a Net
white schools in Prince Georges
Since then the process Of de-
segregation has been quietly in
corporated into the day-by day
operation of the school system.
What's happened? Is the
transition taking place smooth
ly? What does the experience
portend for the thousands Of
Negro pupils in both counties
who still attend segregated
schools2
The Star interviewed schools
officials, principals, parents
teachers and pupils and sent OBJ
servers to the classrooms. play
grounds and gymnasiunas Of In
tegrated schools in Montgomery
and Prince Georges Counties.
What Was Found
The survey found these con-
ditionS:
At the classroom level. inte-
grafton is working well. From
the start, white pupils accepted
the newcomers in friendly FASH
ion. Negro leaders say they have
no complaints Of ill-feeling
toward their children by fellow
pupils and point TO such rela-
tions as evidence Of support for
further de-segregation OF
schools.
Principals and teachers give q
$50 far. SO good" report on pro-
gress of the transition to date
but particularly In Mont
gomery County--express concern
that special teaching programs
may be required before large
scale integrstion Is put into ef-
feet.
Parents are taking an attitude
Of watchftil waiting toward the
changeoTeT. In only q few
instances have they taken a
strong stafiki On any indignation
matter. and then only I'm the field
Of social activities.
Side by side
Within the schools, the survey
showed that the fewest dim
culties arise on the elementary
level. In both counties. the
young pupils work and play. side
BY side. with no tension apparent
to the visitor.
Where more than one Negro
pupil Is enrolled in a class, nc
efforts are made to cluster or Sc
gregate them.
Hardly q ripple" Is the way
one principal described the intro
duction of the Negro pupils.
Teachers say the changeover
TO integrated classes has caused
no changes IN their routine. OBJ
servation In classrooms tended
to verify this. Negro children
seemed 70 accept instruction OF
raise questions in about the same
manner as the white children,
displaying no signs they were III
at ease. Their acceptance By
white classmates was illustrated
lin several Montgomery County
schools. where Negroes won elec-
ton to class offices in sixth-grade
elections.
In Montgomery County a num-
Der Of teachers and principals
said the educational or achieve.
|ment levels of Negro pupils
Jagged slightly behind the class
average, especially In the Iowel
grades where the Negro children
have not had the advantage oi
kindergarten training.
Attributed to Education
They said they could cope witt
such a condition when it is fount
lin small numbers and cited sew.
erai cases Of pupils catching VI
fast with a little extra atten.
tion.
Another facet of the integra.
ltion situation that is being close,
Fly watched is the future Of Negro
teachers. Prince Georges County
shifted no Negro teachers to In.
Itegrated schools this fall: Mont.
gDmery has six Negro teachers Ii
four schools.
School officials expressed sat-
Iisfaction with the teachers work
though conceding that the place
Iment Of Negro teachers in inte-
grated schools aroused louder
protests from parents than the
transfer Of the Negro pupils.
Some Protests Withdrawn
Reaction died down after the
opening Of school. and in one
case where four parents protest
led. two Of them later notified
the school principal they were
happy over their children's train
ing and wished to withdraw theii
protests.
Parents have been most vocal
ion the junior high school and
high school level. This showed
Iup In Montgomery County
which enrolled $50 pupils or
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
are real good students, some not
so good" The Negro children
went slow at i1rst" in partici-
lpating in intra mural sports and
Iafter-school activities. he said.
The only issue which arose al
the school came when white par
Ients confronted him with ques-
Itions about social activities, par.
kicularly dancing,