Evening star., 1955-09-07

lies have been moving IN, ana
|Raymond's enrolment until q
year ago had been gradually
|dwindling.
Last September the schools
situation was radically altered.
This is the second Of five articles On
Washington public school intesrotion.
Raymond reopened for the new
term with nearly twice as many
children as it had housed the
previous spring. There was an
Ia d ditional difference. Many
children who had been walking
some distance to schools else
where, some past Raymond's s
door, now filed in.
Anyone visiting Raymond on
opening day or any other day
during the past school year would
have been unlikely to find very
much that seemed unusual. On
a school day shortly before the
start of summer vacation, for
example. activities seemed very
much like those in any other
school.
Usual School Behavior
In a second-grade classroom
q reading group Of II children
was gathered in a circle around
the teacher. One child read a
few lines, then sat down and
another took his turn. Other
children in the room were prac-
lticing writing the alphabet.
On the playground. older chill
dren were having a recess. Chill
dren were chasing about playing
ball. skipping rope or playing
tag. A little later, fourth. fifth
and sixth graders filed into the
Auditorium for a music assembly.
Many said Excuse me" as they
passed the principal and a vis-
Iitor. The children shared song
books until they came to "Davy
Crockett" They sang six stanzas
with no need for any aid.
Afterward, a slow learning
class came in to practice for q
circus 1t planned to put on for
the other children. Children
pretended to be acrobats, clowns
land trick riders. Some put on
paper trunks to pose as ele-
iphants.
Integration Successful
Integration. according to Miss
Mildred Green, the principal, has
made little difference in Ray.
Imond's school life since 4 year
ago.
Children Of both races this
past year. she said, appeared to
be quite normally happy. Dis
tcipline was no special problem.
In fact, Miss Green was iri-
pressed with the behavior Of the
newcomers. especially their cour-
ltesy.
In achievement, the new pupils
showed up well. On a sixth
grade reading test. three colored
children ranked best in the
school. A white teacher with a
|colored majority in her second
grade said:
ITO tell the truth, I have a
better class this year as far as
learning goes than last year"
Sees No Difference
Miss Green summed up her
own attitude toward the new
comers by declaring. They're
just children. / don't see any
difference"
She also spoke highly of the
schools new colored teachers.
One OF them returned the COM
Ipliment. saying:
I'VE don't think in terms of
colored and white because Miss
Green has SO planned every
thing"
AS far as parents were con-
Icerned. things apparently were
also quite satisfactory. White
and colored parents shared of
fees in the PTA. and were on
good terms with the teachers.
In one way. Raymond may
have been better favored than
some other schools for meeting
the new situation in Washing
tons schools. The neighborhood
is substantial. most families en-
joying good economic status,
The school last fall had a
smaller number Of white pupils
than previously, but probably
this was chiefly because the pop
ulation had been changing and
there had been proposals to
transfer the school to colored
children.
Children Get Along
At the same time, with almost
10 per cent Of its pupils Negro.
the school posed an exception
ally good test Of the new scheme
of things. Miss Green and many
of her teachers seemed to feel
it had come through with flying
colors.
The city's elementary schools
during the past year had the
same problems they have always
had-truancy, tardiness. mis-
behavior. poor classwork, dis
satisfied parents. etc. Some
integrated schools had more
than usual. But as far as chill
dren themselves were concerned,
the testimony Of teachers and
principals shows no significant
variation in their ability to get
along together.
To most OF the children, in
| tepration seems To have made