Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-09-09

. tCLlidI hnpAy cA4QObAl JCdlt Will
surprisingly few difiiculties that
were interracial. and little else
that wasn't expected.
Truar1cy. hardness and some
problem-pupil cases bothered
This is the fourth Of five articles on
|, Washington public school Indignation.
n The final article viii appear Sunday.
some principals. Sports pro-
duced one incident. But aside
from last October's brief pupil
walkout, most students settled
down and paid little attention
to the reorganization. officials
said.
Rumofs caused more trouble
than most Of what actually
happened, according to school
principals. False stories figured
in the indignation strike. set
principals telephones ringing
and gave one or two schools a
reputation they didn't deserve,
officials added.
Disciplinary Methods
Police officials agree with the
opinion of school authorities.
Capt. John T. Ryan. head Of
the Juvenile Bureau. said his
Office processed hardly any in
terracial cases. Much time was
spent investigating complaints
that police normally would never
have bothered with.
! Different disciplinary methods
in the city's white and colored
schools apparently had . bear
ing on the years experience
Colored schools. teachers said,
generally have been more strict.
In mixed elementary schools,
most principals reported this dis
Icipline carried over and most
Icolored newcomers were little
problem. 4 few average n,,pils
Ica,,sed dif4c,lt;es Init mostIv
things were well in hand.
.Ianior hich schools which
lcnstornari,v have more disci-
Inlinarv nroh,ems had : Some
what diFereyt eynerierce Some
nri,,c,nols sa;d colored new
Corners IS. seemed ~ he react,ng -
nsw fresdon, hv lettinr the ia
IN
Racial Disturbances
Noisiness and general disorder
illness were the chief difficulties,
but these Gained down as the
year wore on. principals said.
The pupil strike in October
produced one Of the years few
reported racial incidents. "A white
Mckinley High School student
reported being struck in the
mouth by an unidentified coIored
youth near the school. The Nc
Kinley youth was not seriously
hurt and no one was caught.
Al Stuart Junior High School
student also was hit by a colored
boy on the last day of school.
although outside the white
youths home rather than near
the school building. But police
reported no other junior or
senior high students involved
IN I. .a,s cia az, ns ~ ser,ons
Court.
The sports incident occurred
at a basketball game between
Dunbar and Roosevelt High
Schools. After q close play, a
large number of spectators
pushed to the floor and engaged
in some showing ana name-call-
ing.
AFTERWARDS, q white Roosevelt
student reported being hurt by
some colored youths outside. A
police Official who investigated
said the boy was reluctant to dis
cuss the incident. however, and
that others reported ne had been
belhgerert.
Rooseveits team includ e q
Negro PLAYERS SO the dispute IN
the eyes Of officials was not really
a racial one.
Kn;ve. Taksn fron, Sthdents
'77
Fights were no unusual PROB
lem during the year even wnere
one race was involved, ACCORDING
to ofncials. One or Two integrated
junior highs actually reported
fewer troubles than normal.
Schools were super-senSitive
about pocket knives. DR.. Charles
IL. Bish, principal at Mckinley,
said:
IT a Negro boy sharpens a
pencil with q knife, three people
are IN mere 10 tel me about ";
nrincinais accnm,,lateri small cf,l-
lections Of knives during the
wear some merely for safekeep-
inc to be returned later. But Miss