Evening star., 1955-07-31

dICd UOI IUC1 1A4S O41 1sO1h VIC
West highway In Montgomery
County.
There are some 800 homes
ranging in value from $4,000
to more than $50, 900 in the area
where children attend the Roll
lingwood Elementary School.
Integration was so remote to
the community last spring that
the Rollingwood PTA took no
stand on the question of timing
that had caused bitter splits in
PTA ranks throughout the
county.
Today. however. school ad-
ministration plans call for as
signment of 80 Negro pupils to
the Rollingwood school from two
school districts away.
The action primarily is the
result of the county's speedy
action to implement the integra-
ton order of the Supreme Court
and the resultant temporary"
steps being taken.
Just Two Miles Away 80.
The nearest Negro neighbor-
hood, by actual travelling dis
tance. is almost two miles. It
Is Lyttonsville, a community OF
some ITO homes ranging from
rather attractive and well-kept
houses to miserable novels that
would shock the senses OF many
Montgomery residents.
Many of the houses - only
about one-fourth are owner
occupied -- are without indoor
toilet facilities and some even
lack outdoor privvies.
Most residents get their water
from a community faucet at
Garfield street and Brookeville
road.
Linden school, on Garfield
street, served ia pupils in the
Lyttonsville area. A three-room
structure with outside privy, 1t
has been classified as sub
standard.
In its first step toward full
integration the County Board OF
Education directed that Linden
school and three other Negro
schools-River road, Takoma
and Ken Gar-be closed this fall
and their pupils enrolled in pre-
viously all white schools.
About $40 Negro pupils were
involved and most were slated to
attend schools nearest their
homes.
Only in the Linden situation
was this rule violated.
Urged to Wait
Schools Supt. Forbes H. Norris
and his staff decided that so OF
the pupils would go to McKenney
Hills. 80 to Woodlin, and 50 to
Rollingwood.
It was this action that stirred
Rollingwood parents to action.
Residents there have been
urged by Acting PTA President
Ruth j. Boone to reserve final
Judgment until Tuesday nigh,
when DR.. Norris will be present
The PTA is to vote on accept.
ance or rejection of the integra-
ton plan.
The PTA's executive board. IL
calling the meeting, voted 10
tot to accept the Board Of Ed
ucation's actions on integration
Organized in the area. how
ever, is the Rollingwood Com
munity Association. The asso
citation is leading the f1gh
against enrolment of Negf
pupils from outside the Rolling
wood school district.
James S. Spivey. head OF tn
organization, says the majorit
of the PTA executive boar
paid no attention to the feel
ings in the community and the
knew the feelings"
Three hundred twenty leigh
residents of the Rollingwoo
school district have signed
petition opposing the transfe
on grounds it would leap frog
the Negro pupils over OF IN e
school districts and dump" thei
into the Rollingwood school.
Redistricting Demanded
Andrew A. Lipscomb, of Isl
Vale street, as spokesman for tn
group, has demanded that tn
board redistrict the schools
the suburban area so that Negi
pupils will go to the schoo
'!osest their homes.
School authorities have di'
egarded the school districts
ne Linden case, despite the ia,
nat the Board of Education G
lay IL said:
School district lines shall |
lrawn without regard to rac'
pupils shall attend the scho
of their district unless by speci
permission of the school admir-
istration."
DR.. Norris comedies that Il
major justification for the az
ministration's action is that
is a temporary" situation.
He and T. II. Owen Knigf
supervisor Of pupil PERSONA
contend that school district lin