Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-07-15

Lie City mas HVe white elemen-
tary schools and one colored ele-
mentary located in the middle OF
the city where most colored resi-
dents live. All colored children.
however, do not live near the COL
ored elementary school, which is
called Jefferson Elementary. There
is a stable colored community
right behind the white Venable Ele-
mentary located in the college
end" Of town.
High School Nearby
There is one white high school
Lane Highland the city operates
jointly with Albemarle County the
new jackson P. Burley High School
for colored. 1t was built in 1850
for $12 million.
The average salary for colored
elementary teachers is about 5000
year above the average white ele-
mentary teachers salary. White
high school teachers, however, are
slightly above colored high school
teachers. The difference occurs be-
cause teachers receive extra pay
according to the number of degrees
they have.
One apparent reason why Char
lotteSville children generally stand
so high on achievement tests is the
small size of classes. The pupil
teacher ratio in elementary classes
is to %, and in high school it is
to %.
The city has been growing stead
lily in recent years-the current
population of $4,000 about 20 per
cent colored) is 1000 above the
official count in 1850. But there
have been no population booms to
give the school system growing
pains like those experienced in sub
urban areas near Washington. Thus.
Mr.. Ellis and the school board have
been able to devote their time to
continually improving educational
standards, rather than putting up
buildings in great haste. According
to Mr.. Ellis. there is no severe
crowding in any of the schools.
The school board has been plan
ming additions at three white ele-
mentary schools and the one colored
elementary but those plans are at
standstill right now until the de-
segregation issue is settled.
Members Of the school board. ap-
pointed by the city council, are r.
Stanley Goodman, IT., chairman. a
banker; Harry A. Wright. vice
chairman, who is a businessman;
James Harry Michael, jr, an attor-
ney; DR.. John G. Wall, a dentist:
P. A. Wallenborn, a businessman:
Roscoe Adams, another business
man. and Earl Thacker, jr, an
accountant
Boord Members Silent
They are maintaining an official
silence on Judge Pauls decision.
pending outcome of the appeal
They refer all questions about the
case to ex-Gov John S. Battle. who
IS representing them in the litiga-
ton.
Besides its effect on the schools
the Universitys influence might be
traced directly to the segregation
question.
In 1850, the University admitted
It's first Negro student under court
order. He was Gregory Swanson. %
who won the right to attend the
University law school. Others have
enrolled since then. A professor
estimated there were about 26 Ne
groes in the various graduate schools
last session.
Mrs. Sarah Patton Boyle, the wife
OF a University faculty member.
last year had an article published
IN The Saturday Evening Post called
Southerners Will Like Indignation.
The theme of her story was that
segregation could be broken down
without too much difficulty in the
South. She said a poll of faculty
members at the University in 1852
indicated only three per cent OBJ
jected to indignation.
Her article provoked some stormy
letters of protest from other people
IN Charlottesville who insisted the
facts didn't justify her conclusion.
Still, the fact that even one Char
lotteSville resident printed such an
article was another sign that this
city isn't exactly like other South
ern communities-where few II any
white residents would see At to
stand up and be counted on the side
of indignation.
Moy Shelter Colin
During the next eight weeks pre-
cedlng the opening of schools. II is
posslble-and even likely. in the
opinions OF some-that the present
calm atmosphere will give way to
angry resistance.
Homer G. Richey, the city's most
outspoken member of the prose-
gregation Defenders, hasn't been
heard from yet. He was visiting
in his native Mississippi when Judge
Paul handed down his decision.
State Senator Edward McCue OF
Charlottesville has proposed that
the General Assembly take over the
schools and hold the line against
indignation. There hasn't been any
public debate on his plan so far.
but it is sure to provoke contro-
versy in city that considers its
schools better than those In the
State as a whole.
Pressure from surrounding Abe
marie County is sure to have some
effect, too. The county has put its
schools on month-to- month basis.
so they can be closed anytime an
emergency" arises. The Char
lottesville School Board and the
City Council have approved
budget for the full 1867 session
The complicating factor. however
is the iointly-operated colored high
school, The city doesn't have
enough money in the budget to
operate the school alone if Abe
marie County should halt its con
tribution.
But the real stumbling block is