Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-07-14
BY JOHN McKELWAY

the best of three years under
Indignation during the school
year just ended, DR.. Hobart M.
Corning, superintendent, told
The Star.
The school year 1e56-57 was
the last in which DR.. Corning
will be at the helm of the sys-
tenn. He retires next March,
turning the demanding job over
to an individual still to be
selected,
Coming up with a number of
positive points about integra-
ton, DR.. Corning is quick to
add in the same breath-one
he's been forced to hold a num-
Der Of ticklish times since Sep
TENDER. 1954-there are firing,
crucial years ahead for public
education in the District.
Sees Tension Relaxing
During the school year of
1861. indignation became
progressively better" DR.. Corn
ing, felt.
This was largely because, he
stated, there was a gradual re-
Taxation of racial tension so
prevalent prior to indignation,
smouldering at indignation and
famed several times afterward.
With obvious relief, DR.. Corn
ing said there were no racial
episodes of significance" last
year, remembering the pupil
strikes of the first few months
of integration.
He suggested there has been
a leSsening of harsh opposition
to Indignation or some element
of the merger from organized
groups and militant segments
of the community. Last year,
At least, complaints and troubles
associated with or stemming
from indignation were confined
to individual cases and scat
tered throughout the city.
He said the great conflict of
Indignation has been softened
by time. People are living with
it-though many, often obvi-
ously, dislike it.
Trouble Preceded Indignation
In many respects, for this
school administrator at least,
indignation cleared the air of a
number of vexing problems. DR..
Corning said his most turbu-
lent years as superintendent
have not occurred since inte-
grafton. but prior to it. For
these were the years. he ex-
planned, when people cried
openly when Central High
School became Cardozo High
School. AS some 20 white
schools were turned into colored
schools, a stiff fight was re-
membered for each shift These
were decisions DR.. Corning was
forced to make to meet a
burgeoning population of COL
ored school age children-many
Of whom walked one block past
a half-empty white school to
an overfowing classroom eight
blocks away.
THE opposition then" DR.
Corning recalled, was ferocious
on both Sides"
While the system is still beset
with NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. is
still one-Dr. Corning feels that
the space, material and person.
mel available are now being put
to better use. I'm not hemmed
in by racial restrictions" he
says.
Has No Prophecy
Though vestiges of the old
dual system remain largely out
of necessity, DR.. Corning now
speaks of a unified" network
Of little red school houses for
the first time. Its beginning
at last to resemble a single
system" DR.. Corning says.
The superintendent sees no
easy solution to the systems
biggest chore: Raising achieve
ment levels. He offers no with
in 10 years" prophecy that
achievement levels will equal
If not surpass national ''norms"
by that time.
In this respect. his chief rea-
soning is that the stimulation
Of individuals to higher educa-
tional attainments is not a job
confined to schools alone
Rather. as DR.. Corning put 1t.
this is a problem to be tackled
also by those who have the
responsibility to set up, or
maintain. standards Of hous-
ing. health. sanitation and
recreation. In short. a commu-
nifty responsibility.
I'VE can't do the whole Job. p
l