Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-09-08
By JOHN McKELwAY

On October 8, 1854, q soft, per-
sistent rain and big, tired cop
ended what was probably the last
overt resistance to the indignation
Of District Of Columbia public
schools.
A few days before-it was
balny then--about $500 white
students had come to school but
refused to enter classes. Appar-
emily stirred by racial disturb
ances in Delaware and Baltimore,
they announced they were on
strike.
At three newly integrated high
schools the boys and girls stood
In uneasy groups. They talked,
smoked and ventured an insult or
two at the colored students who
walked to school with their eyes
to the ground.
AS the strike began to play out,
o man named Bryant Bowles
turned UP and was quickly ac-
cepted as something Of q leader Of
the strikers. Mr.. Bowles was the
founder Of the National Associa-
ton for the Advancement Of White
People.
But on the 9Th the rain came.
The strikers went to class or went
home. And shortly after noon, in
front of Anacostia High School.
Mr.. Bowles stood alone in the
rain. He said he had come for q
meeting.
Deputy Chief Geofge r. Wall
rodt. an impressive figure with q
gravel voice, had been on duty at
Anacostia since the strike started.
Chief Wallrodt, wet and weary.
pulled himself over to MI, Bowles
and told him to 60 home.
Mr.. Bowles went OF into OBJ
security and that was 1t.
Now the Fourth
Tomorrow, the District schools
start out on another-the fourth
year Of migration. Offlcials
have no reason to think there will
be trouble. But since their fright
ening experience in October, 1864,
they have been q cautious lot.
The tense situation in Little Rock
and the firm anti-integration
stand of Virginia will be in the
minds Of many as an estimated
11O,865 pupils start on the year
here.
Compared to the 10 eolored stu
dents who seek admission to q
white high school In Little Rock.
the District prepares to continue
indignation from kindergarten
through the 18th grade Of q school
population which is roughly 70 per
cent colored.
No one can really say just how
the District accomplished integra-
ton without violent conflict. DR..
Carl r. Hansen. an assistant
superintendent. has called it q
miracle of social adjustment"
and this may be the only logical
explanation. Or the answer may
lie In the swiftness and firmness
with which the Board Of Educa-
ton moved following the Supreme
Court decision Of May, 1854, or
even n the massive numbers In
volved in the actions.
However the job was done, the
system is thoroughly integrated.
As it closed last spring, only "a
school buildings out Of 1866 lacked
pupils Of both races. Tomorrow.
1t is expected only a few schools
win be either exclusively colored
or white.
Steody Rise
The colored student population
has steadily climbed from SO per
cent in october of 1855. to SO
per cent in 1856, and to the ex-
pected 70-plus per cent this year.
There is good reason to believe
1t will 60 q shade higher next
year.
There will be more coIored
teachers. School officials estimate
the single racial count taken each
year in October will show about
So per cent Of the teaching force
is colored.
This situation-colored teachers
Of a predominately white class
is an obvious source Of friction.
There are indications parents
might raise their chief objections
in this area-now that the mixing
of pupils. once the chief source
Of irritation, has been fairly well
settled in the past three school
years. II depends largely upon the
merits Of the individual, for white
parents. in the past, have shown
acceptance Of top-notch colored
teachers.
Though they have frightened up
the measurements applied to each