Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1957-02-09
New York State
Tightens School
Bias Ban
Regents Set Up Unit
To Act At All
Educational Levels;
Will Aid Communities

Albany, N. Y, Jan. Is - The
Board of Regents acted today to
broaden and strengthen enforce
ment of the states laws against
discrimination in education.
1t created in the State Depart
ment of Education a Division of
Intercultural Relations. Named to
head the division was Theron A.
Johnson, administrator of the Ed
ucation Practices Act for the last
two years.
The Education Practices Act ap-
plies to institutions of higher edu-
cation and some special schools.
1t prohibits colleges, except those
Of religious nature, from discrimi-
mating in their admissions policies
because of an applicants race,
creed or religion. Under today's
step the department expands its
efforts to combat discrimination in
all fields of education.
Conference Called
DR.. James E. Allen Jr., State
Commissioner of Education, recon-
mended creation of the Division of
Intercultural Relations. He an
nounced today that he had called
conference of school admins
traitors here Monday to help form
ulate plans for action by the di-
vision.
In his recommendation to the
Regents he said:
The Regents and the depart
ment are continuously concerned
that every child and youth of this
state has an equal opportunity in
education regardless of race, color,
religion or national origin"
To attain this objective there
is a need for better assessment of
current conditions and for consulta-
tive services in the field of inter-
cultural relations in the communi-
ties to achieve true Indignation of
all ethnic groups in our schools.
1T is, therefore, proposed that
the present unit established to adj
minister the Education Practices
Act in its application to higher
education institutions and trade
and business schools assume these
additional responsibilities"
BY broadening the program Of
this unit the department will be
able to help communities to set
aside the customs and traditions
which may have tended to limit
educational opportunities.
Because the unit would serve
all levels of education it will re-
port directly to the Office of the
Commissioner"
Scope of Special Functions
Functions of the new division
include the following:
/. To provide consultative serv-
ices to local school officials on
courses of action in matters deal
ing with intercultural community
relations.
2. To conduct surveys and stud
les, where needed, to determine the
extent to which equal educational
opportunities are available to chill
dren racial and cultural back
grounds.
3. To promote good intercultural
relations by recommending teach
ing materials and methods and
suggesting appropriate practices
which may be followed in the
schools.
4. To help school officials bring
about the removal of any existing
community blocks to equal educa-
tional opportunity.
5. To prepare and distribute in
formational materials for guiding
and developing good intercultural
relations in a community.
6. To cooperate with public and
private agencies concerned with
the improvement of intercultural
relations.
In general, the division will act
to smooth out local conditions that
may prevent an equal educational