The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1957-08-30
SPECIAL HEARING
ON SEPT. 9th FOR
ENGELHARD FOLK
Chief Justice Assigns Judge Burg
wyn to Hear Case at
Swan Quarter

Patrons of the Engelhard school,
who oppose consolidation of it's
High school with Swan Quarter
will get another day in court on
September 9th. Judge w. H. S.
Burgwyn of Woodland has been
assigned by the Chief Justice of
the N. C. Supreme Court to hear
the complaint which affects 81
high school students.
Schools in Hyde are set to open
on September 8, but Engelhard
patrons say they will not send
their children to Swan Quarter,
but to the Engelhard school as
usual. The Hyde County Board
of Education has assigned the
teachers to the Swan Quarter
school, but Engelhard patrons say
sufficient qualified teachers have
volunteered for service in the En-
gelhard school. No teachers are
being paid, they say.
The Hyde County school dispute
has precipitated one of the worst
situations ever known in the coun-
ty, creating strife between COM
munities, and arousing i'll will be-
tween citizens and county officials
that many people say will never
be lived down.
Fifty four individual suits are
being brought. On August 10 the
case was heard by Judge Malcolm
Paul in Washington, whose ruling
in effect endorsed the action of
the Hyde County Board of Educa-
ton. The Engelhard patrons, it
appears were ruled out on a point
of law. They are contending in
their pleadings that the Board of
Education, in assigning the Engel-
hard pupils to the Swan Quarter
School "acted without authority
and in violation of the law and
without any consideration of the
merits of the individual case of
the said (students);" they further
contend that the Board did not
use sufficient time to give proper
consideration to these assign
ments, that the whole thing was
nothing but scheme concocted
by members of the Board to /.
use the pupil assignment statutes
to consolidate the schools" where
by the one at Engelhard would be
closed and discontinued.
They contend that the action of
the Board was not in good faith,
they score Supt. Of Schools Tommy
Gaylord for aiding and abetting
two members of the Board in the
scheme to prevent any considera-
ton of the merits of the case of
the Engelhard people, and there
are other allegations, among the
strongest being no 3.
Here they say "the assignment
is a travesty on school administra-
ton and was made with no regard
for the welfare or interest of 1.-THE
pupiD but in complete disregard
of the same; that the long
bus trip proposed, the longer hours
and absence from home works an
unjustifiable hardship upon the
pupil and tends to be injurious to
his health, progress in school, and
opportunity to lead normal school
life, including proper participation
in school activities outside the
class room. They also contend that
the facilities at Swan Quarter are
grossly inadequate, and they be-
lieve the building may actually be
unsafe, especially for the addition
al pupils sought to be crowded
into it."
One of the most serious charges
Is against the good faith of the
Board of Education, which they
contend has not acted in good
'aith, but rather has been mott
rated by desire to destroy the |
school and has merely |
used (these pupils) as pawn in
he game they are attempting to
play.
They are asking the court, Gin
the interests Of the health, well
fare, proper educational opportun-
ties and the general welfare of
Of the child, to set aside this pur-
ported assignment Of the child to
he Swan Quaretr school, and the
for reassignnnent 10