Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-09-22
BY PAUL HOPE
Star stan Writer

star stan Writer
The Arlington School Board
last night dropped school spon-
sorship Of dances because Of
indignation.
However, the board ruled
that school buildings will be
rented to responsible citizen
groups" for student dances, but
that these dances must be
segregated.
This was the official action
taken after a public hearing at
Washington-Lee High School,
but Board Chairman L. Lee
Bean said later that other
student activities would be
handled as follows:
/. There will be no interracial
sports competition between
schools. The practical effect
of this is to bar Negroes at
integrated schools from be-
coming members of athletic
teams which have contests with
others schools. Mr.. Bean said
this merely follows State policy
set forth by the State Legisla-
ture in a 1856 joint resolution
opposing interracial sports.
2. Negroes at integrated
schools will be allowed to at
tend sports events at their
schools and sit with white
students.
3. Other extra curricular ac-
tivities-such as social events
for school clubs, field trips and
intramural sports not con-
nected with physical education
clasSeS-will be left up to the
discretion of school admins
traitors.
Little Change" Seen
Mr.. Bean said the policy
probably will mean little
change" from previous prac-
tice except that dances will be
sponsored by the parents in
stead of the schools. The Ar
lington boards action is SIM
liar to a plan adopted in Nor
folk which also has integrated
schools.
The dance ban applies to all
schools in the county. There
are three integrated schools
Washington-Lee High, Strait
ford Junior High and Patrick
Henry Elementary.
The boards action followed
a public hearing called to dis
cusS whether extra-curricular
activities should be curtailed.
1t was obvious. however. that
the boards policy had been
largely determined beforehand.
Private Talks Held
Chairman Bean told about
200 persons in attendance that
the board has had several pyi-
vate discussions with legisla-
tors, principals and PTA and
student representatives.
Only eight persons spoke last
night. five of them favoring
continuation of all extra-cur-
ricular activities and three ask
ing for curtailment.
The policy was approved by
a 4 to l vote. with James G.
Stockard holding out for a con-
tinuance of all activities.
At another meeting for
County Board candidates last
night. the school policy was
called a "shrewd and astute
compromise" by David L.
Krupsaw. chairman of Arling-
ton County's governing body.
Board member Ralph Raul said
he regretted that the school
board felt it was necessary to
discontinue school dances"
Republican candidate Alvin
Smell said the school board
studied the issue thoroughly
and he trusted it to make the
right decision.
Recommendation Declined
Superintendent Ray E. Reid
declined to make a recon-
mendation at the public meet
ing. He said he had given
some views at informal meet
ings of the board. He gave
board members a memorandum
last night which pointed
out that the Governors Com
mission on Education (Perrow
Commission) recently said it
was appalled, over the extent
to which extra-curricular and
social activities have grown
and developed throughout our
public school system"
The motion that the school
board discontinue sponsorship
of dances was made by Barn
ard Joy who prefaced it with
a statement that the "over-
whelming sentiment in the
State is opposed to integrated
dances"
Mr.. Joy said that social &C
tivities are important. in the
development of children but he
felt there would be no curtail-
ment because the parents