Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-11-06
Negro Pupil Ratio
Continues to Rise
Hansen Notes
Slowing in
Rate of Change
BY ANDREW w. BINGHAM
Star stan Writer

BY ANDREW w. BINGHAM
Star Stan Writer
The percentage of colored
students in District public
schools is continuing to in
crease, Supt. Carl F. Hansen
reported yesterday.
There are 5,753 more Negroes
and 2,088 fewer whites-in
the system this year than last.
The superintendent noted
that the rise was mot unex-
pected." He added that the rate
of increase is somewhat less
than in recent years.
The racial count was part OF
a detailed enrolment report
made after the first six weeks
Of school this fall.
Record Total
According to this report, the
total number of students in the
system is now a record 1884
an increase of $500 over last
year.
The number of colored stu.
dents is 9O,403; white enroll
ment totals 27,481. The per.
centage of Negro students is
1877. Last year it was TAI.
DR.. Hansen attributed the in
crease in the colored enroll
ment primarily to the changing
residential patterns of the
area. White families are NOV
| ing to the suburbs while Negroes
must generally remain in the
city because of very artificial
barriers"
He said there is a great need
to stabilize communities within
the District.
Stressing that "children
should be thought of as chill
dren-not Negro or white" the
superintendent said the racial
makeup of the schools has no
effect on academic standards.
Grouped by Ability
=. He noted that students are
grouped by ability to provide
maximum challenge for every
body" This is a basic educa-
tional philosophy" not in any
way connected with integra-
ton, he said.
The enrolment report actu-
ally indicated that segregation
based not on law but residen-
tial patterns - is increasing.
Nearly half of the schools in the
system have 10 or fewer white
or colored students.
There are 81 all-Negro schools
and three all-white ones.
Acknowledging this trend, DR..
Hansen said it is still a far cry
from the formal separation of
the races that existed here be-
fore 1854. No one is prevented
from going to whichever school
is closest to him, he said, and
most schools still do have some
intermixture of students and/or
teachers.
The superintendent also
pointed out the advantages OF
operating one unified educa-
tional program, rather than
two separate ones.
Picture Changes
Although enrolment reports
are compiled throughout the
school year, the one Dr.. Han
sen released yesterday is the
only one which annually gives
a racial breakdown of the en-
rollment.
Over a period of years, this
report can give a clear picture
of the changing neighborhoods
in Washington.
In 1856, for instance, Stanton
Elementary School. at Naylor
road and Alabama avenue Sc.
had 623 white students and 1872
Negroes. BY 1857, it was Asst
white aand 483 colored. Last
year it was 370 white and SGT
colored. This year it is 264
white and 776 colored.
The report does not include
a racial breakdown of the some
$500 teachers in District pub
lie schools. Last year, however.
62.2 per cent of the teachers
were colored, DR.. Hansen said.
Influx Noted
He noted that one effect of
the population change in WASH
lington is to increase the need
flor maximum educational
services" Many of the families
coming into the city from rural
areas have limited cultural and
economic backgrounds, he said.
The schools must take up the
slack with their children, the
superintendent said. He en-
Iphasized that their problems
have nothing to do with the
color of their skins.
The enrolment report showed
that the greatest student in
crease, as in previous years. is
at the elementary level. The
Junior high schools, however,
are for the first time also be-
ginning to experience the
effects of the high birth rate