St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1959-07-31

IN SCHOOLS uilueF new placement
The move followed closely a
Ibers over segregationists led by
| Faubus in special recall election,
The election actually tested COM
munity reaction toward reopening
of the schools.
Meanwhile, fears stirred to fever
pitch by segregationists in 1857
seemed to have subsidized and san
ity returned to the community.
This was evident in the formation
of a group called the Committee
for Peaceful Operation of Free
Public Schools. The committee is
working to prevent violence and
other shameful acts, such as those
perpetrated by segregationists at
Central High last fall, from being
repeated.
p Negroes At White Schools
In the first three days of reg
istration, a total of 81 Negro stu
dents signed up at the four schools,
all Of which were previously all
white. Included in the number
were five Of the original nine who
integrated Central High in ST
under the protection of federal
troups. So far, a total of 1881 stu
dents have enrolled.
The five original Negro students
are Elizabeth Eckford, Is; Thelma
Mothershed, IT; Carlotta Walls,
IT; Melba Pattillo, IT; and JEFF
ferson Thomas, IT. They did not
appear in person, but were regis
tered by their parents at Central.
The new placement law under
which the schools were reopened
is designed to minimize integra-
ton. 1t altered the attendance area
to include some $3.50 Negro pupils.
Under the plan, Negroes may now
attend Hall high, located in the
most fashionable part Of Little
Rock.
The plan also divides the city
into three attendance areas for
registration. But white students
living in the Horace Mann (aIl-
Negro schooD area may register at
Central, and Negro pupils living
in either the Central or Hall areas
may register at Horace Mann.
Tech High is a vocational school
with a city-wide attendance area.
Meantime, the Faubus forces
were obviously staying in the back
ground, still smarting from the
defeat at the polls. It is likely,
also, that Faubus himself is glad
to be let off the political hook. The
dour-faced governor had gone 80
far bucking indignation that he
obviously cannot retreat without
losing favor with segregationists.
Leading up to the reopening of
the schools was a federal court
ruling knocking out the state law
under which Faubus closed them.
Federal courts had also restrained
public school teachers from teach
ing in segregated schools.
Indignation Developments
Elsewhere
The Little Rock board had not
moved hastily. Board members
studied Indignation plans in Vir-
GINA and North Carolina before
arriving at a decision. Said Ever
EFT Tucker Jr., board presidents.
I'VE were tremendously reas-
yured with the success and appar-
ent ease with which this transi-
lion (integrated schools) has been
accepted in Norfolk and Charlotte"
Elsewhere in the nation, there
were these integration develop
nents.
1. At Newport News, Va, Ne
sro and white attorneys reached
IN agreement with U. s. District
Judge Walter Hoffman that no
lew applications for school admit
ance would be filed by Negro
PUPILS before September. This
meant no Indignation is likely dur
ng the 1e59-60 school term, al
hough 10 Negroes have asked to
inter- previously all-white schools.
Hoffman earlier ordered the city
o submit a desegregation plan by
Jov. 8.
2. In Washington, d. c., the
louise Judiciary committee ap-
roved a proposal to make 1t a
rime to obstruct court-ordered
ltegration by force or threats.
t was part Of an eight-point civil
lights measure recommended by
he Justice department, and is
lined at curbing mobs. The pro-
osal carries penalties of a $1,000
Inc and so days in Jail. The gov
rnment had asked for fines Of
10, 1000 and two years in jail.