Evening star., 1960-03-21
Reid Reports
On IntegrdtiOn
In Arlington
Says Four Negroes
Have Difficulties
In High School

" uSH SSHOOI
Arlington School Supt. Ray
Reid today gave a progress re-
port on classroom integration
in his county to the Federal
Civil Rights Commission, meet
ing in Gatlinburg, Tenn.
Mr.. Reid, whose county was
among the first in Virginia to
see school integration pegin,
told the commission some Ne
gro students have experienced
severe scholastic difficulties. !"
All four Negro senior high
school students enrolled in for
merly all-white classes are
working considerably below"
their classmates, the superin-
tendent reported.
But to date, he declared,
scholastic problems pertinent
to integration ARE an individ-
ual problem rather than a
school problem.
Despite the legal furor that
preceded integration in Arling-
ton, school life has been very
normal" since the first four
Negroes were admitted to the
formerly all-white Stratford
Junior High School in Feruary,
1859, the superintendent said.
standards Are High"
"The standards in the Arling-
ton County schools are high
and will remain high" Mr..
Reid assured the commission.
For this reason some Ne
gro students have experienced
severe scholastic difficulties.
They have been assigned. in
some instances. to classes in
a white school where the pupil
teacher ratio is not as favorable
as the ratio in the Negro schools
in which they were previously
enrolled"
Mr.. Reid told of preparations
made by the Negro students
before they entered white
classes, and of their academic
progress.
Tutoring Given
1T is my understanding. "
he said. that the first Negro
students at Stratford Junior
High School received tutoring
help from persons not connect
ed with the school system. It
is reasonable to assume that
this may have been of some
help in orienting them to o new
situation"
The superintendent said he
understood Negro senior high
school students subsequently
admitted to white classes re-
ceived the same type Of tutor
ing assistance.
in spite of this tutoring, I
am not able to report that these
students are doing WE'LL" he
noted. "All four senior high
school students are working
considerably below the average
Of other students.
whether this poor school
work is caused by difficulties
of adjustment, poor prepara-
tion, lack of ability or the high
standards Of the new school,
I do not know"
httAtuuC EApAdIhCu
Mr.. Reid stressed that during
the 1958-59 school desegrega-
ton crisis, the prevailing at
titude in Arlington. was lone
in which concern was directed
more at keeping the schools
open than toward the possibil-
ity of partial integration Of the
school. A large majority Of the
community was determined
that the schools would not
close if any legal course could
be found to keep them open.
Massive resistance previously
in effect in Virginia required
integrated schools to close.
Mr.. Reid declared that care
full procedures planned prior
to integration did much to pre-
vent any trouble.
AS a consequence of orders is
sued by Federal Court Judge
Albert v. Bryan. % Negroes
have been admitted to formerly
all-white schools in the county
Four are enrolled at Washing
ton-Lee High School, II at
Stratford and two at Henry
Elementary School.
Mr.. Reid said that despite
school board policy prohibit
ing integrated social affairs at
school facilities, social activi-
| ties have continued privately,