Arizona sun., 1961-01-12
What Do You Think?
You Were A Great Tackle II

Some weeks ago participated over Phoenix radio
station on panel having to do with discrimination
against mnorities in the matter Of education The pro-
gram discussion among the three on the panel
of story which preceded the discussion, of Jewish
boy who was having difficulty because Of quota sys
te getting into private college to study engineering
The young had record brilliant and indus
tous student in the subject prerequisite to engineering
He had tried several colleges and had been refused ad
mission because he was Jew The private college in
question also about to turn him down.
assumed that I was representing the Negro min
ority the panel / could see other reason why
had been asked to participate stated that here in
Phoenix Union high schools there were courses that
Negro business students could not take in the business
curriculum because it was impossible, evidently, to
find any business offices except those in the Negro
community where Negro business students would be
permitted to work on a part time basis to get the
actual on-the-job experiene which is the purpose of
this work-experience course
was surprised when we completed the program
and were off the air to have the question raised as
to whether students should be given courses leading
to a vocation in which they could not find work
Certainly it would not make sense for high school
to teach agriculture in urban community where no
farming students lived But who knows whether or
not student is going to be able to get job? Just
because custom is against the hiring Of Negroes in
some capacities does not that custom may not be
broken by considerate employer or that the
student may not go to a more civilized - more All
American - community where color taboo is no
longer deterrent
Recently I was surprised to hear about a Negro
girl who applied for the course preparing for the vo
cation Of dental technician given at Phoenix Union
High school The girl am told was turned down
because there were only three Negro dentists in
Phoenix and there now no vacancy for a Negro
dental technician" aas2eae re.s< tsls t>ts
Mind your This is in a public high school in the
AllAmerican city of Phoenix in the state of Arizona
one Of the fastest growing in the United States
There about $4,000 Negroes living and paying taxes
in the p U. H. S. and College Districts It would be
all the if there were only one Negro student in
the district. He would have the right to take any
course that he (or she) mentally physically mot
including coor( qualified for am that If this
case taken to the courts it would be won hands
down. But why in this year of Our Lord 1861 mot
1865 or 1912 in an INTEGRATED school system should
it be necessary for the NAACP any other organiza
ton to carry such into the courts Why should
the counseors the head of the department the princi
pal or the superintendent the right to say to
student 'We take Negroes into this only when
we think place them in a job when they finish
the course" In the of Liberty and Justice FOR
ALL, who knows that Negro student prepared a
dental techncian would not be able to find place
ent if not in Phoenix somewhere else? If she were
prepared there would certainly be possibility of
placement .r
believe it is CRIMINAL to deny this student en-
trance to this course. What do you think?
49,. w Robinson