Evening star., 1963-09-17
800 Enter School in Prince Edward
By ALEX r. PRESTON
Star staff Writer

FARMVILLE, Va, Sept. II.
The task of trying to edu-
cate about 1,700 Negro chill
dren who have been without
formal schooling for the last
four years was under way in
Prince Edward County today.
A privately financed foun-
dation opened a racially inte-
grated school system yesterday
in four buildings owned by
Prince Edward County.
-Four white children were en-
rolled with 800 Negroes on the
opening day. About 1,700
pupils are expected by the time
enrolment ends next week.
The father of two of the
white children, Robert Aber-
nethy, said, II don't know why
so much fuss is being made
over them. We're not trying
to create a problem. :"
Moved From Portsmouth
His wife agreed, emphasiz-
ing that they had moved here
from Portsmouth, Va, where
schools were already inte-
grated.
Another white youngster,
Letitia Tew, 6 years old, is
entering school for the first
time.
Her parents were afforded an
opportunity of sending their
daughter to a segregated school
for white children by paying a
tuition of $3.50 a year.
"Wen can't afford it, but even
If we could afford it we wouldn't
send her." Mrs. Tew told a re-
porter recently.
Mrs. Tew is a native of
Brooklyn, N. Y, and Mr.. Tew
comes from North Carolina.
They have lived here for 10
years.
The fourth white child en-
rolled yesterday is Richard D.
Moss, II, son of DR.. and Mrs.
c. G. Gordon Moss. DR.. Moss
is dean of Longwood College, a
State teachers institution. /
Has Urged ReOpening
Dean Moss has advocated the
reopening of public schools on
an integrated basis. Prince
Edward ordered them closed
following a Federal courts de-
segregation order.
DR.. Neil v. Sullivan, super
intendent of the free school
system, said that yesterdays
enrolment of 800 had exceeded
expectations. Only pupils from
6 to 8 years of age and those
over 16 were to report yester-
day, he said. Those from 10
to is are to report on Friday.
At a press conference, DR..
Sullivan explained how his edu-
cation system would work.
Standard Courses Offered
The special school will follow
an "ungraded" system, he said.
He said the curriculum will in
clude the standard courses Of
fered in the best high schools
in Virginia and special en-
phaSiS will be placed on voca-
tional training in the over
age groups.
Among the teaching staff is
Miss Hannah Satow, who
taught the first grade at Hill
landale Elementary School in
Montgomery County, Maryland.
Asked why she came to
Prince Edward County, Miss
Satow, who is a Japanese
American, said, "As a private
citizen I read about the Prince
Edward County situation and
I was very much concerned"
Although Miss Satow de-
clined to talk about it, an in
quiry to DR.. Sullivan, disclosed
she had made a substantial
financial sacrifice in changing
to this job.
Other Teachers
Others who are teaching in
the Prince Edward school sys-
tenn include:
Albert Vans Bens, a former
teacher of history and geogra-
ply at Gordon Junior High
School, who is married to a
Federal employe in Washing
ton; Bronel Whelchel, who
formerly taught at Kramer
Junior High School in WASH
ington, and Woodrow Packer,
a fifth grade instructor at Ban
croft Elementary School.
AS the free schools opened
for classes here, the 4th Circuit
Court of Appeals, in a brief 2-1 !
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