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PAGE 10—SEPTEMBER, 1962—SOUTHERN SCHOOL NEWS
TENNESSEE
Chattanooga, Surrounding Area
Start Biracial Schools Quietly
NASHVILLE
C hattanooga and Hamilton
County, Tennessee’s last
metropolitan area to begin deseg
regation of schools, admitted a
total of 58 Negro students to pre
viously all-white classes on Sept.
5.
Desegregation was accomplished
without disorder, city and county school
officials said after the first day of
classes.
“Everything went fine,” said Dr. Ben
nie Carmichael, superintendent of the
Chattanooga schools. “Our community
seemed to be prepared.”
Forty-four of the Negro students
were enrolled in the first three grades
of six previously all-white schools in
the Chattanooga system under a plan
ordered by U.S. District Judge Frank
Wilson of Chattanooga.
Marking the climax to a complicated
two-year legal battle between Negro
plaintiffs and the Board of Education,
the plan approved by Judge Wilson
called for desegregation of the first
three grades of selected schools. (Mapp
et al v. Chattanooga Board of Educa
tion, SSN, March, and previous.)
The Chattanooga schools and the
number of Negro students enrolled in
previously all-white classes include
Glenwood, 16; Sunnyside, 14; St. Elmo,
5; Missionary Ridge, 5; Eastdale, 2,
and Elbert Long, 2.
Timetable Set
Judge Wilson’s order also set a time
table under which desegregation will
extend through the high school grades
in 1968.
In the Hamilton County system which
surrounds Chattanooga on the Tennes-
see-Georgia border, 10 Negro students
were admitted to the first three grades
at Lookout Mountain School in one of
the county’s fashionable sections and
four were enrolled in previously all-
white classes at Hixson School.
The Hamilton County Board of Edu
cation voluntarily adopted the desegre
gation plan after Judge Wilson ruled
in the Chattanooga case.
Under the county board’s plan, an
additional grade will be desegregated
each year through the high school level.
Supt. Sam McConnell said he had
received no reports of any difficulties
connected with the beginning of de
segregation.
Late Enrollments
Students in both systems registered
on Aug. 29 and 30. Officials noted that
four Negro students who did not reg
ister before school opened enrolled
in predominantly white Chattanooga
schools as the term began. Three addi
tional Negro students presented them
selves for enrollment on opening day
in the county system.
One white student sought enrollment
in all-Negro Clara Carpenter School in
the city system after registration had
been completed on Aug. 29. The stu
dent’s mother was informed that en
rollment could not be effected until
Sept. 5.
Dr. Carmichael said, however, the
student did not appear for enrollment
when classes were started on Sept. 5.
After the Chattanooga registration
had ended, Dr. Carmichael told a news
conference that the ease with which de
segregation was beginning “reflects well
on the image of the city and its edu
cation.”
Seen Via Telstar
A telecast showing the quiet desegre
gation at Glenwood School was seen
in Europe later in the day via Telstar.
A one-minute film showing Negro and
white students entering the school was
flown to New York for the satellite
transmission.
One of the 44 students entering Chat
tanooga schools was Angele Maria
Mapp, daughter of James R. Mapp, local
president of the National Association
for the Advancement of Colored People
and one of the plaintiffs in the desegre
gation suit.
Although police officers were on hand
in event of disorders, they had little
to do but direct traffic. No crowds
gathered around the schools, and only
parents, teachers and children were
allowed inside.
Police will continue to keep a secu
rity watch over all the Chattanooga
schools “for as long as they are needed,”
Dr. Carmichael said.
W. E. Brock Jr., chairman of the citi
zens committee which worked for
peaceful desegregaion, said:
“I don’t think I have ever done any
thing which has been more gratifying
Tennessee Highlights
Chattanooga and Hamilton Coun
ty began desegregation of their
school systems on Sept. 5, admitting
58 Negroes to previously all-white
classes. There were no disorders.
Submitting an accelerated deseg
regation plan for federal court ap
proval, the Memphis school system
enrolled 44 Negroes in seven pre
dominantly white schools on Sept. 4.
Knoxville and Knox County
schools stepped up their desegrega
tion programs on Sept. 4, admitting
an additional 64 Negroes to biracial
classes.
At least 111 additional Negroes
enrolled in predominantly white
schools in Nashville and Davidson
County as they desegregated the
sixth grade on Sept. 4 and 5.
Paris and Henry County school
systems desegregated voluntarily at
the same time, admitting 14 Ne
groes to three previously all-white
schools Sept. 7.
The Ninth Special School District
which operates Franklin city schools
voluntarily began a grade-a-year
desegregation plan on Sept. 4 with
the enrollment of two Negro first-
graders in a previously all-white
school.
Jackson city schools enrolled a
total of six Negroes in two previous
ly all-white schools as the new
school term began.
Beginning a desegregation plan
adopted voluntarily, the Dickson
County Board of Education on Aug.
20 admitted 13 Negro students to
biracial classes.
About 85 Negro students began
attending Obion County schools dur
ing August under a federal court-
approved desegregation plan.
Bristol schools voluntarily began
a grade-a-year desegregation plan
but no Negroes registered for bi
racial classes.
The University of Chattanooga has
rejected a Negro girl’s request for
admission to the private institution.
to me personally as working with so
many people willing to help achieve
peaceful desegregation.”
Observers paid tribute to school au
thorities, law enforcement officials and
committees of laymen for their efforts
in preparation for desegregation. A
special appeal was issued by the city’s
ministers who urged that law and order
prevail.
The suit which led to the Chattanooga
desegregation was filed in 1960 and
Negro plaintiffs were granted summary
judgment later the same year. This
decision, however, was appealed to the
U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals by
the board of education which also of
fered a grade-a-year plan.
The appeals court affirmed the dis
trict court’s original action and re
manded the case to Judge Wilson to
determine the final plan.
Some phases of the case still are
awaiting appeal, including the board’s
proposed admissions and transfer pro
visions which Judge Wilson struck
down.
Chattanooga’s total enrollment in the
first three grades is about 8,000, includ
ing about 3,500 Negroes. Hamilton
County has a total enrollment of about
7,500 in the same grades, about 400
of whom are Negroes.
The city system in all grades has
about 25,000 students, with about 41
per cent of them Negroes. Hamilton
County’s total enrollment of 26,000 in
cludes only about 1,100 Negro students.
★ ★ ★
Memphis Offers New Plan;
44 Negroes Are Admitted
Forty-four Negroes were admitted
Sept. 4 to seven previously all-white
schools at Memphis as the city’s Board
of Education submitted a new desegre
gation plan to U.S. District Court.
Under orders by the federal court
to speed up desegregation, the board
filed the substitute plan with U.S. Dis
trict Judge Marion S. Boyd five days
before classes began for the fall term.
Judge Boyd signed an order on Sept.
1 allowing the board to place the plan
in effect with the opening of the new
school year, pending a hearing on the
merits of the plan later.
The Board of Education, which ad
mitted 13 Negro first-graders to biracial
classes at four previously white schools
last fall, stepped up desegregation by
enrolling Negroes in the first, second
and third grades under its new plan.
Three More Schools
In addition to schools desegregated
last year, Supt. E. C. Stimbert said pre
viously all-white Christine, Peabody
and Vollentine schools have Negro stu
dents this year.
Eleven first-graders, 21 second-grade
students and 12 third-grade pupils are
among the 44 Negroes attending biracial
classes, Stimbert said.
No incidents were reported at any
of the schools, the superintendent
added.
Stimbert said the 21 second-grade
students include the 13 Negroes who
entered the first grade last year.
15 Days for Objections
Judge Boyd allowed Negro attorneys
15 days in which to file objections to
the board’s new plan or to submit a
plan of their own.
Both Jack Petree, board attorney, and
Negro attorney A. W. Willis Jr. agreed
that the plan, which is based on a single
set of boundaries for each school,
should be considered by the court as
soon as possible.
Since students already had registered
for the fall term under the board’s
previous desegregation policies, full
effect of the new proposal would not
be likely before next year.
Under the plan, Negro students in the
first three grades who live within the
boundaries of a white school district
but who already have been assigned to
Miscellaneous
The Principal Offers a Lift
Negro boy who registered Aug. 29 at formerly all-white Eastdale School in Choi
tanooga is asked by Principal Cecil Aldridge whether he has transportation home
Negro schools may appeal for transfers
to previously all-white schools.
Judge Boyd allowed three days for
these appeals which school officials said
could boost the number of Negroes in
biracial classes. Applications for trans
fer could be made until Sept. 7.
Petree said Negro students seeking
admission to nearby white schools
would be accepted if classroom facil
ities are available and if their enroll
ment would not otherwise overload the
teaching staff. The attorney said the
provision could add Negro students to
every elementary school in the city.
Negroes Dissatisfied
Negro leaders expressed dissatisfac
tion with the new plan.
Jesse Turner, Memphis-Shelby Coun
ty president of the National Association
for the Advancement of Colored Peo
ple, said “it is not acceptable to us in
its present form.”
Willis also objected to the plan by
saying nine years is too long a period in
which to bring about complete deseg
regation. An additional grade would be
desegregated each year until all 12
grades would include biracial classes
by 1971.
“This plan does not reorganize the
school system as ordered by the Court
of Appeals. It is not the nonracial plan
called for by the court,” Willis declared.
Judge Boyd on July 16 ordered the
board to submit a new plan, if possible
before the opening of the school year.
(SSN, August.)
His order came about three weeks
after the U.S. Supreme Court refused
to review a decision by the U.S. Sixth
Court of Appeals which struck down
the plan initiated by the board last
year.
The high tribunal’s action, in effect,
upheld the appeals court ruling that
the Tennessee Pupil Assignment Law
under which Negroes were transferred
to previously all-white schools last fall
Citizens’ Council Formed in Jackson
An organizational meeting of the
Jackson Citizens’ Council was attended
by about 20 persons at the City Hall
in Jackson on Aug. 17.
Dr. Medford Evans of Jackson, Miss.,
a consultant for Citizens’ Councils of
America, who conducted membership
registration, estimated that two-thirds
of those attending joined the organiza
tion.
Ralph Lewis, a Jackson businessman,
served as acting chairman and intro
duced Dr. Evans, who is a former chief
of security training for the Atomic
Energy Commission.
A nominating committee was selected
to recommend members for the coun
cil’s board of directors.
L. W. Hollis, executive director of
Citizens’ Councils of America, also of
Jackson, Miss., explained the history of
the organization and outlined some of
its objectives.
Declaring that the Citizens’ Council
movement is “growing by leaps and
bounds,” Hollis said: “The council is
bringing together groups of patriotic
men and women dedicated to the prin
ciples of individual freedom of choice
and racial purity. . ..”
The organization, he said, is working
to preserve racial segregation and to
maintain the rights of states, local
communities and individuals to govern
themselves.
★ ★ ★
Physician Elected Head
Of Chattanooga Council
Dr. John P. Hoover, a physician, on
Aug. 21 was elected president of the
newly-formed Chattanooga Citizens’
Council.
An estimated 130 to 140 persons at
tended the meeting, held at Frye Insti
tute, including L. W. Hollis, executive
director of the Citizens’ Councils of
America, and Dr. Medford Evans, a
consultant for the organization, both of
Jackson, Miss.
Other officers elected were Lloyd
Sliger, vice president; George Palmer,
secretary and Mrs. Wallace W. Cash,
treasurer. Committee chairmen include
the Rev. Billy Dean, membership and
finance; Mrs. Willard Steele, informa
tion and education; Don Moore Jr.,
public affairs; and Wade H. Leonard,
legal advisory committee.
Dr. Hoover issued his statement after
the meeting:
“We think we are not the trouble
makers. We think we are attempting
only to represent America as it has
traditionally stood. We aren’t trying to
change anything. We are satisfied with
the Constitution of the United States
and the founders of America. We don’t
believe in complete surrender of all
of our traditional American rights just
because the left-wing and the ultra
liberals have been able to pack the
Supreme Court with individuals whose
fidelity to the United States is ques
tionable.
could not be used as a desegregatioi
plan.
Judge Boyd earlier had held that th
board’s adoption of the assignment la:
had ended compulsory racial segrega
tion in the Memphis schools. (SSN
May, 1961.)
★ ★ ★
Knoxville and Knox Count)
Accelerate Desegregation
An additional 64 Negroes began at
tending classes Sept. 4 in predominant!
white schools in Knoxville and Knos
County under accelerated programs o
desegregation.
Under orders by the U.S. Sixth Cii
cuit Court of Appeals to speed up it
original grade-a-year plan which begai
in 1960, the Knoxville Board of Educa
tion admitted 87 Negroes to biracia
classes in the first four grades at 1
predominantly white schools. This rep
resents an increase of 35 over last yea'
The Knox County system, which it
eludes schools surrounding Knoxvillf
enrolled 30 Negroes in the first foil
grades at three previously all-whit
schools. Sixteen entered Ritta Schoo
11 were admitted to Arminda Schot
and three began classes at Bearde
Elementary School, none of which wa
desegregated last year.
Although the Knox County Board <
Education began a grade-a-year pla
voluntarily in 1960, only one Negro a
tended biracial classes last year.
County Keeps Pace
When the Knoxville plan was acce!
erated to include both the third at
fourth grades this year, the count
board voluntarily voted to keep pat
with desegregation in the city.
Knoxville School Supt. T. N. Joht
ston’s office said the 87 Negroes enroll®
in biracial city classes include thl®
students at predominantly white Fult®
High School where vocational cours
also have been desegregated undf
court order. Only one Negro attends
these classes last year.
A spokesman said the city syste 1
added only one school to the list de
segregated previously. Moses Elemet
tary School admitted two Negroes *
classes which were all-white last ye®
Both the third and fourth grad e
were desegregated after the U.S. CoUj
of Appeals on April 3 ordered a spe®“
up in the city system. (SSN, April
The Knoxville Board of Education filf
an amended plan calling for birad-
classes in both grades, instead of *
third grade as originally schedule
with the U.S. District Court.
No Hearing Set
“The Supreme Courts of the past 150
years have interpreted the Constitution
in a manner compatible with the doc
trine of equal rights but separate asso
ciation. We stand for states rights and
racial integrity.”
No hearing has been set by the co’J-
in connection with the revised plan-
The Knox County Board of Edtft?
tion, meanwhile, voted to step up 1
voluntary desegregation plan by add)®
two grades, the third and fourth,
the opening of the new school tern 1 -
No disorders were reported by 0 f
cials of either system as registrad®
was completed and classes got un“‘
way.
The Knoxville system has a total ^
rollment of about 20,800, includi-
about 4,800 Negroes while Knox Co^
ty schools include an estimated 35,^
(See SIX, Page 11)
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