Newspaper Page Text
SOUTHERN SCHOOL NEWS—NOVEMBER, 1962—PAGE 13
Dr. George
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
(Continued From Page 12)
that seem destined to bring about de
terioration in the quality of our genetic
pool. More specifically, it means the
avoidance of any compulsory programs
that would tend to bring about the
mating of well-endowed, potentially
creative people with poorly endowed,
uncreative people. This avoidance does
not involve the denial of any genuine
group or individual. It does involve
recognition of the differing natures of
peoples and the taking of those differ
ences into consideration in determining
policies.
2) Adopt programs that have good
promise of raising the quality of our
pool of genes and so increasing the
number of able and wise people in our
population, since the production of the
maximum number of able and wise
men seems the surest way to national
greatness. Here let me quote Julian
Huxley again: “. . . where intelligence
is ... a major factor in progressive
change, a quite small excess of individ
uals of very high intelligence will have
disproportionately large effect” (p.
613). And again, “. . . Further, in
human evolution . . . the exceptional
individual can play a much more im
portant role than in any animal species,
and the genetically gifted minority will
of necessity be the most important
agency of any change deserving the
name of progress” (p. 619).
3) Insofar as our knowledge, wis
dom, and resources permit, improve
the quality of our environment so as
to permit and stimulate the fruition of
all our good genetic potentialities in
order to further increase the chances
for the production of wise leaders and
able people at all levels. In engineering
this good environment, it is desirable
for the social planners and politicians
to remember that it is apparently more
difficult to tell what is a good environ
ment than it is to tell what is good
heredity. For example, Benjamin
Franklin, Abraham Lincoln and Thom
as A. Edison, representing different
generations in our history, all arrived
at their state of greatness with vir
tually no schooling and in types of
environment not approved by social
planners of our generation. Cultural
privation in their youths did not make
failures of these men nor keep them
from the heights of competence and
eminence. This is not to belittle the
potential value of schools.
4) White people should assist Ne
groes in providing as good an environ
ment for their children as they are
capable of creating; but for the federal
government to compel White parents
Jo send their children to school in as
bad an environment as Negroes can
and do create is neither social justice
nor wise national policy.
Alternative: ‘Greater Tragedy’
U.S. Supreme Court Refuses To Review
Mississippi’s Appeal in Meredith Case
WASHINGTON
T he Supreme Court refused on
Oct. 8 to hear the State of
Mississippi’s protest that Negro
student James H. Meredith should
not be allowed to enroll at the
University of Mississippi.
In a more unexpected action, the high
tribunal agreed to review parts of the
school desegregation plans of Knoxville
and of Davidson County, Tenn.
The Supreme Court’s refusal to re
view a Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal,
ruling ordering Meredith’s admissioi
was not surprising, since Justice Huge
L. Black had, on Sept. 10, set aside a
stay of the Fifth Circuit order, saying
there was “very little likelihood” that
the Supreme Court would review it.
Black said at the time that he had
polled his fellow justices, and that all
agreed.
Tennessee Cases
In the Tennessee cases, the justices
agreed to review an NAACP challenge
to that part of the Knoxville and David
son County desegregation plans, whicl
permit any student who finds himself
in a racial minority in a school to trans
fer out. The NAACP has contended tha
such transfers are illegal because they
are based solely on race and because
they may be used to perpetuate segre
gation. (See Tennessee report.)
Three years ago, when a similar pro
test was filed, the Supreme Court re
fused to hear the case, Chief Justice
Earl Warren and Justices William O
Douglas and William J. Brennan dis
senting. The court’s Oct. 8 decision to
review it now appeared to be a depart
ure from its previous practice of leaving
execution of its 1954 desegregation de
cision to lower federal courts.
Only once before, when it stepped
into the Little Rock school situation, has
the Supreme Court agreed to give full
review to a school desegregation case
arising since 1954.
The probable reason for the court’s
new decision to review is the fact that
lower federal courts have given conflict
ing rulings on transfer plans like Knox
ville’s. The Sixth Circuit Court of Ap
peals, which has jurisdiction over
Kentucky and Tennessee, has approved
the provision. The Fourth and Fifth
Circuit Courts, which have jurisdiction
over the other Southern states, have
rejected similar transfer plans.
Charlottesville Case
D. C. Highlights
The Supreme Court refused to
hear Mississippi’s appeal against the
court-ordered enrollment of Negro
James H. Meredith, but agreed to re
view a challenge to Knoxville’s pu
pil-transfer plan and a similar plan
in Davidson County, Tenn.
Chief Justice Earl Warren refused
to stay a court order calling for en
rollment of 17 Negro pupils in white
elementary schools of Charlottesville,
Va,
President Kennedy commended
the University of Mississippi Chap
ter of the American Association of
University Professors for its stand
in the university’s racial crisis. The
Pentagon ordered withdrawal of
most of the troops stationed at “Ole
Miss.”
white Charlottes
ville elementary
schools. The
Charlot
tesville school
board had appeal
ed to the Supreme
Court to reverse
the order, and the
circuit court
temporarily held
up the effective
date of its decision
until a Supreme
Court justice decided whether to grant
a stay.
A number of other school desegrega
tion cases will come before the Supreme
Court in its new term, but the main
racial issue is expected to arise from the
student sit-in campaign in the South.
The court has agreed to hear seven
cases of students convicted in state
courts for their part in the movement.
Arguments are scheduled to begin in
November.
The court began its 1962-63 term on
Oct. 1, when Arthur J. Goldberg was
sworn in as an associate justice, sue- .
ceeding Felix Frankfurter. President
Kennedy’s appointment of Goldberg
was confirmed by the Senate Sept. 26.
Senate action on the nomination was
without a roll call vote, but Sen. Strom
Thurmond (D-S.C.) announced for the
record that he was opposed.
“I want to make it clear this is not
unanimous,” Thurmond said. He gave
no reason.
Kennedy Commends
Mississippi AAUP
Chapter’s Stand
A letter from President Kennedy to
the University of Mississippi Chapter of
the American Association of University
Professors, commending the chapter’3
stand in the race crisis, was made pub
lic Oct. 19.
While the Justice Department con
tinued to concern itself with court
orders involving the enrollment of Ne
gro student James H. Meredith and
contempt proceedings against Gov. Ross
Barnett and other officials, the presi
dent’s letter represented the only direct
White House action after major violence
on the “Ole Miss” campus subsided
early in October.
The AAUP chapter issued a statemen
Oct. 3 deploring the violence which ac-
enmnanied Meredith’s admission to the
u n i v e r s ity. Mr
Kennedy wrote:
“May I say how
pleased I was over
the action that
you took, which
is in the best
tradition of aca
demic responsibil
ity in a free uni
versity.
“The citizens of
Kennedy Mississippi should
be heartened by your statement, the
statement of the clergymen of Oxford,
of the important business groups in the
State, and the conduct of the Missis
sippi National Guard during the recent
difficulties.”
Troops Removed
The defense department ordered all
but 500 of the 4,000 regular Army troops
and Mississippi national guardsmen
remaining in Oxford back to their nor
mal stations on Oct. 19. (See Mississippi
report.)
The 500 soldiers remaining on duty
NORTH CAROLINA
‘Tar Barrel There—Lime,
Pail, Whitewash Brush
Here . . . That About Takes
Care of Our Equipment’
Bissell, Nashville Tennessean.
were in two military police companies.
Earlier in the month, gradual with
drawals of guardsmen and regular
troops had reduced the original total of
some 20,000 called to duty in the Missis
sippi crisis.
Before the withdrawals ordered by
the Pentagon, Sen. John C. Stennis (D-
Miss.) had charged Oct. 8 that the ad
ministration was trying to “terrorize”
the people of Mississippi by keeping
thousands of troops in the area shaken
by the Oxford riot.
★ ★ ★
Eastland Lauded for Son’s
Attending Biracial School
Sen. James O. Eastland (D-Miss.)
was praised in the House of Represen
tatives Oct. 5 for sending his son to a
desegregated school in Alexandria, Va.
Rep. Edith Green (D-Ore.) told the
House that “the fine example of Sena
tor Eastland is something to be admired
by all the people in the United States.”
A member of Mrs. Green’s staff said
Eastland’s son, Woods E. Eastland, 17,
attends St. Stephens, a private school
which admitted a Negro student a year
ago. # # #
,, am sorry that the need to prot<
e . White race and our civilizati
against the evil results of false a:
insistent propaganda has made it ne
?? sary *-° present data that may hr
e feelings of some fine and at
egroes, but the alternative is great
fora + y ‘i. WelI -meaning humanitaria
tint i-. an ove rlap of 10-20% do
got- elu ninate the existence of an 8
maV un derl a p_ o ne swa ii ow <j oes n
v a summer, and a few intellige
Stoes do not ma ke a race. The int
sr h°n of our White and Negro chi
social sc k°°l s > and other forms
and mte gration, involve race massi
excelf- Ce masses involve averages, n
Sir' The ful1 ^P a et of su,
firstV ° n . may not be felt in ti
third enerat * on > but in the second ai
°iarriat enerations 1116 tren( l to inte
mentum 6 m ° V , es w ith increasing mi
sedurA 38 t “ e egalitarian ideoloj
of soc i l yt T g , minds and tbe standar
Universal decline. In this we have ti
fiistorv t and invariable experience
Hie evia ° lns . trUct us.* Our survey
file Dror. enCe tbese Pages shows th
let must su rely result in ev
. 0ln S evil is not Christian.
^Pport f CU ^ . to any real facte
iients ° r . rac i a i integration in stat
forces from the organize
Pr »ir nd “; but those f ° r ces a
the minds T/tk de vices for confusi
°f fhose who do not kne
itSH* of a a tlC st 1 a a bl e re f erence t0 the mai
Chf Quote iv e ’ ^ ree s °ciety, I wou
S??es D snvrt ° m 4“ statement by I
jj^atal Ph v «Ai yder ’ Professor of Expe
kjtins Unfveri 9 Po emeritus, the Joh
t P ache<Ti, t /.? ch001 of Medicine: ",
torjn° Cr f cie s heretofore stable representati
tai? M of Sovernmen? *r,a aV i? be< T the rar '
°nly bv vfll 1 and have been mai
The? 5 total pomih>t y sma11 segments of t
°rea r r- fore a Peon'lo tl0 u S at any one time. .
cent, 12e and mit are abI « t0 init ia
sejjfcp' or morl ? ta *v? contin ually for
to rf ‘ 1Ve government th0r j U l h ' g0ing repi
tary s° by vi r w ?K 1 f md have been aI
Wat, qua Uties (no of their peculiar here<
C teb °r SJ£° matter what other u
a bov« may have)iE 1 ,J a £? ous inborn Qualit:
all ay c>. should never promote, a
such i P< L opl e who hf? 1 e social integrati
ehce \ n o bor n caDaeiti aVa . (L ever demonstrat
1962. capacities.” Private correspon
North Carolina Laws Under Test
(Continued From Page 9)
One such plan was ruled out in Char
lottesville, Va., in September by the
Fourth Circuit Court.
Chief Justice Warren refused on Oct.
19 to stay a Fourth Circuit order calling
for enrollment of 17 Negro pupils in
Yank Goes to Oxford
—Cargill, Delaware State News.
or do not think. During recent months
we have often heard the appealing
argument that we should treat every
one according to his worth as an in
dividual regardless of his race. To be
sure, we should value every man ac
cording to his merit—within his own
race. It does not follow that virtue
would be served by admitting every
man or woman that we value, regard
less of his race, into those areas of
Caucasian social life where mates are
chosen. If we open those doors to select
Negroes of high merit, we also open
them in the end to millions of inferior
individuals. If we allow ourselves to
be deceived by that Trojan horse, we
may expect a fate similar to that of
ancient Troy that accepted the original
trick and in consequence was overrun
and destroyed, ... # # #
In Winston-Salem the exodus of
white children from North Elementary
School because of the admission of a
Negro to the first grade has apparently
ended. The school, which opened with
an enrollment of 240 white students,
now has an enrollment of 184 white stu
dents and one Negro.
The total transfers were 65 white
children reassigned to the white Low-
rance School. In October, three white
children were reassigned to North, and
three other white children transferred
to North.
Miscellaneous
Publication Notes
State’s Progress
In Public Education
Public school education in grades 1-
12 in North Carolina made great pro
gress during the decade between the
1950-51 school year and the 1960-61
school year, the North Carolina School
Bulletin reported in “State School
Facts” in its September issue.
This progress was achieved in enroll
ment, length of study, teaching person
nel and finance for both white and Ne
gro students.
Although the white population in
creased at a much faster rate than the
Negro population in 10 years, the Ne
gro school population increased at only
a slightly smaller rate than white school
population.
The total white population increased
14.1 percent from 3,014,576 to 3,440,134.
The white school enrollment increased
24.1 percent from 636,505 to 789,629.
For Negroes, the total population in
crease was only 6.6 percent, from
I, 047,353 to 1,116,021, but the school
census increase was 22.3 percent, from
273,272. Negroes were 30 percent of the
student population in 1950-51 and 29.7
percent in 1960-61.
Upper Grades
Most of the increase in Negro school
enrollment occurred in the upper
grades, especially in high school.
High school figures indicate a Negro
increase of 46.3 percent from 47,657 to
69,772 and a white increase of 38.3 per
cent from 142,247 to 196,687.
The percentage of increase for Negro
and white pupils enrolled in the seventh
grade was the same, 35.7 percent. White
numbers are from 55,227 to 74,929. Ne
gro numbers are from 21,891 to 29,770.
The big difference is in the first-grade
enrollment. Increases for both races are
much lower than in the higher age
groups. White first-graders increased
10.6 percent from 70,317 to 77,752; but
Negro first-graders dropped 0.7 percent
from 39,666 to 39,406.
High School Graduates
A greater increase was recorded for
Negro high school graduates than for
white. Negro graduates increased from
6,524 to 11,511 for 76.4 percent. White
graduates increased 59.2 percent from
24,288 to 38,676.
Only 39.0 percent of Negro high school
graduates continued their education in
1960-61 compared with 41.2 percent in
1950-51. For whites the figures are 54.4
percent compared with 44.6 percent 10
years earlier.
Teachers for white schools were in
creased from 21,790 to 28,965, a per
centage increase of 32.9. The Negro in
crease was 34.7 percent from 8,235 to
II, 095.
Value of school property for Negroes
increased more than the value of white
schools. Total evaluation for white
schools moved up from $235,852,975 and
$370.54 per pupil to $588,466,723 and
$745.24 per pupil. Percentage increases
were 149.5 and 101.1 respectively.
Negro school values rose from
$46,705,140 to $168,395,798 for a 260.5
percent increase and from $170.91 per
pupil to $506.87 per pupil for 196.6 per
cent.
There were no breakdowns on racial
salaries, but North Carolina pays teach
ers of both races equal salary for equal
qualifications.
★ ★ ★
Negro Dropouts Blamed
On Lack of Opportunity
The biggest cause of the high per
centage of Negro dropouts in North
Carolina is the lack of opportunity for
Negro college graduates in the state,
Dr. Alphonso Elder, president of North
Carolina College (Negro) in Durham,
told a statewide meeting of school offi
cials in Raleigh Oct. 14.
His talk came near the close of a
three-day meeting on the problem of
dropouts in the state. The dropout per
centage for white and Negro students
in North Carolina is well above the na
tional average, a survey by the State
Department of Public Instruction shows.
The survey, which covered 52 coun
ties of the state’s 100, noted that only
51 percent of students who entered fifth
grade seven years ago were graduated
last June.
Dr. Elder noted that most dropouts
come from low income family groups.
He called the problem greater among
Negroes.
The North Carolina Social Services
Conference sponsored the meeting. Al
though 50 Negroes were invited, only
six were among more than 300 persons
who attended. # # #