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SOUTHERN SCHOOL NEWS—FEBRUARY, 1963—PAGE 3
TEXAS
Texas Highlights
Stairstep Desegregation
Inaugurated in Abilene
AUSTIN
4 bilene Independent School
District, in West Texas, be
gan desegregation with the open
ing of the new semester in Jan
uary, authorizing admission of
Negroes to previously all-white
Dyess Elementary School, which
serves personnel from a nearby
Air Force Base.
The attendance district’s 38 Negro
pupils had been going 10 miles to a
segregated school in Abilene.
This is the first step in a five-year
“stairstep” desegregation plan adopted
by the Abilene School Board. The ac
tion followed (1) notification by fed
eral authorities that segregated schools
will be ineligible for U.S. “impacted
area” school funds after Sept. 1, 1963,
and (2) a Texas attorney general’s
opinion that schools may desegregate
by board order—without regard to a
law requiring referendum approval.
(SSN, January, 1963, and previous)
Abilene ISD has about 1,000 Negroes
and 17,000 white students. The first
seven grades in all schools will be de
segregated in September 1963, and the
remaining grades abolish segregation
one grade a year.
To Abide by Ruling
New Attorney General Waggoner
Carr told Abilene school authorities,
they reported, that
he will abide by
the ruling of his
predecessor, Will
Wilson, that the
referendum law is
unconstitutional.
Mineral Wells,
Burkburnett and
Potter County
(Amarillo) Con
solidated District
No. 3 were report
ed to have advised
the U.S. Department of Health, Educa
tion and Welfare they also will deseg
regate in September rather than lose
federal aid.
Voters in Colorado District School in
Del Valle community, an Austin suburb
serving Bergstrom Air Force Base, ap
proved desegregation by 124 to 26. The
election was held despite the attorney
general’s ruling that such is unneces
sary. The district is expected to drop
se gregation in September.
At Lockhart, 30 miles southei
ustin, a referendum favored des
gation, 513 to 392. The change i
pected to be made in September,
according to Dr. P. A. Wales,
President. This would give tim
completing a $900,000 construction
Sram, which was contingent on ;
°ning the dual system.
Total Now 175
Abilene's desegregation brings to 175
mitt j X ? t S districts known to have ad-
classes Negroes to formerly all-white
grade system for about 5,000 white
students.
U.S. District Judge Ben H. Rice Jr.,
at Austin, called three desegregation
cases for hearing with the following
results:
Miller v. Barnes, to desegregate pub
lic schools at Georgetown, 30 miles
north of Austin, attorneys agreed to
work out a program for ending segre
gation, subject to future approval by
the court. No time limit was set. Joe
Reynolds of Houston, an attorney for
the school district, said “we recognize
that rules, regulations and customs re
quiring segregation are unconstitution
al” but said some local problems need
to be considered in working out a plan.
The district has 150 Negroes and 1,100
white pupils in attendance.
Sanders v. Ransom, to abolish all ra
cial segregation in University of Texas
housing, set for pre-trial argument on
Feb. 18. Women’s housing at the uni
versity is racially-separated, and so is
some men’s housing.
Four Negroes Enrolled
Four Negroes enrolled at Southwest
Texas State College within hours after
Judge Rice issued a desegregation or
der on Feb. 4, directing President J. G.
Flowers to admit 18-year-old Dana
Jean Smith. (Smith v. Flowers—filed
August, 1962)
The school which has about 3,400 stu
dents is located at San Marcos, 30 miles
south of Austin. It is the second of six
schools under the governing board of
Texas teachers’ colleges to be desegre
gated by court order. The other four
retain segregation. San Marcos public
schools dropped segregation more than
five years ago.
Two girl graduates from San Marcos
High School joined Dana Jean Smith
of Austin in enrolling at the college,
all as freshmen. The fourth Negro stu
dent is a girl freshman transfer from
Texas Southern University at Houston.
President Flowers said he believes
the college would serve as an example
of “peaceful integration.”
In The Colleges
Lee College Enrolls
Its First Negro
The first Negro enrolled at Lee Col
lege in Baytown, near Houston, a tax-
supported junior college. He was Alton
Vemice Williams, 21, ex-serviceman
and a graduate of a segregated high
school at La Marque.
This makes 37 of the state’s 54 tax-
supported colleges which have abolished
segregation.
The future of higher education in
Texas became a matter of great political
concern. John Connally, new governor,
called attention in his first message to
the legislature to what he termed the
Abilene, in West Texas, started
voluntary desegregation in January
and other military “impacted areas”
made plans to follow suit before
September to avoid loss of federal
funds.
A federal court at Dallas approved
gradual desegregation for Carrollton
schools, starting next fall.
Four Negroes enrolled at South
west Texas State College, following
a federal court order.
Lee College, near Houston, a tax-
supported local junior college, en
rolled its first Negro student.
Bills were introduced in the Texas
legislature to punish those who dis
criminate in employment and other
ways on state and local government
levels, and to repeal pro-segregation
laws of 1957.
A statewide poll showed most Tex
ans disapprove of the federal govern
ment’s handling of the “Ole Miss”
situation. Negroes and Latin-Ameri-
cans generally supported the U.S.
action in Mississippi.
“alarming” deficiencies of higher edu
cation in the state. He said this referred
both to the quality and quantity of
college facilities in Texas.
Political Activity
Texans Surveyed
On ‘Ole Miss’ Issue
The Texas Poll, a private survey
agency, reported through Texas news
papers that most Texans disliked Presi
dent Kennedy’s use of troops to enforce
desegregation at the University of Mis
sissippi. The survey showed 47 per cent
of the state’s citizens disapproving the
action, compared with 42 per cent ap
proving. The other 11 per cent had no
definite opinion.
Among Anglo-Americans, the per
centage on federal handling of the “Ole
Miss” situation was 58 per cent against,
33 per cent for. However, Negroes liked
the action 66 to 21, with 13 per cent
undecided, while the move was even
more popular among Latin-Americans,
72 per cent approving Kennedy’s action
and 14 per cent in disagreement.
★ ★ ★
U.S. Sen. John Tower, Republican
from Texas, called for recognition of
Negro rights in
voting and educa
tion. During a na
tionally - televised
interview, he said
“civil rights very
seldom enters into
our campaign de
bates in the South
... It shows grow
ing political so
phistication in the
South.”
To a question,
Tower replied that “Negroes are en
titled to their rights under the Con-
(See TEXAS, Page 7)
take X more districts are scheduled to
untaeii 6 Step in September, either vol-
clude vr ° r by court order. These in
ter r„ Mmeral WeUs > Burkburnett, Pot-
las J ntyCSD No. 3, Carrollton (Dal-
A&MT^rk Northeast Houston ISD,
ISD = .j ’ ^ exas City ISD, Brownfield
’ and Del Valle.
"impacleTf di ,f t i icts recei ving federal
join the j 3rea f'rods are expected to
tember esegre £ation move by Sep-
* Court Approves
Carrollton Plan
0r desegregation
Q
Ceiv ed°co,?!l 1SD ’ Dallas County, re-
Segre gatir>r, a ?Proval of proposed de-
f^de e i_ ° ds high school and first-
1963. es starting in September,
throu gh eight will be de-
a dge SarahX^ year ' U ' S - District
P? e district * Hughes had ordered
in Janue Present a desegregation
Ja^dmry (Rainwater v. Smith,
^gro 1%3 ’ 311(1 Previous)
f^ation 113(1 as hed for deseg-
> schc^i immediately in the
tr . °°1 pupil, f ® event een Negro high
swirled dJr Carr °llton are being
opl dail y to Other districts. The
°°1 for Npct S 311 g 0'P u Pil elementary
1Ne gr°es, and a complete 12-
Legislative Action
Proposals on Race Relations
Introduced in Legislature
As the Texas legislature ended its
first month, bills introduced dealing
with race relations included a fair em
ployment practices act.
Sen. Franklin Spears and Rep. Glenn
Kothmann, both of San Antonio, pro
posed a civil rights law banning racial
and other discrimination in public
agencies, with enforcement assigned to
the attorney general.
The Spears-Kothmann Bill also
would repeal five pro-segregation laws
passed by the Texas legislature in 1957.
These are Article 2900A, Vernon’s
Texas Civil Statutes, requiring refer
endum approval before a school district
desegregates; Article 2901A, a pupil as
signment act; Article 2906-1, authoriz
ing a governor or school board to close
a school to prevent violence or use of
troops; Article 2906-2, directing the at
torney general to help school districts
defend lawsuits for integration; and
Article 2906-3, authorizing county
judges to requiring public listing of
members’ names in organizations whose
activities “hinder, harrass or interfere
with” public school operation.
Sen. Spears said he hopes to have a
committee hearing on his bill about
March 1. He predicted the repeal pro
visions have a good chance of being
enacted, but expressed pessimism over
chances of passing anti-discrimination
provisions for public agencies.
Rep. Don Gladden of Fort Worth in
troduced House Mill 373 repealing only
the referendum law.
While Gladden’s bill had one-third
of the 150 state representatives signed
as co-sponsors, opponents predicted it
would have rough going.
Rep. Joe N. Chapman of Sulphur
Springs, who helped to pass the pro
segregation bills six years ago, prom
ised to fight their repeal. Chapman
said the bills had served a useful pur
pose of “avoiding disturbance and riots”
in school desegregation, and that more
than 50 of the 175 desegregated districts
had done so by referendum votes.
He noted that none of the five laws
which others seek to repeal has been
tested directly in court.
Negro secretaries appeared in the
Texas legislature for the first time in
memory. Reps. Alaniz and another
South Texas legislator employed part-
time secretaries from Houston-Tillotson
College here, a Negro institution. The
legislature has no Negro member, al-
I though some served during the Recon-
I struction era.
KENTUCKY
Jessamine County Board
Ordered to Submit Plan
LOUISVILLE
he Jessamine County Board
of Education on Jan. 29 was
ordered by a federal court to pre
pare a desegregation plan for its
schools by June 3.
U.S. District Judge H. Church Ford
said the plan should provide for sub
stantial steps toward complete deseg
regation by the opening of the next
school year in September.
The order, handed down at Lexing-
tong, postponed until June 3 a suit in
behalf of 31 Negro pupils asking de
segregation of Jessamine County
schools.
Attorneys for both sides stipulated
that only one school—Rosenwald-Dun-
bar—is provided for Negro pupils and
that the county school board has not
yet developed a desegregation plan.
Judge Ford called this “an unfor
tunate stipulation.” He said, “We all
recognize that integration of public
schools is a difficult problem, encoun
tering different types of opposition.”
But he added that the law was clear
that desegregation is mandatory.
Past Conditions
Bradford T. Garrison, school board
attorney, said past conditions in the
county prevented adoption of a deseg
regation plan, but indicated that the
board desired to comply with the law
and the judge’s order.
Rosenwald-Dunbar is a combined
elementary-high school in Nicholasville
with 12 grades, 12 teachers and 302
students. The suit said the curriculum
is inferior.
The suit also asked desegregation of
faculties and other school employes.
James A. Crumlin, NAACP attorney
from Louisville, said it was his under
standing that this would be included
in the court’s call for complete deseg
regation. Crumlin said he is to receive a
copy of the Jessamine County plan by
May 15 and could prepare objections by
the court date of June 3, possibly lead
ing to additional argument on June 10.
Styled Mason v. Jessamine County
Board of Education, the suit was filed
Sept. 19, 1962.
Legal Action
Bowling Green Suit
Filed; Similar Bill
Planned for County
A suit filed in U.S. District Court at
Bowling Green Jan. 9 seeks desegrega
tion of students, teachers and other
school personnel in the Bowling Green
city school district.
Attorney James A. Crumlin of Louis
ville who filed the suit by mail on be
half of 19 parents of 31 Negro pupils,
said he also was drawing up a suit
against the adjacent Warren County
school system.
The Bowling Green school board now
operates Bowling Green High Street
School for Negro high-school and ele
mentary pupils. White students attend
Bowling Green High School and sev
eral elementary schools in the city dis
trict.
Dr. W. R. McNeill, school superin
tendent, said no Negro pupil had ap
plied for admission to a white school
and that the board has taken no official
stand against desegregation. A biracial
citizens’ committee had been reported
as studying the issue.
The suit was styled Lawrence v.
Bowling Green Board of Education.
★ ★ ★
Additional Desegregation
Sought in Two Districts
Two suits seeking additional deseg
regation in two independent school dis
tricts—Frankfort and Richmond—were
set for hearing in U.S. District Court
at Frankfort in February.
At a pre-trial conference at Lexing
ton Jan. 11, Judge H. Church Ford set
the Frankfort case (Mack v. Frankfort
Board of Education) for Feb. 18 and the
Richmond case (Walker v. Richmond
Board of Education) for Feb. 19.
In each case, the school boards con
tend that they have desegregation
plans which meet civil-rights require
ments. High schools in both cities are
desegregated and Frankfort also deseg
regated its first grade last September.
The Richmond suit seeks admission
of 17 Negro children to white elemen
tary schools. But Richmond’s school su
perintendent, Lloyd Patterson, said Ne-
Kentucky Highlights
The Jessamine County Board of
Education was ordered to submit a
program for desegregation to a fed
eral court by June 3.
A suit was filed asking school de
segregation in Bowling Green, and
the plaintiffs’ lawyer said he was
drawing up another suit against the
adjacent Warren County school sys
tem.
Trial dates were set on two suits
seeking expanded school desegrega
tion in Frankfort, the state capital,
and Richmond.
The board of trustees of Asbury
College eliminated all racial barriers
to admission.
gro children already are eligible for
admission although none have applied.
The suit was filed May 17, 1962.
The Frankfort suit asks admission of
26 Negro children to grades 2 through
8. It was filed Sept. 21, 1962.
Space Problems
During the pretrial hearing, Judge
Ford commented that crowded schools
and building problems do not justify
segregation. The Frankfort school board
had asserted that its grade-a-year de
segregation plan is connected with an
urban-renewal plan which will deter
mine school building needs.
J. Earl Dearing, Louisville attorney
representing the Negroes, agreed that
Frankfort has a desegregation plan, but
said the school board has delayed de
segregation.
Colleges Removes
Racial Barriers
Racial barriers to admission at As
bury College, Wilmore, Ky., were
eliminated by the institution’s board of
trustees.
A program of partial desegregation
had been in effect prior to the board’s
action, which was made public Jan. 28
and approved the week before.
Delaware
(Continued from Page 2)
while Delaware has found the objectives
most worthwhile, “it is believed that
Delaware cannot materially contribute
to or benefit from the Compact’s ob
jectives.”
Gov. Elbert N. Carvel, in his State
of the State Message, urged that the
General Assembly take such action.
The annual cost to Delaware has
been $33,000, according to Gov. Carvel.
Delaware’s withdrawal will not become
effective for two years.
Community Action
Two Public Officials
Presented Awards
The superintendent of public schools
in Wilmington, who led the city as it
took the lead in desegregation of Dela
ware schools, and a member of the Civil
Rights Advisory Committee, have re
ceived state recognition.
Dr. Ward I. Miller, who will retire
as Wilmington superintendent this
year, became the 12th person to re
ceive the Josiah Marvel Cup Award of
the State Chamber of Commerce. Dr.
Miller was cited for “outstanding serv
ice to state, community, society and
fellow man.”
Otis H. Smith, mayor of Lewes, has
been named winner of the 1963 Broth
erhood Award of the Delaware Region
of the National Conference of Chris
tians and Jews. Smith, also a member
of the State Human Relations Commis
sion, will receive recognition at the
NCCJ banquet in late February or early
March.
The citation will state that Smith, as
NCCJ co-chairman in Sussex County,
provided outstanding leadership in in
tergroup relations to his community,
and has pioneerd educational programs
with clergymen, police, and teachers in
behalf of improved human relations.