About Southern school news. (Nashville, Tenn.) 1954-1965 | View Entire Issue (May 1, 1963)
PAGE 6—MAY, 1963—SOUTHERN SCHOOL NEWS LOUISIANA Registration By Attendance Zones Ordered NEW ORLEANS egistration of first and sec ond grade pupils in New Or leans public schools on the basis of single, nonracial attendance zones was ordered by the federal district court April 26, and oral arguments on the school board’s redistricting proposal were sched uled for May 11. Registration along the lines out lined in the redistricting plan may pro vide facts and figures that will justify reopening the case at a later date, Judge Frank B. Ellis indicated. Judge Ellis’ order came after three days of hearings on the board’s re districting proposal which was adopted March 11. Negro plaintiffs in the case of Bush v. the Orleans Parish School Board objected to the plan, claiming it was discriminatory and an unduly slow approach to desegregation. During the hearings, School Supt. O. Perry Walker said desegregation was the toughest problem ever faced by the local schools. He said that administra tive matters such as teacher assign ments and class organizations can be worked out only after the new district setup is in effect; and for these reasons desegregation of more than one grade a year would immensely complicate the board’s problems. Rate Called Slow James M. Nabritt III, attorney for the plaintiffs, countered that the rate of desegregation under the board’s proposal was too slow, that there was no legal reason why it should not be he hastened and that the board was continuing to plan new school con struction on a segregated basis. Judge Ellis, however, remined Na britt that the federal court already had approved the rate of desegregation for the New Orleans public schools and said the purpose of the present hearing was to determine if the specific plan proposed by the school board conformed with the court’s directive to end segregated school zones in the first two grades. Dr. Stanley Fitzpatrick, director of research, census and planning for the school board, described the redistrict ing plan and procedure to the court (SSN, April), then said that since the plan and the map illustrating it were published six weeks previously sever al objections to certain facets had been received from white groups but none from Negroes. Under cross-examination Dr. Fitz patrick, testified that in 1962, 12.1 per cent of the white school classes had more than 35 pupils each, while 62.6 per cent of the Negro schools were over that figure, which is considered the optimum number. However, he noted that while Negro enrollment has increased 25,726 in the past decade, new facilities have been provided for 30,836 Negro children during the period. He previously had testified that since 1952, $28 million, or 65 per cent of the system’s total construction outlay, had been spent for schools to be attended by Negroes. Long a Problem Matthew Sutherland, school board president, testified that overcrowding has been a school problem ever since he became a board member in 1954 and that the board’s decisions on school construction always emphasized crowded neighborhoods and were not based on racial considerations. Under further cross-examination, Dr. Fitzpatrick said that in many cases school district lines will not be changed under the board’s proposal and that some overcrowding will continue in Negro schools. McDonogh No. 6, a Negro grade school, is overcrowded now, he said, but Negro children there who were eligible to attend a nearby white school with surplus facilities did not do so this year. He added that complete de segregation of all six grades at Mc Donogh No. 6 would eliminate crowded conditions there but would cause pro blems elsewhere. Dr. Fitzpatrick also admitted under questioning that while Negro children will be transported from one district to a Negro school in another, desks will go unused in an adjacent white district. Other school board witnesses testi fied that there were no courses avail able to white pupils in such special programs as the Benjamin Franklin High School (for exceptional pupils) that were not also available to Negro pupils in present Negro high schools curricula. Louisiana Highlights The Orleans Parish School Board was ordered by the federal court to enroll first and second grade pupils on the basis of unitary nonracial at tendance districts for the next school year. Financial problems of the Orleans Parish School Board were discussed with members of the local legislative delegation. Three hundred sixty-three East Baton Rouge citizens declared their support for the school board in ful filling its task of preparing a deseg regation plan for presentation to the federal district court. A Catholic priest was struck dur ing a confrontation with parishioners protesting religious instruction of white and Negro children in the same class. A move to elect unpledged presi dential electors in 1964 got under way with some of the state’s leading segregationists in the van. Tulane Decision Appeal Dismissed A plaintiff’s appeal against a federal court decision that Tulane University is a private institution and cannot be forced to desegregate has been dis missed by the federal district court. The appeal was taken in the case of Barbara M. Guillory and Pearle H. Elloie v. Tulane Board of Administra tors after Judge Frank B. Ellis ruled Dec. 5, 1962, that though the university is private it could not be prevented by restrictive clauses in its endowments or by legislative acts from admitting Negroes if its administrators so di rected. The plaintiffs in the court action were among the 11 Negroes admitted to the university at the beginning of the cur rent semester. ★ ★ ★ Assistance Program Attack Withdrawn A suit attacking the constitutionality of the state’s financial assistance pro gram (tuition grants) was voluntarily withdrawn from the federal district court by the plaintiff “because of per sonal reasons which will not be div ulged except at or by the request of the court.” The action was filed two months ago by Arnold C. Klein, operator of a private school in suburban Metairie, charging discrimination in the distri bution of the state funds. A motion by the defendant Louis iana Financial Assistance Commission to dismiss the case had been scheduled for hearing April 10 when the request for withdrawal of the action was filed. Community Action 363 Leaders Three hundred sixty-three citizens of Baton Rouge supported the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board’s preparation of a plan of school desegre gation as ordered by the U. S. District Court. A “declaration of principles” signed by the city’s business, professional and labor leaders was entered into the board’s records without comment. The signers took cognizance of a March 7 order by Judge E. Gordon West that the board submit a desegre gation plan to the court by July 5. They noted that the board on March 9 di rected a staff study of problems that would be involved in desegregating the parish school system, which enrolls some 30,000 white and 20,000 Negro pupils. Said the declaration in part: “The United States District Court has ordered the school board of the Parish of East Baton Rouge to present a plan for the orderly desegregation of public schools. ‘Wise’ Action’ “Our school board has indicated that it will obey this order and will present a plan to the court. We believe that the school board will be acting wisely, and in the best interest of the education and safety of our children, by pre senting such a plan. “If the school board should fail to Budgetary Control Of Spending Upheld State budgetary control over day to day spending by schools and other state agencies was upheld by a Louis iana Supreme Court decision. The decision overruled Judge Elmo Lear of Baton Rouge who had said that under the constitution only the legis lature has the authority to allocate state funds. The action against the legislative budget committee was brought by Dr. Boyd Woodward of Lake Charles, a member of the state board of education who complained that the state officials had usurped the authority of the state and local school boards over their day to day fiscal operations. The case is pertinent to the school segregation issue because of the fi nancial control exercised by the state over the Orleans Parish schools during its 1960-61 desegregation troubles. Miscellaneous Segregationists Aid Campaign To Name Unpledged Electors The drive to name unpledged presi dential electors in 1964 picked up steam in Louisiana during April, with some of the state’s leading segregationists prominent in the movement. Also some organized opposition to the plan al ready is developing. The idea is to withhold electoral votes from major party candidates and to compromise on a conservative, or, that failing, to throw the election into the House of Representatives. Fair size gatherings were held in Baton Rouge and in Shreveport at which proponents of the plan plotted strategy. Another session is scheduled May 10 in Baton Rouge, with more than 100 persons invited from all parts of the state. Sparkplug of the movement has been George Shannon, editor of the Shreve port Journal, who has been mentioned as a candidate for governor. Gov. Jimmie Davis thus far has been silent on his view of the move. How ever, it is expected to be a certain is sue before the legislature which opens a 30-day fiscal session May 13. A bill similar to the Mississippi un pledged elector act was prepared sev eral weeks ago by political boss Leander Perez of Plaquemines Parish in extreme southeast Louisiana and his ally, Rep. John Garret of Claiborne Parish in northwest Louisiana. The axis spans the state and has proved active and effective in guiding segregation legislation through the state assembly. Opposition to the free electors move ment is centered chiefly in organized labor. Back Baton present a plan this would not prevent desegregation of the schools. In that event, the federal judge would have no choice but to devise a plan for our schools. “Our school board was elected to direct public education and preserve our public school system. We believe that an acceptable plan, prepared by our own well-informed school board, would be less disturbing to our com munity than a plan provided by the court. “We support the school board of this parish for its dedicated and courage ous service in this difficult situation. “Baton Rouge is now faced with the same situation that has recently con fronted other Southern cities. This par ish must choose whether it will follow the path of law and order. What is done here now will determine the welfare and the economy, of the entire Baton Rouge area for years to come. Governing Principles “We believe that the course to be followed, by our people and by our public officials, should be governed by the following principles: • Public education must be pre served. Our children are entitled to a schooling uninterrupted by violence and danger. • Law and order must be maintained. State Tuition Grant Administration Hit William E. Dodd, president of the State Board of Education, criticized the administration of state tuition grants, noting that some parents in parishes not desegregated were receiving grants to send their children to private schools. He also raised the question whether children graduating from grant-in-aid private schools would be qualified academically to attend the state col leges and universities. Frank Voelker Jr., chairman of the State Sovereignty Commission, said the state constitution specifically authorized the State Board of Education to ap prove private schools. His comment was in response to a resolution by the United School Committee, a composite group representing various educational associations, calling for legislation to bring private schools under state board supervision. Daniel A. Ellis, member of the Orl eans Parish School Board, continued to advocate separate schools for boys and girls. He said: “As the schools now are set up many experts feel the standards of our schools are too feminine. Famed anthropologist Margaret Mead recently declared that boys are trapped in a female school world which squelches the male quali ties of originality, creativity, stubborn individuality of style and refusal to conform merely to please. “All-boy, all-girl schools reportedly have better discipline and improved at titudes; and have less classroom dis tractions allowing for more studying and more learning.” Matthew R. Sutherland, president of the Orleans Parish School Board, fore saw another “happy and peaceful” school term next fall despite further court-ordered desegregation. Dr. Albert W. Dent, president of Dil lard University, said in Washington, that young Southern Negroes are losing out in employment because of segre gated schools. “Fair employment agreements mean nothing to people who are denied ac cess to the required training in this age of rapidly increasing mechaniza tion,” he told the National Conference on Support of Public Schools in Wash ington. ★ ★ ★ Legislators Told Of School Needs The Orleans Parish School Board, which was addressed out of office by the Louisiana legislature in 1960, met with members of the local legislative delegation April 25 to discuss fiscal problems of the local school system. Board President Matthew Sutherland opened the session with references to the board’s difficulties of 1960 when the legislature sought to replace the elected board with an appointed legis- (See LOUISIANA, Page 7) Rouge Plan This requires compliance with the final decisions of our courts. Any other course would result in violence and chaos. • The right of parents to send then- children to private schools should be recognized. “However, we believe that a private school stystem cannot become an ad equate substitute for the public system. “We join in public support of these principles.” ★ ★ ★ Arthur Jelks Sr., president of the National Association for the Advance ment of Colored People branch in Baton Rouge, complained April 6 that Negroes and whites had conspired to prevent the appearance of James Meredith, in a fund raising meeting there. Jelks also accused Meredith of reneging on the speech commitment. Jelks said Meredith had agreed in two telephone conversations to appear at the branch meeting, but then suc cumbed to pressure from Baton Rouge Negro leaders to stay away. Meredith, in Oxford, said he had never agreed to attend the Baton Rouge meeting, but that other students in his dormitory had impersonated him in accepting speaking invitations. Jelks said he believes the person he spoke to by phone was Meredith. The Rev. Frank Ecimovich A parishioner v/as charged. Plaquemines Priest Slugged ByParishione A Catholic priest in strongly segregi tionist Plaquemines Parish was poke: in the eye during a confrontation wit parishioners protesting the instructs of white and Negro children in tk same class in preparation for their fci communion. The Rev. Frank Ecimovich, pastor k Our Lady of Perpetual Help Churc: at Belle Chasse, has filed charges«’] simple battery against Leonard Heir Mackenroth, 46. An archdiocesii spokesman said excommunication c Mackenroth will be automatic if tk charge of attacking the priest is sus tained. Plaquemines Parish District Attorn? Leander H. Perez Jr. said the char? would be handled in a “routine” mai-j ner. This means an investigation w- be made to determine if it warrant prosecution. The district attorney is the son * Leander H. Perez, the Plaquemin* Parish political leader who was exco®' municated last year because of k opposition to desegregation of P 3 ^ chial schools. In describing the circumstances s® rounding the incident, Father Eci® 8, vich said the retreat (a period of ® struction and meditation) on April preceding the first communion servi^ on April 21, was handled just as been for the past two years. Four Negro children were pl ac< !iti* the class with some 30 white chd for the final retreat. All other P 6 ” of instruction had been held sep 3 ^ . at Belle Chasse for the white . and at Scotville for the Negroes-^ communion services also were separately, in the church at Chasse for the whites and in the ch^ at Myrtle Grove for the Negroes-^, the children involved attend P schools. Father Ecimovich said the pad 51 occurred April 20, when four , ioners, including Mackenroth, him at the rectory to protest th a p ence of white and Negro chil gether in the retreat. v(i! The priest said Mackenroth^ ^ him in the shoulder several ti®^ ^ his finger to emphasize his when the pastor stood up, jjd' Mackenroth struck him ® “ ^ and continued to pummel hint of the other parishioners puu enroth away. Archbishop John P. Cody i- 11 ment said he was “profoundly 8 over the incident and added. ^. “This deplorable occurrence .v other evidence of the diffiu^ , jj d the church has experience Q f t? periencing only in this sec 1 £yi- archdiocese in carrying ° u teaching of brotherly love an for all men. „po^ e - “I caH upon our faithful P^ & offer prayers of reparation^ „ sacrilege against the prie
