“MAKESHIFT” SCHOOLS

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28699, 24 September 1958, Page 13

“MAKESHIFT” SCHOOLS

Attempts In South NEW YORK. September 22 Efforts to provide makeshift private education facilities for students of schools closed because of impending integration began today in Little Rock, Arkansas, and Charlottesville, Virginia. But in Charlottesville there were signs of resistance -> school closing under Virginia’s long-pre-pared programme of massive resistance to integration. A group of white students circulated petitions asking the Governor (Mr Almond) to reopen a high school he closed last week to block Court-ordered integration, or turn it back to the local school board for reopening. In Lexington, Kentucky, the Governor of Arkansas (Mr Juval Faubus) today said that he planned to open Little * -»ck’s high schools next Monday under a plan which might cause legal action by the Federal Government. Mr Faubus, attending a conference of southern governors, did not say in his statement to reporters whether the schools would be opened on a public or private basis. “That depends on how the vote comes out,” he said. He was referring to the state’s public referendum on integration, which is to be held on Saturday. Mr Faubus said that he expected the Federal Government would bring a Court action against the opening plan. “ . . And, if they do. it will be their responsibility for keeping the schools closed longer.” he said. At the conference, Governor Le Roy Collins, of Florida, the chairman, urged action to end what he called “the most severe constitutional and social crisis since the Civil War.” In Washington, Mr Arthur Flemming, Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare, said in a formal statement that the nation would be undermining its education programme if schools in Virginia and Arkansas remained closed. In Little Rock, three commercial television stations broadcast a total of six hours of lessons today for students of closed city schools, including Central High School. In Van Buren, Arkansas. 11 of the negroes who left the integrated high school and junior high school early this month because of an anti-integration strike returned to classes without incident.

Two makeshift “semi-private” school organisations set up by Charlottesville parents began registering white students from a closed elementary school. They will hold classes in quarters ranging from home basements to a roadside beer tavern.