Data in the table above is for the 1956-57 school year. While such a detailed breakdown is not available yet for the current year, initial reports indicate no new districts desegregated, but an increase to 4,497 in the number of Negro students actually in mixed classes. In 1958 Hockessin and Alexis I. DuPont school districts were consolidated, reducing the number of mixed districts to 12. Five all-white school districts in New Castle County have announced they will accept students without regard to race. They are Oak Grove No. 130, 1,510 pupils; Richardson Park No. 20, 993; Yorklyn No. 291, 90; Stanton No. 38, 690; and Mount Pleasant Special School District, 3,267. Colleges The University of Delaware, only formerly all-white tax supported college in the state, has been accepting students for several years without regard to race. Official State Attitude Pro-integration at state level; varied but generally leaning toward desegregation at local level, except in South Delaware. Court Actions In eight cases (Civil Actions 1816-1822) filed May 2, 1956 on behalf of 58 Negro children, federal district court in August, 1957 enjoined practice of segregation and ordered State Board of Education to devise plan for desegregating all schools in the state. Review denied by US. Supreme Court. Dennis et al v. Baker et al, seeks to speed and broaden desegregation already begun in Dover. Pro-segregation Groups Christian Americans Segregation Association, Inc., We, the People, Charles E. Boyce, Seaford NAACP Legislative Action None directly. But 1957 legislature adopted laws regulating transfer of pupils akin to pupil assignment laws. Teacher Pay Scale (average salary) (This is maximum. Figure arrived at by mathematical formula that includes among other things total minimum foundation grants, supplements by counties, etc. State assumes rate same for whites and Negroes under minimum foundation law. Practically, may be some differences.) Status of Desegregation Public Schools-None. Public Colleges-University of Florida Law School in 1958 accepted a Negro under court order. Private Colleges-Barry College, a Catholic school in Miami, reportedly accepts students without regard to race. Official State Attitude Moderate to strong pro-segregation. Gov. LeRoy Collins, renominated in 1956 as a "moderate" over strong segregationist, sees desegregation as "inevitable." Petitions Filed Most school boards have received petitions as matter of record, but have taken no action on them. Court Actions Hawkins v. Board of Control. First filed in state courts in 1949, case went to U.S. Supreme Court on three occasions. Filed in federal district court in 1957, case resulted in decision that led to desegregation of graduate and professional schools in fall 1958. Gibson et al v. Dade County Board of Public Instruction. Filed first in July 1956, refiled in October 1956, seeks school desegregation. Holland v. Board of Public Instruction of Palm Beach County attacks pupil assignment law. Florida v. Special School Tax District No. 1 of Dade County, to determine validity of school bonds. District and supreme courts held them valid. Board of Public Instruction, Manatee County v. State, testing validity of school bonds. Court held them valid. Pruitt v. Mizell, libel suit growing out of legislative session, ended in $15,000 judgment for plaintiff. Pro-segregation Groups Federation for Constitutional Government Florida States' Rights Council Dade County States' Rights Council Dade County Property Owners Association National Federation for the Protection of White People and Fair Treatment of Negroes Pro-integration Groups Human Relations Council Legislative Action In May, 1955, legislature adopted measure giving county boards of education authority "to provide for enrollment of each child residing in each county who is qualified under laws of this state for admission to a public school and who applies for enrollment in or admission to a public school in such county." Designed to preserve segregation, the bill also provides for study groups, employment of special counsel by local boards and fixes responsibility at the local level. It permits assignment of students to the school "to which he is best suited" and makes the local board's decision "complete and final." In July 1956 legislature adopted a five-point prosegregation program at instance of Gov. Collins and Atty. Gen. Richard M. Ervin, as follows: 1) Permitting county school boards to assign pupils on basis of intellectual ability, scholastic achievement and sociological and psychological factors. 2) Permitting dismissal of teachers with tenure on a basis of sociological and psychological fac tors. 3) Giving governor extraordinary powers for five years to "cope with emergencies threatening the peace and tranquility of the state." 4) Resolution condemning U. S. Supreme Court "for usurping the sovereign rights of the states" and asking Congress to offer a clarifying amendment to the Constitution. 5) Setting up an interim committee of three senators and four representatives to investigate activities of pro- and anti-segregation organizations. Over governor's protest a resolution of interposition was adopted early in the 1957 session. At a special session in October, 1957, legislature adopted law permitting closing of schools in any district where federal troops are ordered to enforce integration. GEORGIA Aaron v. Atlanta Board of Education filed 1950, dismissed for lack of prosecution 1956. Ward v. Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, filed 1952, dismissed on grounds plaintiff did not pursue administrative remedies, 1957. Georgia v. Valdosta Board of Education, filed by state to test withholding of funds from desegregated schools, withdrawn. Barbara Hunt et al v. Robert O. Arnold et al, filed in District Court in 1956 by four Negroes seeking injunction against enforcement of alumni recommendation requirements plaintiffs cannot meet because of race. Awaits hearing. Calhoun v. Latimer, filed Jan. 11, 1958 on behalf of 23 Negro children, asks injunction against operation of segregated schools in Atlanta. Pro-segregation Groups Christian Civic League, E.C. (Parson Jack) Johnston, Columbus (status uncertain). States' Rights Council of Georgia, Inc. Pro-integration Groups NAACP Georgia Committee on Interracial Cooperation Southern Regional Council Legislative Action Provisions cutting off state financial aid for any schools which mixed the races were in the constitution before 1952, but in 1953 the General Assembly took further steps to prevent segregation in anticipation of the Supreme Court's decision. Among the measures adopted by the legislature was a proposal for a constitutional amendment to allow the General Assembly to provide for grants of state, county or municipal funds to citizens of the state for educational purposes. The amendment was ratified Nov. 2, 1954. In February, 1955, the General Assembly adopted one of three proposals advanced by the Georgia Education Commission making it "a felony punishable by two years' imprisonment for any state, county, city or school official to allow any state or local funds to be used for a mixed school or to pay any teacher instructing a mixed class." In addition to an "interposition" resolution, the Georgia General Assembly in 1956 adopted statutes: 1) Authorizing the governor to close public school buildings threatened with desegregation and to start a flow of state funds to private schools which would take their place. 2) Permitting leasing of public school property. 3) Authorizing the State School Building Authority to sub-lease buildings. 4) Providing for teachers to receive retirement benefits under the private school plan. 5) Requiring that private schools be inspected by the state fire marshal. 6) Making it a misdemeanor to enter state-owned property closed by authorized state officials. 7) Providing that state law enforcement agencies shall enforce segregation laws. 8) Causing officers who fail to enforce such laws to lose retirement and disability benefits. 9) Providing for state attorneys to defend or represent any state employe or official involved in litigation as a result of his having enforced segregation laws. In the 1957 session of the General Assembly, six segregation measures were enacted: 1) Permits the governor to abolish compulsory school attendance laws at his discretion. 2) Extends the police powers of the governor. 3) Protects teacher retirement benefits in event of a transition from public integrated to private segregated schools. 4) Gives the Georgia Education Commission, empowered to seek legal means of circumventing the Supreme Court desegregation ruling, more authority. 5) Provides for a campaign to disseminate information of a pro-segregation nature. 6) Resolution calling for impeachment of 6 U. S. Supreme Court justices. The 1958 Legislature passed: 1) An act amending the compulsory attendance law to provide that no child shall be required to attend school with a child of another race. 2) A resolution of conviction that New York's school problems be left to the locality for settlement without federal interference. Georgia Georgia |