SR_DPI_DNE_Direc_Corr_Box16_Folder11_020

October 11, 1946
Negro Schools 'Disgrace'
State Health Head Says

Reynolds Cites Need for Law
Providing Year - Around
Sanitation Inspection

By JANE HALL

"The Negro schools of North Car-
olina are a disgrace to the State,"
said Dr. Carl Reynolds, State health
officer, yesterday in a sharply
worded comment on the Lumberton
Negro school strike.

"We have pictures of both white
and Negro school buildings--and
most of them are Negro--that
would make you weep just to look
at them," Dr. Reynolds continued.
"Why, I wouldn't be surprised to
find 500 other Negro schools in the
State in the same condition that
the Lumberton schools are in.

'Excuse Won't Stand.'

"The disgraceful condition of the
Negro schools is excused on the
ground that 'you can't build now,'
but that excuse won't stand--
they've been in this condition since
the beginning of time. It's true
that no large-scale building pro-
gram could be undertaken at this
time, but they could be kept in a
better state of repair. Apparently,
they just don't give a darn.

"There is an attitude in the State
that the Negro gets more than he
pays for and perhaps he does, but
poverty should be no excuse for
filth, expecially when it menances
the health of the community."

Asked what were the duties of
the county health officers in rela-
tion to the schools, Dr. Reynolds
said that, under the law, they were
very limited. According to the
State Health Officer, the law pro-
vides that the county health officer
shall make a sanitary examination
"during the summer months" of
every public school building and
grounds in the county.

It also provides that no school
committee or teacher shall make
use of any school building or
grounds until the county superin-
tendent of health shall certify in
writing that said building and
grounds have been inspected and
found to be in a samitary condition
within four months of the date of
the certificate.

Local Responsisbility.

"Thus, according to the law, we
have the right and duty to inspect
school sanitary conditions only dur-
ing the summer months--and al-
most any building is sanitary when
not in use. After the opening of
the school year, the matter rests in
the hands of schools and local au-
thorities.

"As far as privies are concerned,
there is nothing to prohibit their
use as long as they are sanitary."

In Dr. Reynolds' opinion, full
power for the sanitary inspection
of the State's public schools should
be turned over to the State Board
of Health. "We ought to have the
right and power to make sanitary
inspection of the schools just as we
do of hotels and cafes," he said.
"We ought not to be limited to the
summer months, just before school
opens."

[to the left of the article is a handwritten note
Editorial of
Same Date] [Below is the editorial]

Worse and Worse

The more that is known about the
intolerable condition of the build-
ings housing the two Negro schools
aat Lumberton, the more inexcusable
the situation becomes.

It is now revealed that W. F. Cre-
dle, State Director of Schoolhouse
Planning, recommended the replace-
ment of both buildings six years ago.
An accompanying recommendation
for the replacement of the building
of one white school was carried out,
but apparently no effort was made
to do anything about the Negro
schools. Last year Mr. Credle re-
peated his recommendation, with
greater emphasis, and again nothing
was done.

The state official points out that
an emergency condition must be
shown in order to obtain priorities
for school buildings now. Surely
there is an emergency when build
ings have been used without repairs
for six years after being subject to
condemnation. The state, Robeson
County and the city of Lumberton
should all act in this matter with-
out further delay.

The more that is known about it,
the worse it becomes.

Little Hope Held for Early
Replacement of Negro
Schools at Lumberton

By WOODROW PRICE.

Disclosing that he had recom-
mended as far back as six years ago
the replacement of two school build-
ings at Lumberton, where approxi-
mately 400 Negro students went out
on strike this week, W. F. Credle,
State director of schoolhouse plan-
ning, could give little hope yester-
day that Lumberton would be able
to replace the buildings in the imme-
diate future.

He explained that the Civilian
Production Administration, which
controls buildings priorities, had
tightened down in mid-September
on its requirements. It is the atti-
tude of CPA, he said, that present
buildings where at all serviceable
should continue in use until the
critical building situation eases.

Received No Request.

Since September 17, when CPA
clamped down the lid on building,
Credle said he had filed no applica-
tion for a priority on a new school
building because he had received no
request which he considered urgent
enought to bring to the attention of
CPA. So far, although it has the
building funds in the bank, Lumber-
ton has not asked Credle to seek
priorities on buildings there, but he
said he has discussed possible sites
on several occasions with Lumber-
ton school officials.

Credle's files revealed that on No-
vember 26, 1940, he had surveyed the
school in Lumberton and recom-
mended that new buildings be erect-
ed in place of the white elementary
schools and both of the Negro
schools, Thompson Institute and
Redstone Academy. The elementary
school subsequently was replaced as
one of the last Works Projects Ad-
ministation schools built in North
Carolina. The Negro schools are still
in use.

"The school officials of Lumberton
and Robeson County are confronted
with the urgent necessity of im-
proving the school plant facilities
for the entire Negro population of
Lumberton," Credle wrote in the
beginning of his report.

'Miserably Housed.'

In conclusion, he added, "I also
feel it my duty to again mention
the fact that the colored children of
Lumberton are miserably housed,
and that they have never received
more than a very meagre sum of
public money to improve their con-
dition. While I think, present condi-
tions warrant an improvement in the
white schools first, I do not think
we can escape the responsibility of
making early plans to house the
colored children in comfortable,
modern school buildings paid for
from public funds."

This report was sent to the super-
intendent of the Lumberton city
schools, Credle said.

In 1945. in the course of a survey
of all Negro school favilities in the
State, Credle again visited Lumber-
ton, and wrote concerning the two
Negro schools there:

"Since both of these buildings are
antiquated and badly in need of re-
pair, it is hoped that eventually new
buildings can be constructed to re-
place them. It is anticipate that
a 14- or 15- room building will be
constructed to replace the Thomp-
son School, soon after the was clases.
Later, a building will be erected to
replace the Redstone School. The
total estimated cost of this construc-
tion is $125,000

This estimate was based on pre-
war costs, Credle emphasized, and
the cost today probably would be
twice that amount, if the necessary
priorities could be secured and a
contractor could be found to accept
the job.

Called by Butler.

Credle said that on the night of
October 1 he had a telephone con-
versation with E. K. Butler, county
manager for Robeson, and that But-
ler had told him to be ready to come
to Lumberton within the next few
days. The call followed a demonstra-
tion by the Negro students in pro-
test against their buildings.

However, Credle said he had not
been requested formally to go to
Lumberton again to examine the
two structures.

PRINCIPAL URGES STUDENTS
TO RETURN TO CLASSES

Lumberton. Oct. 10.--Approxi-
mately 400 Negro students, who are
on strike here, were urged by
Principal G. H. Young of the Thomp-
son Institute to return to the class-
rooms today.

Principal Young, who reported
that more than 50 per cent of the
students at Thompson remained
away from their classes today, said
that the children are missing their
instructional work and that he was
afraid the school's teacher allot-
ment wuld be reduced on account
of the small daily attendance dur-
in the walkout.

In urging the parents to send
their children back to school, Young
asked the parents "to do some think-
ing for themselves and not leave it
up to the children."

Brought Attention.

Young said that the strike un-
doubtedly had brought the building
situation at the schools to the pub-
lic's attention and that he sees no
advantage in prolonging the walk
out.

City Schools Supt. B. E. Lohr yes-
terday appealed to the striking
students to return to their scholastic
work and declared that the walk
out had been "unfortunate for the
cause."

Principal Young described as "not
true" a report by officials of the
National Youth Council for the Ad-
vancement of Colored People that
the attendance at the Thompson In-
stitue was smaller today than it
had been any day during the strike.
Young said the attendance had been
lower on other days than it was
today, but stated that more than 50
per cent of the students still are
away fom school.

Statement Promised.

Gus Bullock, adviser of the Coun-
sil, said the Council's weekly meet-
ing was held tonight and that pro-
posals to end the walkout were dis-
cussed. He asserrted, however, that
he said "no chance for an end to
the strike." He said a statement will
be made tomorrow, concerning the
Council's future course.

The strike, now in its fourth day,
was called in protest of the condi-
tion of the school buildings at Red-
stone Academy and Thompson In-
stutute, the city's two Negro school
units. Leaders of the striking chil-
dren described the buildings as
"deplorable."