Response to Rev. Wesley Pruden's Segregationist Demands

Letter from Virgil Blossom to Baptist minister and segregationist leader Wesley Pruden answering several questions arising from integration of students at Central High School.ADMINISTRATION OFFICE LITTLE ROCK PUBLIC SCHOOLS 8th and Louisiana Phone FRanklin 5-4465 LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS July 26, 1957 The Reverend Wesley Pruden, Pastor Broadmoor Baptist Church 33 Barbara Drive Little Rock, Arkansas Dear Mr. Pruden: This is the Little Rock Board of Education response to your letter of July 16, in which you asked certain questions about school integration. The questions and answers are listed as follows: Question 1: "If you integrate Little Rock Central High School in September will the negro boys and girls be permitted to attend the school sponsored dances? Would the negro boys be permitted to so- licit the white girls for dances? Or would discrimination be permitted here?" Answer: Certain social functions of our schools which have been desirable in the past may have to be eliminated. (Social functions which would involve race mixing will not be held.) Question 2: "Will hte white girls be forced to take their showers with the negro girls, using the same facilities, in connection with their classes? Or will descrimination be permitted here?" Answer: All boys and girls will use the regular facilities provided in required school programs. Question 3: "If you integrate our Central High School in September, will that not automatically integrate the white and colored mothers of the school sponsored PTA? Will the negro women be permitted to hold office and serve as committee chairman? Or will descrimination be permitted here? Answer: The Parent Teacher Association is a voluntary organization of adults which is self-governing in nature (not controlled by the Board of Education or School Administration). They from their own policies, elect or select on a democratic majority-rule basis their officers and committee chairman. The parents who have made up this organization in the past have handled many difficult problems in a commandable manner. In view of their past actions we have confidence in them on any problem which may confront them in this matter