Los angeles times Friday, September 27, 1968

Principals Assail

School Disruptions:

Call to Board to Take

More Vigorous Action

By Jack McCurdy

Times Education Writer

Principals and vice principals in the Los Angeles city schools Thursday urged more vigorous action against students and adults who try to disrupt the schools with "threats, intimidation and ultimatums."

They referred specifically to Lincoln High School, scene of continuing protest over the removal of teacher Sal Castro, and other East Side high schools where Mexican-American students walked out of classes last March to protest educational conditions.

The Los Angeles Assn. of Secondary School Administrators called for the Board of Education to adopt a policy supporting strict enforcement of district regulations and public laws dealing with "improper activities" in and around the schools.

Amnesty Illustration

Executive Secretary Frank B. Snyder said the 370-member association includes most of the secondary principals and vice principals in the city school system.

Snyder told reporters the board has failed to support strict enforcement since the students walkouts. An illustration, he said, was the amnesty granted by the board to students and teachers who participated in the demonstrations.

He also said the association members feel the board should have charged Castro with violation of board rules and policy in participating in the walkouts.

The board took no action against Castro. But the County Grand Jury indicted him on charges he helped plan the demonstrations. He has been relieved of his classroom duties at Lincoln High School pending disposition of the felony charges.

Indicted on Conspiracy Charge

Snyder said that statements by several board members criticizing the indictment of Castro for a felony, instead of simply on misdemeanor charges, has tended to discourage law enforcement officers from prosecuting adults who engage in disruptive activities around schools.

The grand jury charged Castro with disturbing the peace and disturbing a school, both misdemeanors. He was also indicted for conspiring to commit the misdemeanors, a felony.

Snyder gave no other examples of board failure to support firm action against person accused of disrupting schools.

But, he told the board, "the present situation finds teachers and administrators in our schools completely unsure of how to deal with some specific problems, particularly in our East Side schools."

Policy Need Seen

The board needs a policy, Snyder said, stating that neither it nor the schools will be run by "threat and intimidation…ultimatums…and will not be intimidated by the pressures of groups who are dedicated to the disruption of our schools…"

The board voted unanimously to refer the matter to Supt. Jack Crowther for recommendation.

The Rev. James Jones, board president, and Fr. Julian Nava, board member, said they felt the board now has adequate rules and policies covering such matters, but agreed to study them further.