p. 7

(Report of the Committee of the Board of Education on the Community Use
of Buildings, March 3, 1939, under which request of Howard University to
use Central High School, April 9, 1939, for Marian Anderson Recital was
approved.)

The Committee reports it's conclusions and recommendations upon the request
of the Howard University School of Music for the use of the Central High School
auditorium for a concert by Marian Anderson on Easter Sunday.

It is the opinon of the Committee, stated frankly, that the Board of
Education will find it difficult to frame a policy to govern the use of school
buildings under it's rules, for the future, if it grants this request and estab-
lishes it as a precedent. It will be required to grant virtually every appli-
cation whenever a properly qualified organization makes it if the project has
some educational or cultural value. To grant this request now before us will
require a waiver of our exsisting rule, which prohibits the use of school buildings
for private purposes and private profit. Such a waiver should not be made without
positive and complete understanding and agreement, between all interested parties
and the Board of Education, that this request or similar requests will not again
be pressed upon the Board for it's approval.

Sceond, as to the interchangeable use of school buildings:

Up to this time, not only schools, but playgrounds and community center
activities as well, have been maintained and operated separately. In these
mattersm the Board has only been carrying out what it understands to be the
will of Congress.

In presenting this matter on February 15, 1939, Mr. D. A. Wilkerson of
Howard University, representing the sponsors, said:

"Finally, our request is made to meet a specific emergency situation.
We do not raise with you any questions of continuing policy. Rather,
we appeal for the use of a particular building for particular oc-
casion, our appeal being prompted by an unforeseen oxigency. If
this community is to secure the services of Marian Anderson during
the current season, arrangements to that end must be effected at once.
If there be any valid consideration which might cause the Board
to hesitate in setteling a general policy along the lines proposed
in this specific case, we respectfully petition you, in this par-
ticular instance, to waive such general consideration in deference
to an emergency which is of much significance, to our entire community."

We accept these representations in good faith

The Committee believes that a concession now, as a proof of good will to
Marian Anderson and the colored people of the Districtm weill serve to remove this
question from public discussion, but ony under positive and definite assurance
and agreement that the concession will not be taken as a precedent and that the

(over)