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834 Oakdale Rd. N.E.
Atlanta, Ga. 30307
19 October 1967
Hon. Ivan Allen Jr. Mayor
City Hall
Atlanta, Ga.
Dear Mayor Allen:
As you know, while I cannot be called a disinterested bystander, I have
only the official position of citizen. I hope you will be willing, therefore, to
consider some comments on recent events in the city.
The School Board has been subjected to some unwarranted attacks recently.
Unwarranted primarily because they were not constructive in helping the educational
system. As these attacks have continued, there is a pattern of development that
seems to offer clues as to how it all came about. These are the clues as I see them.
As you know there are two members of the Board, Mitchell and Tate who have
spent a great deal of time playing for one particular section of the votes. However,
neither of them can even read a report and understand it, so by themselves, I don't
think they could have started this. H owever, for a number of years Mitchell has
been carrying all matters about the Board to Pascal. She, being fairly sharp, picks
them over in a very onesidedmanner and then Mitchell brings these b ack to the next
meeting. Since Tate has been on, he has been in this too. Most of the so-called
issues that have been raised are further distortions of these.
Now whose idea it was to present this package to the so-called Coalition
I do not know,but I suspect Pascal. Whether it was presented to Johnson as a way to
further his campaign for mayor or whether he thought this up is not immediately
apparent.
In addition to this internal information, there is another matter. The
Summit group asked to meet with the E.0.A. Neighborhood Council to enlist their
support. Pascal was also there and from the minutes of the meeting that I saw, her
remarks were anything from constructive or conciliatory. Now as I understand the
function of the Human Rights Commision it is to help coordinate and explain the actions
of government to the people effected and to help explain to government the needs and
desires of the people. It seems to me that the Executive Secretary is not doing this
at all but is attempting to organize a bloc to change the governing bodies. During
this to-do all sorts of people heave been coming out of the woodwork, like Gerald Reed,
and I'm convinced the plan includes an almost entirely new School Board already
selected by Pascal. How far she has gotten on the Aldermanic B oard and other offices
I do not know, but Massel has tried to get into the act, again quite unconstructively.
It is an interesting situation and as one of your stanch supporters, I think
you should know that if it continues and is even partially successful, it can result
in a very strange School Board. Most of the present members are completely disgusted
with the situation and if it continues may not even run. The amount of time consumed
has been enormoug and, as you know, business people are already short of time. I think
with those two exceptions, the Board is as good as a city can hope for and it the job
becomes less attractive because of these completely unconstructive attacks, what will
happen to our schools? The newspapers were particularly unhelpful in this sequence of
events but, apparently even they are realizing that it is time to shut it off. Notice
the Letters-to-the-Editor they are now printing. Since they only print those letters
that agree with their position, I feel this is significant.
If you have gotten to read this I hope it has been a more efficient expenditure
of your time than if I asked to come down and see you as I have in the past. However,
as always, if I can be of any help in anything at all, please call on me.
Sincerely,
te kry AN todunvd.
« Woodward
Atlanta, Ga. 30307
19 October 1967
Hon. Ivan Allen Jr. Mayor
City Hall
Atlanta, Ga.
Dear Mayor Allen:
As you know, while I cannot be called a disinterested bystander, I have
only the official position of citizen. I hope you will be willing, therefore, to
consider some comments on recent events in the city.
The School Board has been subjected to some unwarranted attacks recently.
Unwarranted primarily because they were not constructive in helping the educational
system. As these attacks have continued, there is a pattern of development that
seems to offer clues as to how it all came about. These are the clues as I see them.
As you know there are two members of the Board, Mitchell and Tate who have
spent a great deal of time playing for one particular section of the votes. However,
neither of them can even read a report and understand it, so by themselves, I don't
think they could have started this. H owever, for a number of years Mitchell has
been carrying all matters about the Board to Pascal. She, being fairly sharp, picks
them over in a very onesidedmanner and then Mitchell brings these b ack to the next
meeting. Since Tate has been on, he has been in this too. Most of the so-called
issues that have been raised are further distortions of these.
Now whose idea it was to present this package to the so-called Coalition
I do not know,but I suspect Pascal. Whether it was presented to Johnson as a way to
further his campaign for mayor or whether he thought this up is not immediately
apparent.
In addition to this internal information, there is another matter. The
Summit group asked to meet with the E.0.A. Neighborhood Council to enlist their
support. Pascal was also there and from the minutes of the meeting that I saw, her
remarks were anything from constructive or conciliatory. Now as I understand the
function of the Human Rights Commision it is to help coordinate and explain the actions
of government to the people effected and to help explain to government the needs and
desires of the people. It seems to me that the Executive Secretary is not doing this
at all but is attempting to organize a bloc to change the governing bodies. During
this to-do all sorts of people heave been coming out of the woodwork, like Gerald Reed,
and I'm convinced the plan includes an almost entirely new School Board already
selected by Pascal. How far she has gotten on the Aldermanic B oard and other offices
I do not know, but Massel has tried to get into the act, again quite unconstructively.
It is an interesting situation and as one of your stanch supporters, I think
you should know that if it continues and is even partially successful, it can result
in a very strange School Board. Most of the present members are completely disgusted
with the situation and if it continues may not even run. The amount of time consumed
has been enormoug and, as you know, business people are already short of time. I think
with those two exceptions, the Board is as good as a city can hope for and it the job
becomes less attractive because of these completely unconstructive attacks, what will
happen to our schools? The newspapers were particularly unhelpful in this sequence of
events but, apparently even they are realizing that it is time to shut it off. Notice
the Letters-to-the-Editor they are now printing. Since they only print those letters
that agree with their position, I feel this is significant.
If you have gotten to read this I hope it has been a more efficient expenditure
of your time than if I asked to come down and see you as I have in the past. However,
as always, if I can be of any help in anything at all, please call on me.
Sincerely,
te kry AN todunvd.
« Woodward