[Statement of Benjamin L. Smith before the U.S. Civil Rights Commission conference in Nashville]

              132
usschers in Oklahoma getting jobs.
CHAIRMAN HANNAHt Oklahoma as a state has rot been
gaining greatly in population in rocent years.
MR. KARRIS: Not in the rural arears where these
s.sbools are closing down., but the larger, the urban areas
have been Increasing in population. Therefore the teachers
in the small rural schools have been drifting toward either
the larger schools of the white races or have been leaving
cur* state, going to California and places like that and
picking up jobs.
CHAIRMAN HANNAH: Any further questions?
If not, since we are a little ahead of schedule,
suppose wt* take a five-minute break, and we will start again
at 3:25.
(Short recess.)
CHAIRMAN HANNAH: I don't like to be a commanding
task master, but the secret of staying on time is to keep
on time, no we will proceed with the conference.
Mr. Tiffany, will you present the next participant?
MR3 TIFFANY: Mr. Ben L. Smith, Superintendent of
Schools Emeritus, Greensboro, North Carolina.
STATEMENT
OF
BEN L„ SMITH
SUPERINTEHDENT QF SCHOOLS EMERITUS
GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA