26 november 1968 martha swaim wins ward 6 school board seat

#OTD 25 November 1968 Martha Swaim (649 Maryland Avenue NE), white, won the ward 6 school board seat in a run-off election against William H. Vines today.

Swaim’s flyer stated:

FOR PARENT POWER

START WARD 6 SCHOOL BOARD
HOLD PUBLIC HEARINGS BEFORE BUILDING WARD 6 SCHOOLS
SET UP GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES FOR PARENTS
HOLD MONTHLY OPEN HOUSES FOR PARENTS TO TALK TO WARD 6 SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER

FOR STUDENT POWER

OPEN SCHOOLS FOR DAYCARE BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL
FORBID TEACHERS TO ABUSE CHILDREN
HEAR STUDENT GRIPES
TEACH BLACK HISTORY IN ALL GRADES

FOR BOARD POWER
USE INSPECTION TEAMS TO GET EQUAL EDUCATION, SUPPLIES AND BOOKS
FIRE TEACHERS AND PRINCIPALS WHO DON’T PRODUCE

Your comments are welcome below. Did you, family members or neighbors vote for Martha Swaim? Did you vote for school board candidates? Who did you vote for? Where did you vote? Were you happy to be able to vote in the first local election of the 20th century? Did you work the polls? Do you have photographs? You may comment privately here.

Photo source: Courtesy Sumner School Museum & Archives. Gibbs Elementary School Record Book, 1968.
Source: “Four Seek Ward 6 Seat,” Evening Star 3 November 1968 [Voter’s Guide].