Evening star., 1944-12-27
Virginia Legislators
Hail Darden's Plan
For School Program
Ry the Associated Press.


RICHMOND. Dec 27.--.A number
OF Virginia legislators today ap.
plauded an announcement yesterday
by Gov. Darden that he would pre-.
sent to the General Assembly thi,
winter "a substantial school pro-
gram" based on recommendations OF
the Denny Commission report.
While the report was indorsed ir
toto, several Of the legislators took
the attitude that the school i'm
provement program was a must
for immediate action.
The Governor did not specify wha,
he expects to recommend in the
first steps. He also said the prep.
aration of the report did by ne
means complete the work of the
Denny Commission, which is to be
held in readiness for the considera
ton of further school programs, al
least until another General Assem-
bly, is convened.
Health Program Considered.
Not included in the Denny report
which contemplates a program tc
cost $40 100000 more annually during
the next six years-is a health pro-
gram which would cost an addition
al 100000. The health study Is
being made independently for the
Governor.
The Governor said he is still un-
certain regarding what, If any, rec
concentrations he might make or
school bus transportation, a subject
he explored in North Carolina last
week while comforting with Gov
Broughton and school officials.
The General Assembly is expect
ed to convene again in Richmond
at least before mid-March.
The Governor said he had nc
further particular comment to make
on the Denny report, but that the
people of Virginia must not forget
that any extensive improvements tc
the present school system will cost
additional money which will have
to be raised by taxation. Part of
the cost may be absorbed through
better enforcement of existing local
tax laws and adjustment and eouali-
zation OF assessments, but the Gov
ernor said he felt that funds raised
from this source alone will be in
sufficient.
Financing Plan Offered.
State Senator Y. M. Hodges
South Hill, who offered a sales tax
bill at the 1914 regular session o1
the General Assembly, said that he
believed that State financing o1
public schools as a unit with all
the citizenship contributing, would
create the ideal condition in Vir.
ginia. The suggested tax program
the Senator said, appears to be
based on cooperation of local gov.
ernmentS, which has proved un.
successful in the past and has
brought about lack of uniformity
over the State in educational ia.
cilities.
Delegate Earl A. Fitzpatrick, Roa.
noke, and Senators John S. Battle
charlottesville, and William N. Neff
Abingdon, agreed that the General
Assembly should act Immediately or
many recommendations in the
Denny report.
The Virginia State Teachers Asso.
citation also hailed the Denny report
as "the most significant develop
ment in education in Virginia sine
the days Of Thomas jefferson"
In statement issued by j. Rupert
Picott, its executive secretary, the
association declared:
The report establishes the prin-
clple of equality of education for all
children, irrespective of race"
The association also held that If
many OF the recommendations of the
report are followed in every school
division in the commonwealth "a
new day in Virginia education will
be at hand"