Evening star., 1948-09-19
Negro Cooperation
Asked in Virginia fol-
School Equalization
BY the Associated Press

RICHMOND, Va, Sept. 18.-G.
Tyler Miller, State superintendent OF
public instruction, said today the
quality of an educational program
depends more on the teachers than
the buildings and called tor CO.
operation by Negroes instead OF court
action as a means of solving the
equalization problem.
In a 2,O00-word statement on the
equalization matterAaftermtath OF d
d1dve by Negroes in q number of
Virginia areas. including Arlington,
to speed school plant improvements
| for pupils, of their race--Mr. Miller
said the gap between financial. sup.
port of Negro and white education
had been narrowed considerably IN
the past decade. He said it was
reasonable to believe salaries of
Negro and white teachers would be
equalized- completely by the l949-5O
school session.
On the matter of buildings and
other school plant facilities which
he called admittedly important ana
necessary adjuncts in an effective
program of education, the superin-
tendent said:
If the funds can be made avail
able, it is evident that the local
and State school authorities are
willing and anxious to improve
school plants throughout the State
for both white and Negro pupils.
"Since this cannot be done over
night, it would appear only reason
able that sufficient time be allowed
to provide for these facilities with
out appealing to the Federal courts
for orders to require construction
and improvement OF Negro school
buildings within an insufficient per-
iod of time for accomplishing the
desired objective.
I'm this connection it would ap-
pear that more satisfactory results
might be attained with less delay
school officials in assisting them to
solve this complex problem"
Mr.. Miller said the recent en-
phasis in the equalization matter
had been placed mostly on the ply.
steal facilities. He added, however,
that those qualified to evaluate an
education program generally con-
ceded that the quality of the pro-
gram rested to major degree on
the teacher.
1T would appear. therefore," he
said, that those who are properly
concerned with equality of educa-
tional opportunities for all child
rem, both white and Negro. should
place the emphasis more on the in
structional program and on we'll
trained teachers, financially secure
in their positions. than upon the
buildings and other physical facili-
ties.
On the matter Of salaries, Mr..
Miller said it appeared last term
that white and Negro teacher pay
had been completely equalized in
all except 80 counties and five cities
and that in most of these IS po-
litical subdivisions the differences
were only slight for teachers with
equal training and experience. For
the new school year the number
has been reduced to Is counties
ard three cities on the basis OF re-
ports to his office, he said,
Using the school years 1867,
1S41-42 and 1946-47 for his COM
parison, Mr.. Miller said the average
salaries for white and Negro women
teachers in those years were $847
and s537, $857 and $632. and $1,735
and s1,724. He noted that there was
an annual difference Of only $11
between the pay of women Negro
and white teachers In the last year
OF the comparison.
Using the same three school years
for a comparison for per capita ex-
penditure for instruction, Mr.. Miller
said that the $28.68 figure for white
pupils was more than double the
S14.12 of the Negroes In 1936-37,
was s5212 to 1886 in 1941-42 and
$76.14 to $62.49 in 1851.
i Mr.. Miller said also that because
of the improved salary situation for
Negro teachers. the colored schools
are getting a more adequate supply
i OF trained teachers and, in fact,
more progress Is being made in
obtaining better certified teachers
for the Negro schools than for the
white schools. Negro pupils consti-I
tute about ~ per cent Of Virginia 81
public school population.