Evening star., 1948-02-01
Assembly 10 Get
Council Bills for
Virginia Schools
Legislation Providing
For Major Operation
Expected This Week
BY the Associoted Press

by me AsSoci0teo rfeSS
RICHMOND, Va, Jan. 31.-Legis-
lation providing for the major op-
Grafton" which the Virginia Ad-
visory Legislative Council prescribed
for the Department of Education
will be put before the General As
sembly-probably next week-coun-
Gil Chairman E. o. McCue, jr., of
Charlottesville, said today.
Mr.. McCue said at the same time
that bills were being readied for in
PRODUCTION carrying out other of the
councils strongly worded recon-
mendations. The council proposed:
Revamping of the Education De-
partment to put the board under a
strong full-time chairman drawn
from the best business talent avail
able and repeal of all laws dealing
with the powers of the State Super
intendent OF Public Instruction SO
he could devote his full time and
talents to curriculum improvements.
Trade Schools Urged.
Establishment of regional voca-
tional schools to equip the 97.2 per
cent of Virginia students who don't
complete college courses, to earn
their living in the trades and skills.
The council said the present voca-
tional training plan amounted to
little more than hobby shops at
tached to the individual schools.
An increase of 10 per cent in the
localities share of teacher costs,
from the present 80 per cent to 40
per cent.
A campaign to promote the dig
nifty and appeal of the teaching pro-
fession; liberalization of the retire.
ment system and reopening it to
teachers who rejected it in 1912;
State subsidized sick leave plan, lib
eralization of teacher scholarships,
and a reorganization of the three
State teachers colleges to bring
them around to the function for
which they were established-the
training of teachers.
The council rejected the idea of
a minimum teacher salary and said
the continuing interest of the
Governor and the General As
sembly in schools should be assur-
ance enough that the State would
support education to the utmost.
Support of Aid Indicated.
Mr.. McCue added, however, that
he had a great interest in the
financial welfare of the teachers
particularly at the classroom
level"-an apparent indication that
he might support some teacher aid
plan beyond the average annual
$3.50 recommended by the Governor.
Il Ting pcouhcli sschool bills, with
Particular respect to TIE reefganiza-
ton OF the Department of Education
which the council called top heavy
and burdened with supervisory and
newly create positions, ,"Dafe likely
to add to the controversies now
brewing In the Assembly over
schools and taxes.
Proposals of the council, adopted
unanimously, represent the con-
servation element as to money for
schools and do not call for any tax
program to raise special revenues.
Sales Tax Bill Received.
The Assembly, however, already
has received 3 per cent general
sales tax bill, bill to tax cigarettes
three cents pack and cigars
proportionately - both largely for
schools - and a one cent a pack
cigarette tax to finance State aid
to localities for hospital construc-
ton under the Hill-Burton Act.
:. Two bills have been introduced
by Senator Charles T. Moses of APP
pomattox, carrying out two recon-
mendations of his separate school
study group which proposed far
more liberal treatment of the
education personnel. Mr.. Moses
measures would set up a program
for State operation of school buses
something the council steered
away from-and teacher sick leave
program more liberal than that
.envisioned by the council group.
The Moses commission also sug-
gested a 2 per cent general sales
tax to finance educational improve
ments, among them a teacher raise
of $400 a year, but he has not yet
introduced measures dealing with
either the tax or the teacher raise.