Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-12-23
Groy Plan Debate


amending the Virginia consti-
tuition to enable school chill
dren to avoid enforced inte-
grafton by making 1t possible
for the General Assembly to
assist parents in sending their
children to private schools
represents a clash in basic
PHILOSOPHERS. To some extent
this is expressed by the slo-
gans of the opponents and
proponents, namely: Save
Our Schools" vs.. Save Our
Children"
The old English common
law recognizing the inherent
right OF parents to provide for
the education of their chill
dren was brought by the col
onists to America and education
in this country was predomi-
nantly q private school func-
ton until the middle Of the
18th century. Demand for in
creased educational facilities
led to the establishment Of q
system of State controlled, tax
supported schools into which
many of the early private
schools were absorbed. and de-
sire to see that all children
have educational opportunity
resulted in the passage Of Doth
century compulsory attend
ance laws.
The increasing completely
OF modern living and the grow
ing interdependence Of people
have brought with them a
vast expansion in the sphere
of government. which has
profoundly affected education.
The scope of the public schools
has been charging, accom-
panied by ever-increasing APP
preparations of public funds.
Private schools have found 1t
ever more difficult to COM
pete with the state with its
power to tax, SO that we are
approaching a government
monopoly of schools and the
means of education.
As complete government
monopoly Of education APP
proaches, the danger grows
that the state will lose sight
of the fact that its role in
education Is in reality second
airy and supplementary to that
of the home and that 1t will
use the schools for its own
purposes. RECOMMENDATION Of
minds would follow and the
destruction Of freedom and
democracy as America has
known them would be in
evitable.
1t is no accident that many
Of the leading opponents Of
the proposed constitutional
amendment are those who
have worked INCREASINGLY for
larger school budgets. for TAX
ing over the prerogatives of
the family by the schools, and
the use Of the schools to propa-
gandize and indoctrinate. They
believe that children are the
creatures of the state. have no
other end but the service Of the
state. and are Mortified at
the thought that their attempt
at compulsory indignation may
at last lead parents who be-
lieve that children belong to
the Almighty to accept q plan
whereby there will be an in
crease in schools that will be
educational institutions only.
Our children will no longer
be their captive audiences.
The basic issue. Just as in
the days Of Patrick Henry. is
liberty VS.. tyranny. A vote for
the constitutional convention
will be vote to give us liberty.
Mrs. Clyde G. Miller.
Harley Williams arguments
favoring the Gray plan are in
reality a smoke screen to hide
the purpose--to destroy Gov
eminent supported public
schools. Mr.. Williams reminds
us that, this country was
founded by champions of lib
erty who were all educated in
private schools" Perhaps he
refers to the philosophy Of the
Colonial Governor, Lord Ber-
kelley. which was. every man
instructing his children &C
cording to his ability" or II
thank God there are no pub
lie schools nor printing. and I
hope we shall not have these
for a hundred years" OBJ
viously, since Virginia did
not have a public school
system until the Legislature
OF 1869, when elected Negro
delegates to the Assembly
and white legislators teamed
up to bring about the be-
ginning of a public school
system, everybody received
education from private sources.
With this kind OF philosophy,
Mr.. williams advances the