Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-12-11
Virqinia Education Chief
Endorses Gray Proposal
School Heads
Meeting Today
To Argue Issue

RICHMOND. Dec. 10 R.-
Dowell J. Howard, the States
public education chief, today in
dorsed the constitutional amend
ment plan as in 1.-The best interest
of the education of all of the
children of Virginia"
He said he was supporting the
proposed change whereby the
State would help finance the
private education of children be-
cause of my profound interest
In the education of both races"
1t marked the first time How
ard has spoken publicly on the
Gray Commissions legislative
program aimed at preventing
compulsory indignation Of Negro
and white pupils in the public
schools.
Howard took his stand in q
prepared statement that anal
yzed the Gray program and
noted both positive and negative
virtues in it.
Negative Aspects Noted
Negatively, he declared. the
commission did not propose to
repeal or alter the section of
the State constitution requiring
the legislature to maintain a
public school system.
Nor did it call for repeal Of
the compulsory attendance law,
but rather for an amendment
specifying that no child may be
required to attend an integrated
school.
Howard also noted the pro-
gram made no recommendation
for the withholding of funds for
the support of integrated schools.
On the positive side he said
the Gray proposals would pro-
vide "a great deal of local au-
tonomy" and give cities and
counties much leeway in meet
ing the problem as it is Pc
culiar to them"
The Gray program includes
two basic recommendations for
helping localities maintain segre-
CATION in schools. One calls for
the assignment of pupils to
schools for reasons other than
race-such as health and apu- |
tude. In this way. white students
would continue to attend schools
reserved solely. or at least pre- !.
dominately, for whites The same |
would apply to Negro pupils.
Needs Constitutional Change
The second Recommendation
would permit the State to pro-
vide tuition grants for attend
ance at private non-secretarian
schools. The grants would be
available in cases where parents
objected to sending their chill
dren to integrated schools or in
localities where authorities aban-
don public schools rather than
permit mixed classes.
The tuition grant proposal is
the one that involves a consti-
tutional change. The Virginia
constitution does not now permit
the State to appropriate public
funds for the education Of chill
dren in private schools.
The Legislature at its special
session last week voted over
whelmingly to set up a referen-I
dunn January 9 on the calling Of
q constitutional conven ton
which would make the necessary
amendment.
Towards statement came on
the eve Of Sunday meeting of
the board of directors Of the
Virginia Education Association.
The boards 81 members will
meet to discuss the gray program
and the referendum and possibly
to take a stand on the issue.
Teacher Support Sought
Gov. Stanley and pro-amend-
ment leaders are anxious to win
the support of the Association,
whose $4,000 white teachers and
other school personnel would
constitute a sizeable influence
in the referendum.
The statewide campaign in be-
half of the amendment will get
under way in Richmond Monday
with the opening Of an informa-
ton center in Richmond hotel.
The campaign will be directed
by DR.. Dabney S. Lancaster, the
man who preceded Howard as
State superintendent of public
instruction. DR.. Lancaster recent
ly retired as president of Long
wood College.