Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-12-13


Inasmuch as Arlington St
is a member of the Gray CC
quently asked questions are pr
States official thinking on this
problem.
Does the Gray Commission re-
port recommend, or suggest that
the Virginia public school sys-
tenn be abolished?
No. The Supreme Court de-
cision of May II. 1854 resulted
in such an impact on the pub
lie school system Of Virginia that
its very existence in certain
areas was threatened. The Gray
Commission recognizes the vary
ing conditions throughout the
Commonwealth by giving the
greatest amount Of local option
to meet these conditions. II
recognizes the Supreme Court
decision by permitting school
Indignation in communities that
choose that course, but prevents
enforced indignation.
The Virginia Constitution. Sec
129. specifically requires the
General Assembly to establish
and maintain public free schools
throughout the State. The Gray
Report recommending the consti-
tutional convention limits the
action that can be taken by the
constitutional convention so that
such a convention could not even
consider repeal or amendment OF
Sec. 129 Of the State Constitu-
ton.
Do the recommendations OF
the Gray Report defy the Su-
preme Court decision Of May II,
1854?
Nc The commission, early in
its deliberations. stated that it
would formulate a plan within
the framework of law, designed
to prevent enforced Indignation
Of the races in the public schools
Of Virginia.
Is the assignment plan rec
commended by the commission in
conflict with the Supreme Court
decision?
No. Under the plan. the as
signment Of pupils is not based
on race. but gives the widest
discretion to the local school
board. based on: Ca available
.ity of facilities tb) health (c)
aptitude OF the child and Id
availability of transportation.
Here is the statement of
Judge Parker, speaking for the
three-judge court under whose
Jurisdiction the Supreme Court
decree is to be administered as
to what the Supreme Court has
decided and what it has not
OCClOCO III tIlC CdSC.
1T has not decided" Judge
Parker said, that the Federal
courts are to take over or regu-
late the public schools Of the
States. 1t has not decided that
the States must mix persons Of
different races in the schools. or
must require them to attend
schools, or must deprive them
Of the right Of choosing the
schools they attend.
What it has decided. and all
that it has decided, is that a
State may not deny TO any per-
son on account of race the right
to attend any school that 1t
maintains"
How does the assignment plan
operate?
Schools would open next Sep
TENDER with pupils attending
substantially the same schools as
heretofore. After such assign
ment, any parent or guardian
who objects to the assignment
Of his child to particular
school has the right to make
application within Is days to
request transfer to a different
school. Such request must con-
tain the specific reasons why the
child should not attend the
school assigned and the specific
reasons why the child should be
assigned to different school
named in the application. If the
request is denied, an immediats
review is available in the courts
May q child be required to at
tend an integrated school?
No. II a child is assigned to
an integrated school and the
parent objects to such an as
signment, the child may be as
signed to a segregated school or
II this is not done, the parent
will be given an educational
grant for the child. This gives
the parent the final decision as
to whether the child should be
forced to attend a non-segre-
gated school.
What assistance Is given Ia
such . child?
The report recommends that
an educational grant be given tc
the child's parents in an amount
not to exceed the total cost Of
operation per pupil in average
daily attendance in public
schools for the locality making
such grant.
Does the grant given by thu
State take money from any othel
locality?
No. It is the same amount Of
money that the State contributes
to that locality, based on average
daily attendance. 1t will not
therefore. cost any other com
munity any additional money
Is q premium given to localit,
for maintaining a public schoo
system?
Yes Scholarship grants giver
in such localities may be so few
that no appreciable saving ir
operation cost occurs. If theirs
should be any additional cost Il