Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-12-14


iment offers Virginia both the
ne changes forced upon us"
by the Supreme Courts school
desegregation decision.
I'VE must preserve our public
school system and We should pro-
vide against forced indignation"
he said.
The amendment proposal will
be voted on January 9. 1t would
lead to changes in the State
Constitution which now prohibit
the spending of public funds for
educating CHILDREN in private
schools.
Meeting in Richmond
The State Board Of Education
took its stand after a meeting
in Richmond yesterday, the As
ISOLATED Press reported. 1t said:
THE board strongly favors the
proposals Of the Commission on
Public Education (Gray Com
mission) providing for high de-
gree of local autonomy in the
operation of their schools.
THE board favors the authori-
cation of the use of powers Of
assignment of pupils and teachers
as proposed. 1t favors the prin-
ciple stated in the report Of
preventing enforced indignation
of either white or Negro pupils
in mixed schools against the will
Of their parents"
The private tuition grants
would be available to those chill
dren whose parents object to
their attending integrated classes
and also to those in any locality
that decides to abandon its pub
lie school system rather than mix
the races in its education sys-
tenn.
! Gov. Stanley, meanwhile. con-
cluded his whirlwind tour of the
State yesterday. with appear
ances in Arlington and Fred
ericksburg to confer with mem
bers of the General Assembly in
each of the 10 Congressional
Districts.
! His purpose was to brief law
makers on his legislative pro-
gram, to be offered the General
Assembly on January II, with
primary emphasis on getting
their support for the Gray Com
mission program.
After the Arlington confer
ence at the Washington Golf and
Country Club, the Governor said
the Gray report was mentioned
but I realize there is divided
opinion here, and we didn't dis
cuSs it."
Ae the recent special session
of the Legislature, the delega-
ton from the nearby 10th dis
trict was divided 4 to 4 on the
January 9 referendum proposal.
Gov. Stanley said details Of
his program would be made pub
lie when his budget goes to the
Assembly next month.
Cites Schools Importance
Mr.. Darden's comment was
made in a statement released
through the referendum in
| formation center at Richmond.
which is directing a Statewide
campaign for an affirmative vote.
/ He said the preservation Of
the public school system is of
first Importance to the people of
I Virginia-to both races alike. It
is the one means whereby We
can lift the intellectual level Of
the people of our State
I The Board of Education said
lit recognized 1.-The meaning and
extreme Importance of an
efficient system of public free
schools" in Virginia.
/, THE board feels" continued
the statement. that the pro-
posed making of grants to
parents for the education of
their children can in many cases
have great value, but does not
believe that the exercise of this
privilege would be so general as
to result in the establishment
of an extensive system of
private schools.
( The statement indicated the
board members felt any tamper-
ing with compulsory attendance
law should be cautiously under
taken. The Gray report pro-
posals called for changing the
law SO that parents would not
be required to send their chill
dren to integrated schools.
This is a matter of very
great Importance. and any
change in the provisions should
be clearly defined and limited
SO that it cannot be used by
persons who may wish to avoid
the responsibilities of sending
their children to schools" said
/ the statement.