Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-12-20

other.
/ IN recent days. however, mt
Ijections to the assignment pro-
posal than in the period immedi.
ately following release Of the
Gray report.
This is because public discus
sion now is centered on the prob
lem at nand-the January
referendum, which could lead to
tuition grants for education ir
private non-sectarian schools.
There is more time to con.
slider the assignment plan. Il
would be carried out by legisla.
ton enacted during the 60-day
session of the General Assembly
that convenes January IL.
! Go Hand in Hand
! Gov. Stanley and other ad.
vocates of the Gray program
insist that the tuition grants
proposal and the assignment
proposition go hand in hand.
Assignment of pupils in cite.
and urban counties. where Ne.
groes live in districts, may vel
result in minimum of integra-
ton. it is reasoned. But in the ru-
raj counties. where Negro tenant
farmers and others of that race
are spread generally throughout
the area. the assignment prin-
ciple may not work. The Gray
Commission feels the State sub
Isidy for private education Their
should be available if the locality
closes down its schools rather
than integrate.
! Opposition to the assignment
plan-which includes teachers as
well as pupils-falls into two
main categories. Opponents say
( !. 1t is an obvious subterfuge
( to do indirectly what can nc
longer be done directly. The Su-
preme Court ruled public schools
can not be segregated because OF
race.
2. 1t transfers a thorny ad-
ministrative function from the
administrative oficer-the school,
superintendent-to the policy
making gency-th the schooI
board.
Opposed by Clergy
! Also, there is considerable OPP
position by religious groups. Just
as some of these feel that tuition
grants may lead to a breakdown
in the separation of church and
state. they contend that an as
signment program that has the
effect of maintaining racial Sc
Igregation IS contrary to the
laws of God"
Lawmakers in the Washington
suburbs who are leading the
fight against the January 9 ref
erendum are either in favor Of,
or are willing to accept. the
assignment program. They be-
lieve it is sufficient to meet the
segregation problems of South
side and Eastern Virginia where
Negro school enrollments are
highest. At least it should be
given a try first. they contend
Those holding such views
include Delegates Armlstead
Boothe OF Alexandria. John
Webb and Omer L. Hirst of Fair
fax, and Kathryn Stone Of Ar
lington.
Says State Senator Garland
Gray, chairman of the Commits
sion on Public Education:
The commissions recommen-
Idations are based on the funda-
mental principles of our demo
cratic system-local determine
Ition. local control and local re-
sponsibility."
The Gray report states:
ITO meet the problem
created by the Supreme Court
the commission proposes a plar
of assignment which will permit
local school boards to assign
their pupils based upon the
welfare of the particular child
as well as the welfare and. best
interests Of all other pupils at
tending a particular school. The
school board should be author
lied to take into consideration
such factors as availability Of
facilities, health, aptitude of the
child and the availability Of
transportation"
| No child. however, could bt
compelled to attend an int
grated school.
State Senator Charles r. Fen
wick Of Arlington, one Of the
80 members Of the commission
says:
THE members of the Gray
Commission who were opposed
to any Indignation have recog-
nized that, under the assign
ment plan, communities which
wish to integrate may do So"
To obtain a cross section Of
the views Of opponents Of the
Recommendation. one must rely
mainly on expressions against thu
Gray plan in general and state.
ments made at a public hearing
held by the Legislature las
month. This is because-as indi.
Gated above-most statement.
now being made are directed
specifically at the tuition pro-
posal involved in the January
referendum.
Negation Of Human Dignity
Oliver w. Hill. colored, coun.
sci for the National Association
for the Advancement Of Colorec
People. included all recommen.
dations Of the commission wher
The told the public hearing: