Evening star., 1955-10-28
b
1O.Poiinf Plan
Voted by State
Teacher Group
Northern Virginia
Rubber Stamp
Charge Rebuffed
BY SMITH HEAIPSTONE
star staif Correspondent

10y CkNA1 y ~ AAAA&NAA - - O&NAA
star Stan Correspondent
RICHMOND, oct. 2s.--The
Virginia Education Association
yesterday approved its 1955-56
program Of action, after squelch-
ing an accusation Of rubber
stamp" and steamroller tactics
by Northern Virginia delegates
The lO-point program con-
tains planks which:
/. Assert that schools must
cas- never before serve as q lab
oratory of democracy"
3. Call for thorough training
in the three Rs.
8. Deplore 'the degree OF In
equality Of educational opportu.
nifty in the State" insofar 81
buildings, equipment. curricu-
lum offerings, qualifications q
teachers and the amount invest
ed per child are concerned and
ask for "a much higher amount
of State funds on an eQualiza-
ton basis.
Would Cut Class Load
4. Recommend q reduction OF
class load to IS pupils and q
raise In minimum teacher sal
aries for college graduates 70
$4,000.
S. Advocate increased retire.
; lnent benefits.
6. Favor Federal and State aid
for school construction
The adoption Of the program
for the coming year ended the
major part of the 4sth annual
conventions business. although
parts Of the convention win con-
tinue through tomorrow.
The short-liTed revolt Of the
Northern Virginia delegates
came atsyesterday's second Gen.
eral Assembly, when the Person
mel Policies Committee made Its
report.
Arlington Delegate s. r. Taylor
III sought to amend the report
to include a ban on 30-day
notices for release clauses ir
teacher contracts. The associa.
tior;s committee report had left
the question open as a matter Of
local option.
Gut Backs Involved
An Arlington delegate, who
asked not to be named. said the
local teachers wanted the 30-daJ
clause dropped so their annual
contracts would stand In cass
decreased erlroIlments, which
might result from racial integra.
ton of schools, should call for O
teacher cut-hack.
Mr.. Taylor's motion was over
whelmingly defeated and Presi-
dent Virginia E. Lewis called for
the adoption Of the COMMITTEES
report over the objections Of Ar
lington Education Association
President Richard NJ. Carrigan
Mr.. Carrigan charged that
the delegate assembly was being
used as a "rubber-stamp" bs
the associations board Of direc-
tors and said delegates had re-
ceived insufficient advance notice
on the nature Of resolutions tc
be voted on.
Mr.. Carrigan, a Washington
and Lee High School social stud.
les teacher, added he did moi
"see any reason why we should
come here for three days, sit ir
our chairs and blandIy accept
all the edicts of the board oi
directors" He told reporters hi
did I not feel that classroom
teachers. the grass-roots element
In education, had sufficient rep
resehtation at the council tables
Of the association.
Program Accepted
Miss Lewis denied the rub.
ber stamp" charge, and the
delegates proceeded to accept
without charge and with little
discussion. the program for the
coming year.
After Mr.. Carrigan's exchange
with Miss Lewis, about half OF
the Northern Virginia delegates
left the auditorium, but no for.
NAL walkout occurred.
Mr.. Carrigan presented the
only amendment to the l4-point
report Of the Resolutions Com
mittee when he asked that q
resolution be passed calling or
teachers to be particularly alert
In this time of challenge wheu
dtscordant elements and agita.
tors OF special interests are try
Ing to confuse our thinking
and to speak their minds on
important issues. The resolu-
ton was adopted.
Other important resolution,
accepted included a restatemenI
OF the associations position tina
''orly a system Of free public
schools can assure the preserya,
tion Of democracy"
The resolution came at tim.
when q report is expected mo.
mentarily from the Gray Com.
mission, a 32-man body com
posed Of State legislators set vi
by Gov. Stanley to study ways O
preventing compulsory racia
integration Of Virginia schools.
The integration issue, success,
fully lodged throughout TIL,
convention, was dropped in tht
laps Of the delegates Wednesda,
night, when Miss Lewis ! an,
nounced that the board Of di.
rectors has authorized her to cal
q special session Of the organ.
ization when the Gray Commits,