Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-12-18

amendment.
Charles r. Fenwick Of Airing
ton.
THE commission did not con-
slider any alternate plan without
amendment Of Section 141," Mr.,
Fenwick says. 1T is anybody's
guess what would happen if the
amendment is defeated"
If it wishes. the General AS
Isembly could carry out the legis-
Ilative portions of the program
except those dealing with private
school tuition grants, If the
amendment is defeated. Whether
lit would. is another matter.
Pupil Assignment an Alternative
Delegate Armistead l.. Boothe
Iof Alexandria. who moves to the
State Senate next year. was one
Iof the i've House members at
the recent special session to op-
pose the amendment referendum.
IF the amendment is defeat
ed" Mr.. Boothe says. "the next
step would be to enact the pupil
assignment plan which. in itself
would be sufficient to meet the
problem.
THAT would keep the brakes
lon the situation. Indignation
will come eventually. but pupil
assignment would take care of
the situation in those parts of
the State where integration can
mot take place at the present
time"
A number Of other lawmakers,
including a few proponents Of
the private tuition grants. feel
the assignment plan alone may
be sufficient.
Under this proposal. the pres
Ient law prohibiting the teach
ing of whites and Negroes in
the same school would be re-
|pealed. Instead, provision would
he made for assignment by such
lcriterta as aptitude, health. well
fare. availability Of facilities and
Transportation. IL
b.
Feels Plan Effective
Delegate Robert Whitehead. q
possible ailti.oreanization Dem
|ocratic candidate for Governor
In 1857. voted at the recent spe-
|cial session to submit the amend
ment question to the voters.
II feel" he told the House,
land I have repeatedly stated,
that an effective assignment
program will substantially take
care of the situation in all areas
in which there are assignment
problems.
Those equally devoted to the
public schools, disagree.
IF the bill tfor the referen-
dunn is defeated, it is possible
that may jeopardize the pupil
assignment program advanced
by the commission. II the latter
is defeated. the result may be
that Virginia will have no pro-
gram, or one that will deny to
school boards some area of dis
cretiop as to pupil admissions"
Delegate Omer L. Hirst OF
Fairfax. feels the Legislature not
only would be free to proceed
with enactment Of the Legislative
portion Of the Gray plan not de-
pendant on private tuition
grants. but 1t would be inclined
| to do so If the referendum fails
"As far as I'm concerned" Mr.
Hirst says, II believe the Legis-
lature should proceed immedi-
ately to implement a sound pupil
assignment program. The Gray
report contains some valuable
suggestions"
Mr.. Hirst voted against the
/ referendum recently.
. II would assume" he says
! that II the people of Virginia
denied calling of a constitutional
convention. the Legislature. rec
ognizing the problems. would be
inclined to carry out other por-
lions of the Gray program"
/ Attendance Rule Cited
4 Another controversial legisla-
tive recommendation is modif1-
cation of the compulsory at.
tendance law so that no chile
would be required to attend ar
lintegrated school.
Section 1873 of the Constitu-
/ ton reads: THE General AS.
sembly may. in its discretion
provide for the compulsory edu-
cation of children of school age
Mr.. Hirst says, There's moth
/ ing there to prevent the Legis-
lature from repeating or modify
ing the law. regardless Of the
outcome Of the referendum"
Delegate Kathryn Stone of Ar
lington. another opponent of the
referendum question, is unable
to say what the Legislature
would do If tuition grants are
denied.
II believe" she says. I'VE
would proceed to pass the pupil
assignment plan. would be will
ing to compromise with those G.
opposite views and adopt al
aspects OF the pupil assignment
plan recommended in the Gray
Commission"
Delegate John Webb of Fair.
fax. took the leading role at the
recent Assembly in opposing the
January 8 referendum.
In his view. the next LegiSla.
ture would proceed to enact
most Of the remaining portions
! Of the Gray plan except the pro-
posals for tuition grants.
"My guess iss' he says, "the!
tother legislators) will enact TIT