Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-12-23
VIRGINIA MUST DECIDE
Most of States Officials Favor
School Amendment Proposal

board OF directors OF the VIZ
ginia League Of Women Voters
went on record against the tu-
ition grants plan.
i H. B. Boyd, president Of the
Virginia Federation of Labor
tAFL). and Julian F. Carper.
executive vice president of the
Virginia Industrial Union Coun-
ell tCIO) issued statements ex-
pressing their personal opposi-
ton.
The National Association for
the Advancement of Colored
People and the Virginia Teach
ers' Association - representing
Negro public school instructors
formally voted opposition.
| A number Of local chapters OF
the League of Women Voters
including the one in Arlington
have voiced disapproval, although
the Richmond chapter refused to
take a stand and said the State
league should have refrained
from acting. Several local units
Of the American Association OF
University women have voiced
opposition to the amendment.
Although the State Board of
Education unanimously approved
the referendum, the Arlington
School Board and two new men,
bers of that body who will take
Office January Mrs. Barbara
Riches and James g. Stockard--
went on record against tuition
| grants.
The Referendum Center says
that as far as 1t J, knows, the
school board in Arlington is the
only one in the State formally
to oppose the referendum.
How Religious Groups Stand
Jewish congregations general.
ly oppose the proposed change.
| An undetermined number Of
Protestant ministers throughout
Virginia have delivered sermon.
opposing segregation on religious
grounds or disappearing private
school tuition grants because
they see it as a possible break.
down in the barrier between
church and State.
/ Here are some Of the religion.
groups that have expressed op.
position. either to the Gray plar
in general or specifically to the
referendum issue for tuition
grants:
! The Potomac Presbytery Of
the Presbyterian Church In the
United States (Southern) by 9
vote Of 80 to 2: the Roanoke
Ministers Conference: Alexan.
dria Council Of Churches; Falls
Church Association of Min.
listers: 10 clergymen of the Au-
gusta Convocation Of the Pro-
Itestant Episcopal Church in the
diocese of Southwestern Vir-
ginia; Arlington-Fair Jewish
Center; the congregation of the
Agudas Achim Synagogue. the
Hadassah Chapter and B'nai
Birth. all Of Alexandria; five
districts of the Church of the
Brethren; the Episcopal Min
listers Of the Shenandoah Valley
by vote Of 8 to 3, and the Rich
mond Baptist Pastors Confer
ence.
Editorials in several Protest
ant church papers have voiced
opposition. Roman Catholic
Iparochial schools moved toward
limited Indignation more than q
year ago. but the church's
LEADERS have been silent on the
controversy.
Some Not Opposed
Not all Protestant ministers
are opposed to the Gray plan
however. When the Gray Com
mission held a public hearing
more than a year ago. several
ministers, particularly from
Southside and Eastern Virginia
urged 1t to bring out a plan
that recognizes the practical
problems confronting residents
of these areas. Since then, state
ments by some ministers have
supported the preservation OF
public school segregation.
Local groups. besides school
PTAs in nearby Virginia, include
these among the opponents: The
Fairfax Civic Federation and the
Arlington Council Of PTA's.
The Arlington County Board
voted unanimously in favor OF
the Gray program, but two in
coming members, Ralph Raul
and David Krupsaw. said they
are opposed to the tuition grants
! nloyN