Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-12-23
.boothe Cites
School PeriIs

RICHMOND. Dec. % R.-
State Senator ELECT Armistead
Boothe of Alexandria says 1t is
perfectly understandable" Gov.
Stanley cannot guarantee that
Virginia's public schools will be
maintained If the constitutional
amendment plan goes through.
Mr.. Boothe's comment fol-
lowed Gov. Stanley's refusal at
his Wednesday press conference
to reply to former Gov. Colgate
Darden's suggestion that pro-
amendment forces voice strong
assurances public schools would
be retained.
Opponents Of the amendment
plan-to permit public funds to
be used for private schooling
have hammered repeatedly at
the theme the proposal will
weaken the public school system.
Darden Supports Amendment
Mr.. Darden. an amendment
supporter. has taken the view
leaders Of the plan should make
it emphatically clear 20 the
public that they intend no harm
to public schools. Later he
clarified the statement by saying
he was not seeking such as
surance but was suggesting that
such assurance be given the
public.
In other developments on the
amendment front:
l. 1t. Gov. A. E. s. Stephens
said in a radio speech from Suf-
folk last night the amendment
plan would not impose "a single
additional burden" on Virginians.
2. State Senator Harry F.
Byrd, jr.. addressing his home
town Rotary Club in Winchester
yesterday. said the amendment
plan constituted a underground
approach to the segregation
problem.
Opposed by Baptist Pastors
3. The Richmond Baptist Pas
tors Conference came out
against the plan, saying tuition
grants for attendance at nom
.sectarian private schools would
be Impractical and unwise."
Mr.. Boothe gave four reasons
why he felt the Governor could
not give guarantees about pro-
lection Of the school system.
He cited language in the Gray
Commission report referring to
localities where no public schools
would be operated. At another
point, said Mr.. Boothe, the re-
port says local school boards
should be permitted to receive
State funds for an entire year,
even If schools are operated for
less than nine months.
THE apparent meaning OF
this language is that a local
school board can open the doors
Iof its public schools for a token
period only and still get a years
supply OF State funds" he said
Proposed Change Cited
Mr.. Boothe cited anothed Gray
Commission recommendation for
dropping from the State code at
one point a section requiring
cities to maintain schools. An
other law duplicates the section,
he noted, but he construed the
repeal suggestion as indicating
Ia lack of zeal for public
schools.
The other reason mentioned
by Mr.. Boothe was the Legis-
lature's rejection at its recent
special session of the amend
Iment offered by Republican State
Senator Ted Dalton of Radford
to spell out protection of the
public school system. Mr.. Dali
TONS amendment would have
said that permitting State aid
for private education would have
mo effect on Section 129 of the
State constitution requirin
maintenance of public schools.
Pro-amendment leaders have
commended any such spelling out
was unnecessary and the school
system will not be harmed by
the tuition grant plan.
The amendment plan will be
voted on January 8. An affirm
alive vote would authorize the
calling of a convention to at
tempt the amending Of the State
constitution.