Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-10-25
Fairfax Plato Study
|ntegration Measure
State Congress
Bans Mixing in
Member Units

A resolution adopted by the
Virginia Congress of Parents and
Teachers banning integrated
membership in local units will
be considered Tuesday by the
Fairfax County PTA Federation,
which has had white and Negro
members for a number of years.
DR.. Norris Pritchard, president
of the Fairfax PTA Federation,
said the subject would come up
in routine report on activities at
the State PTA Congress conven-
ton which ended yesterday in
Richmond. The federation meet
ing will be held at 8 pm. Tues
day at Annandale Elementary
School.
What the federation will de-
eide to do. / can't say" said DR..
Pritchard.
Bars Membership
The resolution adopted by the
Board of Managers of the PTA
Congress specifies that local
units having both white and
Negro members may not belong
to the parent Virginia body.
In Fairfax County, Negro PTA
groups have been sending dele
gates to the PTA federation for
several years and voting as reg
ular members.
The PTA indignation subject
came up when Mrs. Cora Corbin,
a member of the Fairfax County
Federation, asked for a clarifica-
ton of the groups status within
the Virginia Congress.
/ DR.. Edgar johnson. first vice
president of the Virginia Con-
gress, explained that only white
school units are eligible for
membership in the State. Negro
schools have a separate PTA
system which does not tie in
with the Virginia Congress. he
said.
Plan No Action
The Board of Managers there
upon passed a resolution voicing
the Congress membership prin-
ciple. Board members said. how
ever, they would take no action
to remove Fairfax from the Con-
greSs. DR.. johnson said any such
move should be voluntary on
Fairfax's part.
Dr.. Pritchard said it seemed
logical" to have all PTAs rep
PRESENTED in the federation since
the colored school system is part
lof our system. The system of
Incorporation we've got now works
out very well from the point of
view OF both the white and COL
Iored.
THE federation is simply try
ing to bring together all people
in the county who are interested
in the county public school sys-
TEN, who are working toward
common goals. and these goals
haven't anything to do with
indignation"
so Represented
DR.. Pritchard. an economist
for the United States Agricul-
.ture Department, said approx
lmately SO local school units were
represented in the Fairfax fed
Grafton.
He said all the white units
were members OF the Virginia
and the National PTA Congress,
but he did not believe the Negro
units held membership in either.
/ A Federal aid for education
plea was renewed by William
Lightsey of Arlington. who had
failed Tuesday in an ATTEMPT
to win Endorsement for such
help. The convention adopted
a motion TO submit the ques-
ton to PTA district groups for
study prior to next years con-
vention October 2l-22-23 in
Roanoke.
David Hobart of Richmond
suggested appointment of study
committee for private schools
in case public schools are closed.
Be Prepared
I'VE all hope we won't have
to abolish our public schools,
but some OF our legislators seem
To think we might" said Mr..
Hobart with the indignation
situation as it is. we should be
prepared TO continue the edu-
cation Of our youth in any
event.
But other speakers thought
the subject was too broad for
the PTA and should be handled
by professional educators.
/ Mrs T. e. Diehl Of Petersburg
was elected chairman Of the
Board OF Managers for the
coming year Thomas Faulk-
ncr Of Glasgow will serve as
cochairman