The Farmville herald and farmer-leader. (Farmville, Va.) 1934-1957, 1956-07-17
School Question Becomes Statewide


FUDGE JOHN PAUL, of the Western
Federal District Court, lifted the
question of racial desegregation of schools
from the local level to state wide problem.
He'ordered the school board of Charlottes-
Vile to plan desegregation of Charlottes
Vile schools at the session beginning in
September He DELAYED the writing of a
decree by asking the attorneys for the State
and the Charlottesville School Boad n d
the NAACP counsel representing the Negro
children of Charlottesville to agree on a
decree and present it to him. An appeal
will be taken by the State and School
Board attorneys.
Prince Edward County, which has been
under attack for the past five years and
virtually standing alone in defense since
the L. S. Supreme Court decree May 81,
1854, now has company Suits have been
filed in Newport News and Norfolk and
intentions have been announced in Roanoke.
The question has taken statewide aspect.
White citizens in Newport News have
affirmed their intention to maintain schools
on a racialy segregated basis. Petitions
along the same line are being circulated in
Charlottesville Resistance is stiffening in
Norfolk and Roanoke. The people Of Vir-
glnla see the prospects of racially in
tegrated schools in d different light when
the prospects come close to home. Some
day the entire state will understand the
far flung consequences of this movement,
which may end in complete change in
the method Of public education in Virginia.
Desegregated public schools presage de-
segregated faculties in public schools If
the |. $. Supreme Court can amend the
constitution OF the United States by decree
in this instance it is logical to follow that
it can decree Federal FEPC, which would
require BY lar the desegregation in facul-
ties, school administrators, and all other
public employment Such would result in
continual and eternal pickering to say
nothing of the loss in the rights of states
in the employment field. The state would
then come directly under Federal control
of the courts. A complete change in the
form of this government would then be
underway with the constitution as drawn
by free men well on its way to oblivion
Judge Paul from the bench scored
Governor Stanley, blaming him for delay
in State action. Judge Paul overlooked the
fact that the General Assembly of Vir-
glna had set a policy in its Interposition
Resolution The policy of Virginia as
set forth is to challenge the power of the
L. 5. Supreme Court to dictate to the State
how Is shall operate its school system In
this position five other Southern states
have likewise set state policy. If the
Governor could be justifiaby criticized it
would be for not saying to the Supreme
Court that Virginia schools would be
operated according to the Virginia Consti-
tuition until this matter of contested power
had been settled and the T. s. Constitut-
ton Will have been amended according to
the procedure provided in the Constitution
itself.
The Governor has indicated that he will
call the General Assembly into session be-
tore September 6. The School Study Com
mission has yet to conclude its study and
present it final report The Fourth Circuit
Court of Appeals last Monday has taken
under Amusement the jurisdiction of the
petition against Prince Edward County.
and has yet to decide if the Court of An
peals Ga three judge court) or the Federal
District Court will hear the case In the
lace OF all OF these uncertainties Judge