Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-08-20
Boothe, Dalton
Would Allow
Some Integrotion

EuplI assignment legislation
which died at the last session
OF the General Assembly will be
re-introduced at the forthcoming
special session by State Senators
Armistead Boothe of Alexandria
and Ted Dalton of Radford.
Mr.. Boothe. a Democrat. and
Mr. Dalton, a Republican, have
called their plan a moderate"
answer to the Supreme Court
school indignation decision.
The proposed legislation they
plan to offer would give local
school boards authority to assign
pupils for a variety of reasons.
excluding race. They also plan
to re-1ntroduce a companion
measure providing for transfers
of teachers by local school boards
as required by changing con-
ditions.
Both measures died in com.
mittee at the last Assembly ses.
sion. Opponents at the time
argued that it was not yet time
to take action on segregation
legislation, since the Gray Conn
mission had not made its final
report.
Some migration Allowed
Senator Boothe said the pro-
posed legislation was in line with
the original program outlined
by the Gray Commission last fall
to prevent forced Indignation in
Virginia schools. The Commits
sion is expected to come out
with its final report after a
meeting in Richmond Wednes-
day.
Senator Boothe acknowledged
that the legislation would per.
init some Indignation, wherever
local conditions permitted.
This is what Gov. Stanley and
other State leaders have been
fighting to avoid.
Under the Boothe-Dalton plan.
all students would be reassigned
to the schools they formerly at.
tended. Within is days after
such assignments are made, the
parents of any student seeking
a transfer could apply to the To-
cal school board.
General Welfare Considered
The proposed legislation states
that assignments shall be based
upon the welfare, safety and per-
sonal interest of the pupils and
the general welfare and public
Interest of the schools, and shall
take into consideration school
attendance areas, availability Of
facilities and transportation, and
the academic background, apti-
tude, personalities, needs and
health of the individual pupil"
The list of assignment reasons
is even broader than the original
Gray Commission recommends
tionS.
If student is dissatisfied with
an assignment. the Boothe-Dal-
ton bill provides for an appeal
to the local trial court, and then
to the State Supreme Court.
Mr.. Boothe said the assign
ment factors certainly would be
weighed, differently in various
jurisdictions-and frankly should
reflect the customs of localities"
Sees Line Held BasicalIy
He declared the plan would
not result in slow-learning white
children being assigned to pre-
dominantly colored schools be-
cause so many factors are to be
considered besides aptitude and
scholastic achievement.
Our present system would be
basically retained" he said, but
some outstanding colored stu
dents might be admitted to white
schools"
He said the pupil assignment
plan "can be administered wisely
and fairly, provided it is admin
iStered locally"
Other pupil assignment plans
have been suggested, placing the
assignment power in the hands
of the General Assembly or the
Governor.
Senator Boothe said 1t would
be unthinkable for the Governor
and Assembly to pass on the
qualifications 100000 students
all over the State.
"Of course, If any pupil as
signment plan is administered
with the openly expressed inten-
ton to defy the Supreme Court
decision, it would be declared
llleBal, ne Sdlu.
Good Faith Held Necessary
The Alexandria legislator said
the essence Of success for any
plan the State adopts is good
faith. recognition Of individual
merit, and unlimited time"
He branded as radical" the
extremists on either side who
say there won't be any integra-
ton. or who advocate about
Indignation at once.
THE true conservative course
is the one Of temperance and
moderation" said Senator
Boothe. This course permits
desegregation as slowly as local
customs demand and as timely
as individual achievement JUS
tifies."
In reply to those who see any
indignation as an opening
wedge" for widespread mixing Of
the races. Senator Boothe said
the opening wedge" occurred
back in 1919 when the first slaves
were brought TO Virginia against