Evening star., 1956-08-27

We are convinced that it can
be preserved and operated as an
efficient Statewide system only
by segregation Of the races. We
likewise are satisfied that we are
within our rights, historically
and legally, in taking every
honorable and constitutional
step to retain control and juris-
diction over this cherished sys-
tenn of public education. Our
position was confirmed and en-
couraged by every decision of the
Supreme Court of the United
States over a period of nearly go
years. prior to 1854.
The principal bill which l
submit to you at this time defines
State policy and governs public
school appropriations accord
ingly. The declaration reads, in
part, as follows:
"The General Assembly de-
clares. finds and establishes as a
fact that the mixing of white
and colored children in any ele-
mentary or secondary public
school within any county. city or
town of the Commonwealth con-
Istitutes a clear and present dan
ger and that no efficient
system of elementary and Sec
ondary public schools can be
maintained in any county, city
or town in which white and
colored children are taught in
any such school located therein.
I The bill then defines efficient
systems of elementary and Sec
ondary schools as those systems
within a county, city or town in
which there is no student body,
in the respective catagories, in
which white and colored children
are taught. Following these def
initionS is this further declara-
ton:
The General Assembly, for the
purpose of protecting the health
and welfare of the people and
in order to preserve and main
tain an efficient system of pub
Ilic elementary and secondary
schools hereby declares and es-
ltablishes it to be the policy of
this Commonwealth that no pub
lie elementary or secondary
schools in which white and
colored children are mixed and
taught shall be entitled to or
shall receive any funds from the
State treasury for their opera
ton. and, to that end, forbids
and prohibits the expenditure of
any part of the funds appropri-
ated by items 1873. 1874, 1877, 1873
and 143 Of this section for the
establishment and maintenance
of any system Of public element
Iary or secondary schools, which
is not efficient"
State Constitution Cited
! This policy is in harmony with
Section l29 of the State consti-
tuition, which provides that the
General Assembly shall establish
and maintain an efficient system
of public free schools through
out the State" Manifestly, in
tegration of the races would
make impossible the operation
of an efficient system. BY this
proposed legislation, the General
Assembly, properly exercising
its authority under the constitu-
Ition, will clearly define what
CONSTITUTES an efficient system
'Ifor which State appropriations
lare made.
Thus, under terms of this bill,
State funds will continue avail
able for public schools through
out the State, as at present, so
long as white and Negro children
are not taught in the same
schools. The effect of the bill will
; be to discontinue, by legislative
direction, basic State appropria-
tions to the elementary schools.
!. or appropriations to the second
airy schools of a locality, if per-
/. sons of the opposite race are
: admitted to its white or Negro
| secondary schools.
:. Thus, if the final point Of
decision should be reached, the
i bill would permit the continued
operations of high schools on
segregated basis, even though
, the elementary schools of the
. locality were closed, or the con-
tinued operation of the elemen-
tary schools, if only the high
schools are closed.
Grants Are Provided
Should elementary or high
|, schools of county, city or town
be closed, the State funds allo-
Gated for the operation of these
schools would become available
for educational grants to pupils
attending nonsectarian private
schools in that locality.
Furthermore, if it were DEM
onstrated that the elementary or
secondary schools, or both, of a
locality in which they had been
closed could be reopened on a
segregated basis, the State ap-
preparations again would become
available Immediately for their
operation.
I Every effort has been made
to protect the teachers in our
public schools. 1t is specifically
. provided that where schools are
closed and teachers under con-
tract become unemployed by rea-
son Of the closing, State funds
, will continue available toward
payment Of their salaries for the
duration Of their contracts,
should they continue unemployed.
In addition to the appropria-
tion bill. which is the key to
this program to preserve our
schools and continue segregation,
the other items submitted for
your earnest consideration and
, action would accomplish the fol-