Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-07
Gray Plan Debate

against the Gray amendment.
As DiSraeli once stated, 1T is
much easier to be critical than
correct" have attended dis
cussions of the Gray amend
ment at parent-teacher meet
ings and others and have yet
to hear the opposition present
a better plan or sound argu-
ments against the plan. Some
have admitted they lack in
telligence to understand the
plan. In other words, those
opposing the plan are either
ignorant or simply being criti-
cal because they hope to see
enforced indignation of young
children as a foundation for
Specialization. Nothing could
more effectively result in the
ultimate destruction of the
United States as a great Ma
ton.
As a member of a parent
teacher association. / have
found that certain minority
groups have through conniv-
ance been elected as officers
of the associations, and in
several instances such officers
have publicly announced that
the PTA is opposed to the
plan without regard to the real
views Of its members. Many
of the so-called organizations
which have sprung up over
night in Northern Virginia to
oppose the Gray amendment
have only a handful of mem
bers while pretending to rep
resent a large segment of the
population. Such organiZa =
tons consist of the same
members operating under diff
ferent organization names in
order to create the impression
that a great many organiZa-
tions oppose the plan.
sincerely hope that straight
thinking Northern Virginians
will rally to the support of
the Gray amendment and
demonstrate their confidence
in the integrity Of their Gov.
Stanley. former Gov. Colgate
Darden and the many other
outstanding leaders in the
State Of Virginia who have
indicated their overwhelming
approval of the plan as the
most effective way to preserve
our excellent schools and avoid
the misfortunes that have be-
fallen schools in the District
and Maryland with respect to
emotionally disturbed and re-
tarded children which is ne
cessitating large expenditures
for additional special schools
and teachers.
A vote for the Gray amend
ment will be a vote for an in
telligent, economical and legal
solution to the indignation
N0'' Virginia Parent.
The Evening Star gave US
some enlightenment on the
background of State Senator
Gray, chairman of the Com
mission on Public Education
The Gray report offers a plan
tMr. Gray Thinks TO avoid
compulsory attendance at nom
segregated schools. The State
will grant tuition in private
nonsectarian schools. The
parent will be handed the
money.
The first three years OF Mr..
Gray's education were in a pri-
vate school. His father did not
want to wait until the child
was 7 years of age to be adj
mitted to public schools. This
was a one-room school, with
tuition Of $3.50 per month.
Mr.. Gray graduated from
public high school at Is; took
his B.A. from the University
of Richmond at 10. He got his
MA. at Washington and Lee
University the following year.
His formal education was COM
pleted by the time he was 20,
At % he was appointed to his
first term on the Sussex Coun-
ty School Board. He made his
fortune in the lumber business
inherited from his father. He
owns 10000 acres in four
Southeastern Virginia coun-
ties.
He says the worst thing that
could have happened to him
was rushing him through
school. perhaps that is why
he is so tangled up now
Here are some questions for
Mr.. Gray to answer:
If the parent objects to send
ing his child to a mixed school,
and the State grants that
parent money to. send the
child TO a nonSectarian school,
where will one find such a
school? Do you know any pri-
vate schools that are not Sec
tartan? Are such schools con-
veniently located? Who has
tried to get tuition at $1.50 per
month? Has Mr.. Gray con-
sidered boarding the small
child away from home and
the cost of such? Who
will have enough money to add
to what the State gives to
pay for private tuition? Seems
that the rich will be the ones
who benefit and the rank and
file will still have to go to
public school. What effect will
this plan have on compulsory
education? Who is to say
what shall be taught in these
private schools? Who Is to
check teacher qualification?
Will the Supreme Court Say
that public money given to
private schools makes that
school public? Who is to check
on where the money goes when
granted a parent for private