The Farmville herald and farmer-leader. (Farmville, Va.) 1934-1957, 1956-01-06

THE
do not prevail in their report. The
report represents = middle Of the
road and moderate course to meet
q crisis which is in no sense one
O.. choice. The problem was Gre
a.ed at the time Of the Court de-
c.sion on May II, 1854.
Jan. 3 Choices
I 1.-THE question before the peo-
pie Of Virginia on January 9th is
not however. the question Of ac-
cepting or rejecting the report Of
the Commission on Public Edu-
cation. It is not a question Of
standards for schools or a COM
pulsory attendance lawful OPP
nortunities will be given on de-
liberate and careful consideration
Of all legislation at the meeting
Of the General Assembly to con-
vene a few days after the vote on
thu referendum.
ION November I. 1855, our State
Supreme Court ruled that certain,
grants or payments through the
War Orphans. Rehabilitation
Teacher Scholarship and GRADUATE
Aid funds violated Section l41 nj
the Virginia Constitution. An
amendment to Section 141 is ne
cessary to continue the States
policy Of such grants and to au-
thorize the General Assembly to
provide for tuition grants to pu-
pills to attend private schools und-
er certain circumstances.
I'VE must not become confused,
but constantly keep in mind the
question before US.
1T is not in defiance of the
United States Supreme Court de-
cision. but. on the contrary. it is
within the law as expressed by
that Court
1T will not DESTROY the public
free school system. but. on the
contrary. it will provide a tool
with which to meet an emergency
ard to preserve our educational
system.
Court Not Defied
1T does not violate or offend
the fundamental and basic prin-
cipal of the complete separation
of Church and State. but. on the
contrary. it spells out more clear
lv and enunciates more forcibly
that basic principal which is so
vital to our democracy. The pro-
posed wording of the Amendment
specifically and uneuuivocallv
states that such tuition grants will
beNmited for use in non-sectarian
private schools.
1T is ont in conflict with Sec
ton 1923 of our Constitution. and
approval Of the proposed amend
ment will make it possible to car
" out the intent of Section l29
in this emergency
1T does not propose the estab-
lishment of a system Of pHivate
schools in competition with the
public free schools system. Y
SIT is proposed that great
deal of local autonomy be per-
United. giving localities much lee
way in meeting such problems
as may exist in particular area
"The propose amendment
grants permissive authority. not
mandatory authority. to the Gen
eral Assembly, and local govern
ing boards. without interfering
with the individual liberties of our
citizens of either race
Nov we asked ourselves tbs
question. Why is. this referendum
so urgent?" Why rush?"
Why Act Now:
The trainers of our Constitu-
ton. in their wisdom. provided
two methods by which the Con-
stitution of Virginia may bt
amended.
n Favorable action at two
regular sessions of the Genera
Assembly. followed by a vote of
the citizens. This would require
more than two and one-half years
90 Constitutional Convention
to be used when necessity ane
emergencies so require
Here again. we have no choice
decisions and plans must b.
made prior to the opening of the
1861 school year. which begin
in the early fall of 1856. Hence