Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-05
Gray Plan Debate

State Senator Fenwick, for
whom I have high regard in
matters other than the Gray
Commissions tuition grant
proposals, says we opponents
are not spreading the facts.
Well, let's try to reason this
question through with such
facts as we possess.
Section 14l. which Senator
Fenwick hopes the voters will
delegate their authority to re-
peal or amend on January y.
is almost identical to. a sec
ton in the Model State Con-
stitution prohibiting the use
OF public funds for private
schooling. When we already
have a provision for sound
government in our State con-
stitution, why get rid Of it.
with the announced intent of
evading the ruling Of the high
est court in the land?
OF the az war orphans re-
ceiving State funds for educa-
ton, only 8 were enrolled in
private schools. OF the 1000
teacher scholarships, only So
were used for tuition grants to
private colleges. The Common
wealth could initiate probably
new compacts with other
States to continue the edu-
cation of these 66 Negroes In
unsupported institutions. One
reason Virginia sent these
Negroes to private colleges
was that it was cheaper than
providing separate but equal"
facilities at home.
The Supreme Court has
ruled, according to Judge
Parker Of North Carolina. that
enforced segregation In pub
lie schools is illegal" 1t has
not ruled that private citizen
must favor enforced integra-
tion." as Senator Fenwick de-
clares, in the hope, I suppose.
Of dividing the voters into two
opposing camps; integration-
lists and segregationists.
In spite of Senator Fem
wick's war cry, no parent has
to accept enforced integra-
ton" AS prior to the SUI
preme Court decision, parents
can move tn other neighbour
hoods. If they don't care for
their local public schools. or
they can send their children
to private schools. I disagree
that we should dip into the
public treasury in order to
crafty racial antagonisms.
The weakness in the pro-
posed constitutional change
is that a parent anywhere in
Virginia could apply for a
tuition grant to send his chill
dren to private nonsectarian
schools for reasons OF race.
Many lawyers think this is
unconstitutional: That a State
cannot do indirectly what it
has been forbidden to do di-
rectly.
Thus, Virginia. with its spe-
cial sessions and referendum.
etc. may spend nearly 81
million for nothing.
Eleanor w. Zimmerman,
Mother of Two Public
School Children.
In the matter OF segregation
in education. the Supreme
Court laid down that the edu-
cational authorities must not
segregate the races. but In its
infinite wisdom 1t laid the
foundation for happy and
simple solution.
The educational authorities
have but to open up schools,
equally equipped. equal In all
necessary facilities and util-
tiles. staff some with colored
teachers and others with white
teachers.
Then declare all schools
open for registration and leave
it entirely to the free choice of
parents to register their chill
dren as they will.
Those whites who wish to
attend a nearby colored school
win so register; the colored
parents who wish their chill
dren to register at a nearby
white school will so register;
in not too long a time the
races will sort themselves out
to where they feel most happy
and comfortable and In those
States where parents are quite
happy to see the children CO.
educated then there will be
simple and peaceful integra-
ton as far as education, and
later on civic duties. ETC., are
concerned.
In those States where par
ents feel they wish their chill
dren to segregate themselves.
then such separation will be