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


Its chief innovation would be
council on public education to
school problems.
The plan would strive for
establishment Of school policies
lon a community-by- community
basis and would assure the con-
|tinued operation Of public
schools in every city and county.
The Gray Commission, In its
report, refers to the possibility
Iof some schools closing because
|of the courts ruling outlawing
segregation in the public schools.
Take No Sides on Referendum
Gov. Stanley has promised to-
recommend to the legislature
that the requirement for main
tainance Of the public school
system be retained in the State
constitution. Some critics, how
ever, have appealed to the Gov
Iernor to specify that public
schools will be operated in every
county and city.
The authors Of the plan adj
vanced here today were DR.. B..
J. Chandler. associate professor,
and DR.. Douglas S. Ward, acting
dean and professor Of the uni
versity's School of Education.
They took no sides in the jan
Diary 3 referendum campaign and
said their plan would work re-
CARELESS of the outcome of the
vote on whether a convention
shall be called to amend the
State constitution.
The amendment would permit
the State to use public funds as
tuition grants for pupils who
don't want to attend integrated
public schools.
Explains Four Principles
Drs. Chandler and Ward took
the view neither extreme in the
segregation integration fight re-
fleets "the dominant view Of the
thoughtful citizens of Virginia.
They proposed a moderate APP
proach based on four funda-
mental principles which they re-
gard as necessary to meet the
Supreme Court decision. These
principles hold that the plan
should
l. Provide for local determin-
alton Of what rate Of "deliber-
ate speed" each community
should use in school adjustments.
Q. Employ the basic processes
Of democracy" by enlisting the
active participation in State and
local planning of the people af-
Ifected.
3. Respect local traditions, be-
lliefs and customs by a reason
able and gradual approach.
| 4. Assure the continued opera
ton Of the public schools in
every county and city.
| Urge Advisory Council
With these four points in
mind, Drs. Ward and Chandler
i would have the Governor appoint
; a State advisory council of about
IA Virginians who are init
mstely acquainted with problems
resulting from the Supreme
Court decision"
! They suggested the appoint
ments be made from nominations
. submitted by the presidents of
1.-THE State-supported colleges and
universities. Council members
would include representatives of
the General Assembly, school Of
ficials. professional education or
CARNATIONS and parent-teacher
groups.
Smaller, but similar, advisory
groups of community leaders
would be appointed by mayors
and chairmen of county boards
of supervisors.
!. Local Public Opinion
With advice and help from
!, the state council, a local advi.
sorry group would study and ap-
praise its local conditions and
work out procedures that Local
public opinion is judged likely
to accept"
The local group, for example
might obtain an agreement from
leaders Of both races concerning
the exact extent, school by
school, of segregation or non
segregation"
In addition, to serve in case
the council approaches failed to
produce a satisfactory plan fol-
Ia locality. local school boards
would be given legal powers to
authorize and supervise the as
slgnment of individual pupils by
professional school personnel in
accordance with clearly defined
criteria related to sex, intelli-
gence. academic achievement
and place of residence"
Sufficient Flexibility
] Drs. Ward and Chandler said
their plan has sufficient fiexibility
to permit local autonomy in the
operation of schools.
Because it Is statewide, posi-
tive in nature and recognizes
that the problem differs from
community to community, it Is
believed that it would meet the
courts requirement of all delib.
; crate speed If carried out in good
; faith" they said.
They noted that probably nc