Evening star., 1957-04-21

-
one OF those children's toys that
bounce back smiling no matter
how hard you hit 1t.
The 45-year-old former farm
boy will need all the bounce he
can muster as Virginia continue,
its massive resistance to the Su-
preme Court decree to desegre-
gate public schools.
While he is being pummelec
on both sides by persons who
have reduced public education
to Just one big issue. DR.. Pas.
chall will have to administer q
school system that in mechanical
detail is as complex as a huge
business corporation.
The strain told heavily on hi:
predecessor. the late Dr. Dowell
j. Howard. who campaigned tc
win the peoples approval on a
program Of very limited integra-
ton only to see Virginia's Gen.
eral Assembly push forward
along the path Of no compliance,
Gives Integration Views
DR.. Paschalls candidacy for
the job Of superintendent had
the support Of leading Southside
Virginia legislators who had
quarterba cked the program of
massive resistance through last
Falls special session of the
General Assembly.
Gov. Stanley, in appointing
DR.. Paschall. made it plain that
the new superintendent would
support the new segregation laws
that include a cut of in State
funds to any locality admitting
a Negro child to a white school
In slow and soft voice. DR.
Paschall sums up his attitude on
integration:
We must be constantly on
guard against those things that
would threaten he educational
system. Right now the most
potent danger are those pres
sures that have overlooked the
wisdom Of recognizing in each
problem the fundamental diff
ference between those things
that can be changed and those
that cannot"
What is his attitude toward
Northern Virginia. q standing
target for some assemblymen?
He says:
1T has expanded so fast, has
become cosmopolitan so quickly
has mushroomed with so many
good people that many ordinary
problems OF education are ac-
centuated. But the system of
education In which / believe can
be applied anywhere"
That system. he adds. is a
stress on fundamentals - "a
thorough preparation for those
going to college and a strong
practical Offering for those 60
ing Immediately into life's work. =
He lists the fundamentals as:
/. Reading.
2. Ability to work with figures
3, The Ten Commandments.
Quotes Fathers Advice
OF the last. he says. II don't
mean religious instruction, but
the principle Of the Ten Com
mandments insofar as a rever-
ence Of things spiritual is con-
cerned.
Il mean honesty. fair play
give-and-take situations, respect
for elders--things we've stopped
talking about a lot"
Shortly before taking the oath
of Office in mid-March. DR.
Paschall jotted down one Of his
fathers admonitions on the
Lunenburg County farm where
he grew up.
II recall my fathers state
ment when we hitched the mules
for a long day in the tobacco
field: Today we will walk
humbly and pillow a straight fur
row. This. with the help OF
Divine Providence. shall en-
deavor to do"
How humbly he means to walk
was shown at his FIRST con.
ference as superintendent with
his staff members when he
ticked OF the areas OF education
In which he Is inexperienced and
asked their help In learning.
Then he turned TO fields with
which he was familiar and said
they would have TO "unteach"
him there.
Educated at william and Mary
He earned his BA and MA
degrees at william and Mary
College where he stocked furn-
aces. clerked at the williams
burg Inn. and waited on college