Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-09-11


Yesterday, white children {
in classes set up by a private
are no classes for Negroes be-
cause the county has cut of all
school funds and the public
schools are closed.
I'VE contend that public
schools must be maintained in
Virginia" Mr.. Hill said. Asked
whether the action would be
against the county or the State,
Mr.. Hill commented, I'VE think
the county and the State are
one and the same"
Tax Faces Test
Mr.. Hill. reached in Rich
mond. said he did not know ex-
actly when court action would
be taken but said 1T won't be
too long-we're going to do
something about getting educa-
ton for those children"
He said attorneys will en-
deavor to test various laws
which allowed this .(school
closing) to come about" men,
tionipg specifically a test Of
whether the country can re-
fuse to levy taxes for school
operations.
The county governing body
refused to levy taxes for schools
after Federal courts ordered
integration this year. About
1.750 Negro students and 1900
white students were displaced.
While the Negroes prepare
for another court fight, white
parents - who are almost
unanimously against any in
tegration - are providing
private classes for their chill
dren.
In Washington yesterday.
Secretary of Welfare Flem-
ming said the closing Of public
schools in Prince Edward
County is ''the most serious
development to date" in the
school Indignation controversy.
Mr.. Flemming said the Fed
eral Government has no au-
thority to do anything to help
the Negroes ''other than calling
attention to the indefensible
and deplorable situation"
Classes for 1900
The private Prince Edward
School Foundation yesterday
opened classes in churches and
lodge halls for more than $500
white students.
The classrooms were clean
and well lighted. but in some
cases somewhat crowded. Most
Of the classroops ore in church
educational buildings.
In most rooEls. D-aadren sat
on folding chairs around long
wooden tables made by volun-
teer carpenters. Some of the
tables will be replaced later
by chair-desks being fashioned
by workmen by attaching desk
tops to the back Of folding
chairs.
The youngsters went to
classes with few mixups and a
minimum Of disturbance. After
q short briefing they were dis
missed until Monday.
Some 400 high school stu
dents attended the formal
opening ceremony the foun-
dalton at a Farmville theater
and were advised by founda-
ton officials that they will be
able to receive a "first-rate,
accredited education" although
they win have to get used to a
few inconvenience and "sacri-
fee some Of the frills and trim
ming" they have had in the
past.
The teachers who led their
students into the churches yes
terday we're those who taught
in the public schools last year.
The Prince Edward Academy
has been established here in
Farmville, the county seat. It
has a 'lower school" for ele-
mentary students and an up
per school" for high school.
Most Of the high school aca-
demic subjects will be taught
in the Presbyterian Church, but
the students will have to go to
separate buildings for science,
industrial arts and home eco
Monies. Several locations house
the elementary pupils but the
students do not have to shift
from one to another.
Six miles south in Worsham,
the foundation has established
the Worsham Academy, with
the upper school" in the
Worsham Baptist Church and
the "lower school" in the Hamp-
den-Sydney College Presbyte-
rian Church.
Four Rural Schools
In the rural areas, four ele-
mentary schools have been set
up in church buildings.
I'VE have good facilities, in
some cases as good or better
than the pupils had at the pub