The Farmville herald. (Farmville, Va.) 1957-current, 1959-01-30

n General Assembly in special session
Wednesday made two proposals, namely, a
tuition-grant to pupils not desiring to at
tend public school and repeal of compul-
sorry attendance law.
These proposals will not assure raclally
separate public schools. Their passage will
make possible an integrated public school
system and private school system. Nir-
ginia parents, it is true, will have choice
But Virginia will have bowed to the will of
the Z. S Supreme Court and accepted its
decision Of Black Monday. As a matter Of
expediency, these proposals standing alone,
possibly will meet the demands Of the Fed
eral Courts.
On next Monday. it appears the schools
in Arlington and Norfolk will be integral
ed. Charlottesville may escape for short
while In each Of these localities the govern
ing bodies and the school boards will have
bowed to the federal courts. That is all the
courts will demand, for Virginia will have
accepted the principle of federal domina-
ton and abandoned the u S. Constitution.
Government will be BY men not BY law. 1t
will be an abject surrender of constitu-
ton by a central government controlled by
pressure groups and politicians Statesman
ship Will have been lost. possibly forever
Virginia the mother of constitutional gov
eminent. will have permitted the rape of
ideals and principles for which great men
have given their minds and blood suffering
almost unbearable hardshps The accom-
pill fiat on Monday will De the abandon
ment Of the high plane
Separate schools can be operated in Nir-
gina through the use of public funds
within t he Virginia Constitution The
Virginia Court Of Appeals pointed the way
in its decision. The basis would be integral
ed public schools and private schools ra-
cially separate or not, as patrons would
prefer. This means the rebuilding Of the
public school system. It might mean class
distinctions brought about BY the financial
ability Of white persons to afford the type
of school they may wish.
1t can result in a much higher tlpe of in
struction, with the more proficient teachers
syphoned off to the highest paying private
schools To be sure, if parents personally
sacrifice directly for their chld's edllca-
ton, they will see that the highest type Of
instruction is received, and We would hope
that the child would appreciate this OBJ
portunity.
Education can continue in Virginia.
This is not the main effect Surrender of
the high constitutional principles will
oh 90 az
mean anything to those who would be cur
rently expedient? To US it means every
thing
Virginia need not surrender It's princi-
pies. There are legal weapons to be used
We reluctantly disagree with Governor
Almond and as we have pointed out recent
ly, we believe the Governor has police pow
ers to maintain, at least temporarily, The
present school system. Norfolk City Colln-
Gil and its mayor, declared an emergency
existed in Norfolk and took steps to close
the schools above the sixth grade The city
Council has placed the responsibility ex-
actly where it belongs, officially on the
state administration, morally on every cit
izen. The General Assembly must share
this responsibility. Its members are on no
tice from the governing body Of Norfolk
Pupils have been placed in every school
in Virginia by the Virginia Pupil Placement
Board, created by the General Assembly it.
self in the Pupil Placement Act. This Act
is valid. It has not been tested in a federal
court Of competent jurisdiction.
These two defenses, it seems to us, can be
used TO stabilize the school system for the
present term and reopen schools now
closed where it is desirable.
The entire situation needs and will re-
quire more study to evolve a stable future
program If this time and study is not al
lowed by the federal courts an d the
NAACP, then hasty, ill-advised legislation
may be a detrimcnt TO the public school
system