Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-05-24
Arlington Schools
Urge Truancy Law
County Board
Action Sought
On Perrow Plan
BY DAN POOLE
star stan Writer

The Arlington School Board
yesterday urged the County
Board to adopt a local COM
pulsory school attendance law
as provided for in recent Vir-
ginia General Assembly ena-
bling legislation.
Although board members ex-
pressed doubt about effective
ness Of such an ordinance. they
unanimously adopted a resolu-
ton seeking its enactment.
School Supt. Ray E. Reid rec
commended the ordinance. He
said he is in favor Of compul-
sorry school attendance, but is
concerned with the portion Of
this particular law which says
no child is compelled to attend
a school against the wishes OF
his parents or guardians.
Last week. Mr.. Reid had
asked that action on the reso-
luton be deferred for further
study because the administers
tive problems posed by the
measure might outweigh its
advantages.
Cites Alternative
Mr.. Reid said that whether
or not the ordinance is adopted.
school authorities will con-
tinue to insist upon regular
school attendance wherever
possible in order that the best
interests of the children of this
county may be served"
He added, IF this ordinance
is not adopted, this (compul-
sorry attendance will be car
ried out using such school reg
ulations and child welfare leg
islation as may be applicable.
"Our primary concern is, and
will continue to be. the educa-
tional welfare of the children
of this community. whether
this is achieved through an or
dinance or through School
Board rules and regulations"
School Board Chairman Rob-
ert A. Peck observed, I'VE
shouldn't kid anybody that this
is much of an attendance law"
He pointed to the section of the
law which would excuse any
student from attendance on
the signed request Of his par
ents or guardians.
Sees Trial Necessary
Board member James @.
Stockard said. This is by no
means q substitute for the. law =
they took off the books, but
we must try this so we can
tell our legislators whether or
not it works"
The States compulsory school
attendance law was repealed
so that children would not be
] forced to attend a racially in
tegrated school against the
wishes of their parents. The
recently adopted Perrow pro-
gram, however, allows locali-
ties to adopt a watered-down
attendance law if they choose.
To Study Merit Pay
In other action, the board
voted at Mr.. Reds recommen-
dalton to appoint a committee
to study the ACCESSIBILITY Of
adopting a merit pay plan for
teachers.
The committee will review the
study made by the Arlington
Educational Association and
other available material. and
then will make a recommends
ton to the School Board by.
November l..
Mr.. Stockard and Mrs. Helen
S. Lane of the School Board
will serve on the committee.
along with Charles J. Walsh,
assistant school superintendent
for personnel. Other members
will include a representative Of
the Arlington Teachers Associa-
ton and lay person familiar
with personnel matters.
Enact Nom Teachers Pay
The board also adopted next
years pay schedule for its nom
teaching staff. The schedule
provides for those employees to
receive 6 one-step increase in
the annual increment pay pro-
gram. with raises ranging from
500 to $500 a year.
The raise is the same as that
given to other county govern
mental employees by the County
Board. The teacher pay scale
was increased $500 in the
newly-adopted budget.
At the end of the meeting,
DR.. Joseph B. johnson, assist
ant superintendent for in-
struction, and Mrs. Helen Fin
lay. supervisor for secondary
education, led a discussion Of
Arlington's program for aca-
demically- talented students.