Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-04-07
Richmond Sets
Hearings on
School Plans
Dalton Introduces
New Version of
Perrow Proposal
BY ALEX r. PRESTON
Star stan Writer

ksAOkAMOAN6s hphA ts-E Nv
lie hearings on key provisions
of the Perrow Commissions
public school program were
scheduled today in both
branches of the Legislature
The House Education Com
mittee announced 1t will hold
a hearing at 2 pm. Thursday
on pending bills, the principal
one being the measure return
ing to local school boards the
power to assign pupils To
schools. The measure would
abolish the present State Pu-
pill Placement Board and re-
place it with an appeals board
to pass on rulings of the local
school boards.
The Senate Finance Commit
tee and House Appropriation
Committee set a hearing for
2 pm. next Tuesday on all
measures before them, includ-
ing one to provide I'D to $3.50 in
scholarships for educating
children in private non-sec-
tartan schools. Another bill to
be considered would appropri-
ate State funds to match money
put up by the localities to f.
nance the scholarships.
New Version Offered
In the brief sessions held
by both the House and Senate
today, a new version of the
Perrow Commissions compul-
sorry school attendance law was
introduced by Senator Ted
Dalton, Republican of Rad
ford.
His bill would re-enact the
compulsory attendance Law
which was repealed by the Leg
iSlature last January, but woulc
allow any of the 1913 cities o.
counties to withdraw from it.
provisions on adoption of g
resolution by the local govern
ing body.
The Perrow Commission,
package of Is bills and a res.
olution was introduced in boti
branches of the assembly yes.
terday following their recon.
mendation by Gov. Almond.
Reaction Mixed
Gov. Almonds whole-hearte:
commentator of that plan t.
the Legislature brought reac.
tons today ranging from out.
right praise to sarcastic denun.
citation.
Included in the latter wa.
the response of Delegate James
M. Thomson of Alexandra Il
Gov. Almonds message 20 {
Joint session of the Genera
Assembly yesterday. Mr.. Thorn.
son. a member Of the Perrov
Commission who signed {
minority report of that group
said:
He showed a magnifient
grasp of the problem but {
total unwillingness to face it.
Arlington Delegate Harrison
Mann. a member of the Com.
mission. was among those tt
laud the Governors stand. "Ht
laid it on the line" Mr.. Manr
said. He told the Legislature
If you have a better plan
come forward with it,
"Firthright Statement"
Senator Charles r. Fenwicl
of Arlington. another commits
sion member. described tn,
Governors speech as an hon
est and fortnight statement o.
conditions as they exist. . . II
should further clarity in thu
minds of many people jus
what the General Assembly car
do and what it is powerless tt
do"
Delegate Omer L. Hirst o.
Fairfax, commented: 1.-THE rea
significance is that the Cover
nor and a majority of the com
mission still see eye to eye. HI
has thrown the full weight o.
his office behind the commits
sion's program and thereb!
makes its adoption likely"
The Perrow report was ap,
proved by 81 OF the 40 commits
sion members.
State Senator ArmisteaC
Boothe of Alexandria had thiI
to say:
II do not hesitate to keep m!
stand at the Governors sid,
against the storm of opposition
that will break over him from
certain sections of the State
IL understand thoroughly hi
strong reaction and resentmen
to the attacks of his critics. A
have learned since 1854 (datl
of the original Supreme Cour
desegregation decision) it i
unjust and unfair to be callet
ian integrationist simply becaust
you are sincerely devoted Il
the cause of public education
and want to keep the schools
open with a maximum of segre
CATION"