The Farmville herald. (Farmville, Va.) 1957-current, 1960-06-17
Schools In Prince Edward

Schools In z
VIRGINIA in its Constitution of 1903
adopted program of public schools,
under conditions Enthusiastically set forth
in the Constitution. The Supreme
Court of the United States in 1854 set
aside the conditions contained in the
Virginia Constitution
Five years Of litigation followed, with
the brunt of the attack on the County
of Prince Edward
In January 1859, Virginia changed
its position on public education under
the pressures of the Federal Courts
making ineffective section al, thus al
lowing racial indignation in it's public
school system and repealed compulsory
attendance laws.
A study by the Perrow Commission
provided new policy for education -
the concept of private school system.
The Special session of 1859 and the
regular session of 1860, enacted laws
establishing a system Of private schools
in the State under certain circum-
stances.
Thus, Virginia establishes dual con-
cept in education Of public schools or
private schools. The General Assembly
provided for private schools in its 1860
81 budget.
Prince Edword Privote Schools
Prince Edward County. whose school
system. has been under attack since
1851. promptly though reluctantly,
established private schools in September
1859 Public schools were abandoned.
Prince Edward School Foundation
has operated private schools success
fully for the past year for the white
youngsters in the County.
Southside Schools, Inc, offered a
like system of schools for the Negro
youngsters in December 1859, and has
renewed this offer for the 196O-61 ses-
sion
Thus, Prince Edward County has &C
copied the new concept of education.
There are no public schools in Prince
Edward County.
OperotionoI Scheme
The plan of operation of private
schools in the County has been adopted
within the framework Of Virginia laws
establishing such system.
Scholarships for each youngster at
tending school which is operated $50
days, are available to the parents or
guardian of each youngster from the
State Treasury. These scholarships are
S125.OO for elementary pupils, and
$4,000 for secondary students.
Thus, each parent having a child or
ward attending a nonsectarian private
school within or outside the county, or
a public school outside the county will
apply for the scholarship and receive
it as educational aid from the appro-
priations for this purpose enacted by
the General Assembly in 1860 The Act
becomes effective June %, 1860.
County Scholarships
Under laws enacted by the 1860 SEES
sion of the General Assembly county
may set up in its budget and disburse
to the parents of children for education
al purposes such sum as may be deter
mined by the governing board
In the budget proposed for Prince
Edward County there is an item of
S270O00, which it is expected will pro-
vide scholarships of 500 for every child
attending a private school Within the
county. These funds will be available
under an ordinance to be adopted by
the governing board for uniform dis
tribution
School Tuition
Following further the Virginia con-
cept of private nonsectarian schools,
The Prince Edward School Foundation
will charge a tuition for the 196O-61
session of $4,000 for elementary edu-
cation and $265.0O for secondary edu-
cation in its private schools.
These tuition charges are based on
tho Onprafi0pol b,Jfro% H. 49,