The Farmville herald. (Farmville, Va.) 1957-current, 1960-04-29

day night came as surprise. The board
has been under considerable pressures
since 1851, when Prince Edward County
was catapulted into the movement for
racial Indignation. For some reason the
school system of this county was chosen
for attack on the constitutionality Of
separate schools for the white and
colored races Since that that time the
board has been harassed by court pro-
ceedings.
In 1854, the board came under orders
Of the U. S. Supreme Court and for six
years has labored under duress. Under
ordinary circumstances service on a
school board is complicated and diff
ficult with experiences of financial
personnel and public relations pro
blems. Add to that the legal maze
of uncertainty of court decisions and
definite reactions of the public there
comes time of Illustration.
From the report submitted to the
public by the school board it would
appear to us that this is the position
in which these members of this board
believed themselves.
May we say in all sincerity that the
members of this board deserve the warm
appreciation of the people of the county
for their unselfish service during a
trying period. In certain instances we
have disagreed with their judgment but
we have acknowledged their sincerity.
The continuing service of Leigh Dis
trict Representative George w. Palmer
is to be highly commended. He con-
tinues to represent his people and is
willing to search for a solution of the
present problems.
Prince Edward people charted a
course in 1854 following the u S. Su-
preme Courts May II decision when the
Board of Supervisors resolved that
this decision is to the detriment of pub
lie education in Virginia and an invas-
ion of the rights of the citizens of the
Commonwealth, and further, that this
board is unalterably opposed to the
operation Of non-segregated schools in
the Commonwealth of Virginia" Dur
ing the intervening years this board has
maintained its original position, with
the expressed approval of the majority
of people in the county. Neither the
people nor the governing board has
veered from this original position.
Really, this board has in effect inter
posed the power and rights of Prince
Edward county in protecting the people,
both white and Negro, from an unten-
able position created by the decisions of
the courts and their orders to the Prince
Edward School Board.
Circumscribed by legal uncertainties,
neither the school board nor the board
of supervisors was free to act in ways
which might have brought a more pre-
manent program for universal education
within the county.
Faced with racialy integrated
schools in June 1859, the governing
board withheld county financial sup
pun IIoiIl Vic puDllC SCHOOlS system.
Such was not unexpected. Federal Judge
Sterling Hutchinson recognized the sit
uation and made judicial decision in
1868. which was reversed when the 4th
Circuit Court of APPEALS ordered, in
effect, forced racial integration in the
schools of the county as of September
1859. Negro leaders said publicly that
attempts to place Negro youngsters in
the schools would be made. Legal pro-
cedures and court orders in cases in
Arlington, Warren County and parti-
cularly Norfolk, which forced inte-
grafton in midterm, left the Prince
Edward governing board no choice in
withholding county funds from public
schools. Opinions to the contrary can not
be substantiated especially in light of
the Fourth District court denying a