The Farmville herald. (Farmville, Va.) 1957-current, 1962-12-14
DR.. Allen Discusses
School Situation

The Farmville Herald,
Your mastery editorial In
Answer to a Letter" presents a
very strong case for the present
mcompromising closed school
in this County. However,
the issues are SO grave that GER
tain questions as to the premises
behind the. argument need to be
faced.
First. did the Negro parents
in the County in December>1959
and July 1860 have a live option?
A live option would have been one
that IT. promised reasonably
good schooling for all their child
rem; ~ did not impose too great
an economic burden upon them;
80 set forth clear and we'll pub
liciZed conditions; (4) gave some
promise Of the eventual reStora-
ton Of their right to a free public
school education which my po-
litical science friends tell me is
a constitutional right in Virginia.
Until it can be shown that some
such safeguards were offered,
it may be wiser not to say that
the majority Of Negro parents
have forfeited their control in
the school situation"
Second, is it certain that keep
ing the public schools closed is
the only alternative to integral
ed public schools" in Prince Ed
ward County? Or to put it the
other way is it not possible to
preserve the right of the white
people to a superior education
al milieu for their children (by
continuing the Prince Edward
Academy and afford to the Ne
gro pupils the educational oppor-
tunity which they so desperately
need in today'S world? Educators
and P. T. A. Leaders who advoc-
ate this concede that it will be
more costly but contend that
it is a more equitable policy and
that it can be financed perhaps
as some say 10y broadening the
tax base so that, as in some
Southern states, the Negroes con-
tribute more to the cost of edu-
cation. Whatever the difficulties.
if there is such a third alter
native it deserves our closest
scrutiny.
Third, do the errors and Unjust
ices OF our opponents prove that
our position is logically sound
and morally irreproachable - if
we are honest, we will admit
that our strange delay in equaliz-
ing educational facilities in the
before World War II
When the ratio Of school expendi-
ture for the average white pupil
was three or four times that Of
the average Negro pupil, may
well have given the provocation
for the NAACP and their unWise-
~ focused zeal. Such being the
case, may it not be more fitting
for us to refrain from the reiter-
alton OF impatient. even if natural
accusations until We have put our
own house in order? AS to the
many pressure groups" to which
your editorial refers, this may in
deed steel us to heroic resist
ance but, on the other hand. it
may give us pause. Why is it.
Tor example, that the pressure
comes not only from the federal
courts and liberal organizations
out from religious groups If
tmS refers to the leaders of al
most all the Protestant deuomi-
nations, perhaps we should listen
carefully first, even if we dis
sent. For they are not saying.
II l understand them, that segre
gatlOn is per Sc unChristian lit
IS practlced in the Churches).
what they are saying is that if
any specific form Of segregation
is Ted to unjust discrimination
or denial OF rights, it cannot have
tne sanction of the Christian
Church. For. they say, God Is
no respector Of persons or races.
but in His holy compassion de-
slres the fullest self-realization
OF all His children equally.
Finally. what is the thigh le-
gal ground that we should take
towards the constitutional issues?
Is it that we have violated no law
thus far and are to this extent in
an unassailable position? Or is
1t that we have done our best to
put the spirit Of the United States
Constitution into effect in this
County : a spirit which bids US
seek equal opportunities for all
and the full safeguarding of the
rights CT minorities? James Madi
son. speaking for the Founding
Fathers, warned against suffer.
ing ourselves to be drawn into
any group that is so actuated by
a single passion for its own in
terests and rights as to become
blind TO those Of other groups or
Of the community as a whole.
Surely we do not need this warn
ing in this County. Yet is such
and insidious danger that We
might fall into when We are bust
est pointing the finger at others