Evening star., 1963-01-30
BELVOIR


supposed to supply a school
for them on the base, a school
board spokesman said. The
base already has an integrated
elementary school, but has paid
the county to educate its
students beyond elementary
grades.
Under Mrs. Gertwagen's pro-
posal, assignment of the l3
Negro Belvoir students to Whit
man next fall would begin a
gradual process Of complete de-
segregation for Belvoir children
which in four years would place
all of them in the nearest
schools without regard to race.
When their intermediate school,
ing was finished, they would
move to the predominantly
white Mount Vernon High.
RibicOff Policy
There are 213 Negroes now
attending 33 predominantly
white schools in Fairfax
County. The integration has
come about principally through
individual applications of Negro
students to attend schools near
est their home. This is in line
with Virginia's assignment pro-
cedure, whereby children are
required to file applications for
transfer from one school to
another.
HEW's policy of seeing that
children on military bases are
not compelled to attend segre-
gated schools was enunciated
in March, 1861. by former HEW
Secretary Ribicoff. Officials
in 242 school districts where
children Of military personnel
still attend segregated classes
were reminded of the policy
again this year in a letter
pointing out that the plan
would become effective with
the beginning Of the 1963-64
school year.
John D. K. Smoot, the only
holdover member on the new
school board, called the pro-
posed Belvoir integration plan
an attempt at forced inte-
grafton"
Lining up against the move
with Mr.. Smoot, Board Mem
Der Howard Futch said that
to grant the special request
from Belvoir would be TO dis
criminate against our own
people in the county" Board
Member William Hoofnagle
also approved the motion.
When a poll disclosed the
board was tied, Chairman Eu-
gene Newman then cast the
final vote Of dissent. He ex-
planned Virginia has what he
considers "a sane and orderly
system" OF assigning pupils.
Supporting Mrs. Gartwagen's
motion were Kenneth Clark
and Mrs. Sarah Lahr, who
commented. II do not think
this Is an ideal solution, but it
is a workable compromise"
Following the decision, Mr..
Clark charged the board had
been derelict in its duty by not
adopting a stand earlier. The
rejection at this late date. he
said, leaves Federal authorities
lin a very difficult position"
In another development, the
board approved the assignment
OF a 7-year-old Negro boy to
the second grade at the Wood
burn Elementary School, which
already is integrated.
Criticism by Brault
The Fort Belvoir matter
came up today in a meeting
OF the Board OF County Super
visors, when Mr.. Brault un-
leashed his attack on "coali-
tion members" OF the board
who met secretly with the
School Board last week.
According to Mr.. Brault, he
and fellow supervisors Stuart
DeBell and John P. Parrish re-
fused to attend the executive
session.
How could a matter more
thoroughly and completely be
the sole responsibility OF the
School Board2" he demanded
Chairman A. Claiborne Leigh
defended the meeting among
School Board members. him
self. Mrs. wilkins, and Robert
Gotten. He said an exchange
Of information between the two
] hoarda m irnnprtapt toaNtnrw