The Farmville herald. (Farmville, Va.) 1957-current, 1963-09-06


County.
Prince Edward Foundation schools
have their expected enrolment and
classes are underway. These schools are
privately operated, financed by buttons
from patrons and scholarships, private
ly donated, which are used to relieve
the burdens Of worthy and needy pa
irons.
Prince Edward Free Schools expect
to open September 16. These schools,
privately financed, will be operated
without tuition charges under board
OF managers, composed of Virginia edu-
Gators, headed by former governor. Col
gate Darden. The schools will be hous-
ed in buildings, formerly used as public
schools for Negro citizens, and one
building, formerly used by white citi-
zens Lease Of the buildings was COM
pleted last Friday between the Prince
Edward School Board and the directors
of the Prince Edward Free School AS
sociation.
Extensive plans have been announc-
ed by DR.. Neil B. Sullivan, superinten-
dent, and it is sincerely hoped that the
school system will succeed during the
coming year. The task of setting up a
private school system within short
space of time is formidable, but with
the cooperation and assistance of the
people, is not insurmountable Coopera-
ton has come from many areas, but
none more than from the people Of
this county. Their actions show gen.
ulne interest in education Of its citi-
zens
1t must be remembered that similar
proposal was made by Southside
Schools, Inc. in 1859, which could have
saved the dearth of education for the
past four years for children of Negro
citizens.
BY cooperating in establishment Of
the Free School, Prince Edward has not
prejudiced its contention now before
the courts, namely, that the education
of children is the responsibility Of the
parents, and further, that a judicial
body has not the power to force legis-
lative body to levy taxes for purpose,
in this case for integrated schools, be-
lieved by the parents to be pernicious.
This position, taken by the citizens Of
the county and by the Board of Super
visors, has raised constitutional ques-
tions which must be decided by the
courts.
The Free School is supposedly of one
years duration, during which time it
is expected that the State and Federal
courts will have heard and decided the
issue, Upon the decision rests the future
control Of public schools throughout
the nation. and perchance the future
freedom of individual citizens 1t may
determine whether this nation will con-
tinue as representative republic, or
come under a judicial oligarchy.
Complicated legal questions now be-
fore the courts continue the uncertain
ties which have logged Prince Edward
County for the past nine years. The
status Of Prince Edward has been prob
lematical each year. with a different
set of circumstances each Of the nine
years, and federal court pressures for
the past four years.
Private schools for white pupils were
planned in 1855 by their parents. For
four years, legal maneuvering delayed
execution of private school plans, until
1859 when faced with pressures from
federal courts the people put into effect
the tentative four-year-old program.
Private schools have been successful
ly conducted. Graduates have made ex-
cellent records in colleges in seven
states. Though the physical facilities
have not been the most convenient, ex-
cellent education has been given bv a
corps of fine and dedicated teachers
Despite forewarnings and forebodings
from certain quarters, fine quality of
81, Loc ha la