EWP 1.4.2 Yr 1955 Gray Comn Dec 11001

Title

Place

Virginia

Identifier

1000481

Is Version Of

1000481_EWP_Gray_Comn_1955_Dec_11001.jpg

Is Part Of

Uncategorized

Date Created

2024-01-07

Format

Jpeg Image

Number

ab3c4c7e6b7203518bd9160ab85b7892cc7dc1fd18acc775c76c64f6e92ccd28

Source

/Volumes/T7 Shield/EWP/Elements/EWP_Files/Access Files/Upload temp/1000481_EWP_Gray_Comn_1955_Dec_11001.jpg

Publisher

Digitized by Edwin Washingon Project

Rights

Loudoun County Public Schools

Language

English

Replaces

/Volumes/T7 Shield/EWP/Elements/EWP_Files/source/Ingest One/1 Civil Rights/integration_folder/Constitutional_Convention/EWP_Gray_Comn_1955_Dec_11001.jpg

extracted text

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: 12/11/55
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON THE GRAY COMMISSION REPORT

Does the Gray Commission report recommend, or suggest that the Virginia
public school system be abolished?

No. The Supreme Court decision of May 17, 1954 resulted in such an im-
pact on the public school system of Virginia that its very existence in
certain areas was threateneds The Gray Commission recognizes the vary-
ing conditions throughout the Commonwealth by giving the greatest amount
of local option to meet these conditions, It recognizes the Supreme
Court decision by permitting school integration in communities that
choose that course, but prevents enforced integration,

The Virginia Constitution, Sec. 129, specifically requires “the Gen—
eral Assembly to establish and maintain public free schools throughout
the State. The Gray Report recommending the constitutional convention
limits the action that can be taken by the constitutional convention so
that such a convention could not even consider repeal or amendment of
Secs 129 of the State Constitution,

Do the recommendations of the Gray Report defy the Supreme Court decision
of May 17, 19547 .

No. The Commission, early in its dellbefations, stated that it would for-
mulate a plan within the framework of law, designed to prevent enforced in-

tegration of the races in the public schools of Virginia,

Is the Assignment plan recommended by the Commission in conflict with the
Supreme Court decision?

No. Under the Plan, the assignment of pupils is not based on race, but
gives the widest discretion to the local school board, based on: (a) a-
vailability of facilities; (b) health; (c) aptitude of the child; and (d)
availability of transportation,

Here is the statement of Judge Parker, speaking for the 3-judge court
under whose jurisdiction the Supreme Court decree is to be administered as
to "what the Supreme Court has decided and what it has not decided in the
case"; .
"It has not decided," Judge Parker said, "that the Federal courts are
to take over or regulate the public schools of the states. It has not de-
cided that the states must mix persons of different races in the schools,
or must require them to attend schools, or must deprive them of the right
of choosing the schools they attend.

"What it has decided, and all that it has decided, is that a state
may not deny to any person on account of race the rlght to attend any
school that it maintains."

How does the Assignment plan operate?

Schools would open next September with pupils attending substantially the
same schools as heretofore., After such assignment, any parent or guardian
who objects to the assignment of his child to a particular school, has the
right to make application within 15 days to request transfer to a different
school, Such request must contain the specific reasons why the child should
not attend the school assigned and the specific reasons why the child should

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