Page 15 The Gray Commission Report continuation of Appendix I reinforces the Commission's assertion that a significant majority of Virginians oppose school integration, as evidenced by petitions, communications, and resolutions from local government bodies and organizations. It argues that integrating schools against public sentiment would destabilize or severely harm the public school system, particularly since local funding plays a major role in education in Virginia. The Commission concludes by committing to developing a legally viable strategy to prevent enforced integration while maintaining control over the state's education system.
Tag
Petitions opposing integration; integration would virtually destroy or seriously impair the public school system; support of the people who provide the revenues; public education is dependent upon local revenues; explore avenues toward formulation of a program; framework of the law; prevent enforced integration
organizations and associations of our citizens. Included in the latter
group are large and representative Statewide organizations. In addition,
the sentiment of a large number of individuals has been expressed through
the medium of petitions opposing integration.
The public hearing held in Richmond, the content of many communica-
tions to Your Excellency and to the Commission, conversations with the
people of this Commonwealth, and the actions taken by a majority of the
boards of supervisors of the counties, and by school boards and other
organizations, have convinced the Commission that the overwhelming
majority of the people of Virginia are not only opposed to integration
of the white and negro children of this State, but are firmly convinced
that integration of the public school system without due regard to the
convictions of the majority of the people and without regard to local con-
ditions, would virtually destroy or seriously impair the public system in
many sections in Virginia.
The welfare of the public school system is based on the support of
the people who provide the revenues which maintain it, and unless that
system is operated in accordance with the convictions of the people who
pay the costs, it cannot survive; and this is particularly true in Virginia
where a large percentage of the cost of public education is dependent
upon local revenues.
In view of the foregoing, I have been directed to report that the
Commission, working with its counsel, will explore avenues toward formula-
tion of a program, within the framework of law, designed to prevent en-
forced integration of the races in the public schools of Virginia.
