EWP Grey Commission 015

Title

Place

Virginia

Identifier

1000586

Is Version Of

1000586_EWP_Grey_Commission_015.jpg

Is Part Of

Uncategorized

Date Created

2024-01-07

Format

Jpeg Image

Number

c343225e038d2a62623b71312608129ff1a0a31e2101e8aec59054ff3e794380

Source

/Volumes/T7 Shield/EWP/Elements/EWP_Files/Access Files/Upload temp/1000586_EWP_Grey_Commission_015.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/Grey_Commission/EWP_Grey_Commission_015.jpg

extracted text

APPENDIX II
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, JUNE 10, 1955.

To: ;
HONORABLE THOS. B. STANLEY, Governor of Virginia

The Commission in its report to Your Excellency, dated January 19,
1955, stated that it would explore avenues toward formulation of a pro-
gram, within the framework of law, designed to prevent enforced integra-
tion of the races in the public schools of Virginia. In furtherance of that
aim, counsel, working closely with the undersigned, the full Commission,
the executive committee, a committee of attorneys conmsisting of three
members of the Commission and many others, has studied and evaluated
various plans and programs of suggested legislation and has now reached
some general conclusions.

By necessity no plan or program could be evolved until the final de-
cision of the Supreme Court of the United States was rendered. This was
done on May 31, 1955, and, at the request of Your Excellency, the under-
signed called a meeting of the Commission on June 8, 9 and 10 for the
specific purpose of considering the effects of the Supreme Court’s latest
enunciation concerning the public school system in Virginia.

Throughout its deliberations the Commission has been fully conscious
that one of the most important functions of State and local government
is the education of our youth. It has been at all times guided by the

~ realization that education for the children of this State is of paramount

consideration.

The plans the Commission has under consideration, necessitated by
the decisions of the Supreme Court of the United States, require numerous,
involved and complex changes in the present laws of Virginia. Such
changes relate to the State Board of Education, local school boards, appro-
priations by local tax levying bodies, the employment of teachers, their
tenure in office and retirement, distribution of school funds by the State,
and other related matters. No political subdivision of Virginia can initiate
a system designed to achieve an orderly and equitable adjustment con-
sistent with law before the enactment of appropriate legislation by the
General Assembly and the formulation and application of local policy
thereunder. The Court in its opinion of May 31, 1955, recognized that a
variety of obstacles would have to be eliminated before any transition
could be had to a school system operated in accordance with its views. The
responsibility for assessing and solving these problems was placed on the
school authorities. In Virginia the public schools are the creature of law
and operate as a joint State and local responsibility. Time and exhaustive
study are required for the formulation and enactment of legislation if the
interest and welfare of the pupils of both races, the protection of the status
of the teachers, and the financial problems involved are to receive con-
structive attention. Hasty action could well result in the serious impair-
ment or destruction of the public school system. This should be as obvious
to all who have carefully considered the problem confronting the State

and the localities, as it is to the Supreme Court of the United States itself.

Because of the many complex statutory changes involved and the
necessity to consider many of them in the light of the Constitution of
Virginia, it has not yet been possible for the Commission to work out

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