1 20 53 https://projectdaps.org/files/original/fa7a79e87f479ccd4a50e7c2e378bf3f.pdf c326229b71403c339cf71f81dc736f24 PDF Text Text A B R I E F LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF THE C I V I L RIGHTS MOVEMENT IN ARLINGTON by K e v in S w e e n e y The c i v i l r i g h t s m o v e m e n t i n A r l i n g t o n i s a microcosm o f t h e n a t i o n a l s t r u g g l e f o r e q u a l i t y . De­ d ic a te d in d i v i d u a l s fought i n s t i t u t i o n a l s e g r e g a t i o n in th e co u rth o u se, in th e l e g i s l a t u r e , in th e v o tin g b o o th , i n th e s c h o o l s , and i n th e s t r e e t s . The a c ­ t i o n s o f t h o s e a c t i v i s t s h a s changed our community f o r t h e b e t t e r . R i g h t s which a r e now t ak en f o r g r a n t e d by a new g e n e r a t i o n w e r e a c h i e v e d t h r o u g h t h e s t e a d y , p e r s i s t e n t r e f u s a l o f many i n d i v i d u a l s i n c o u n t l e s s s i t u a t i o n s t o a c c e p t t h e s t a t u s quo. I t i s i m p o s s i b l e t o g i v e a f u l l p i c t u r e i n j u s t a few w o r d s , b u t h e r e a r e some h i g h l i g h t s o f t h e s t r u g g l e f o r e q u a l i t y . S e g r e g a t e d P u b l i c M e e t i n g s On O c t o b e r 2 8 , 1 9 5 7 M a r j o r i e T a y l o r was a r r e s t e d a t a p o l i t i c a l r a l l y and charged w ith v i o l a t i n g a s t a t e o rdinance e n a c te d in 1926 r e q u i r i n g s e g r e g a t e d s e a t i n g a t p u b l i c e v e n t s . Ms. T a y l o r w a s f o u n d g u i l t y a n d f i n e d . On J a n u a r y 13» 1958, a n A r l i n g t o n C i r c u i t J u d g e r u l e d t h a t t h e law d e p r i v e d Ms. T ay lo r o f h e r r i g h t o f l i b e r t y w i t h ­ o u t due p r o c e s s o f law and o v e r t u r n e d t h e c o n v i c t i o n . V o t i n g R i g h t s One o f t h e m o s t s u c c e s s f u l v o t e r reg istra tio n d riv es in th e co u n try in 1964 w as s p e a r h e a d e d l o c a l l y by t h e N o r t h e r n V i r g i n i a c h a p te r o f th e Congress o f R a cial E q u a lity . John R o b i n s o n , J r . , D a v id B. B r o o k s , and o t h e r s w o r k e d t i r e l e s s l y on t h e campaign. S h o r t l y b e f o r e t h e 1964 e l e c t i o n s , t h e A r l i n g t o n C ounty R e g i s t r a r s u d d e n ly c h a l l e n g e d 111 o f t h e new r e g i s t r a n t s . A h e a r i n g was sc h e d u l e d a t s h o r t n o t i c e w h ich co uld have r e s u l t e d i n p u r g i n g a l l o f them f ro m t h e r o l l s . I r a M. L e c h n e r , a t t o r n e y f o r CORE a t t h e h e a r i n g , c h a r g e d t h a t t h e a c t i o n was "an a t t e m p t t o g e t r i d of a l a r g e segm ent o f Negro v o t e r s , p e r h a p s a s an example t o o t h e r s . " On M a rch 2 4 , 19 66, t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s S u p r e m e C ourt i n v a l i d a t e d th e c l a s s i f i c a t i o n o f v o te r r e g i s t r a n t s an d v o t e r s i n f e d e r a l e l e c t i o n s on t h e b a s i s o f w h e t h e r o r n o t t h e y h ad p a i d a p o l l t a x . T h i s a c t i o n s p e c i f i c a l l y o v e r t u r n e d V i r g i n i a ’s p o l l tax. V i r g i n i a s u b s e q u e n t l y amended i t s l a w s t o p r o ­ v i d e f o r d u a l r e g i s t r a t i o n an d q u a l i f i c a t i o n o f v o te r s , a s a f u r t h e r a tte m p t to bar persons se ek in g to r e g is te r for s ta te electio n s. �PROGRAM W ELCOM E Susan Prokop DINNER INTRODUCTIONS Amy Bruno T ate AW ARDS Susan Prokop INTRODUCTION OF THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER Clyde S h o r t KEYNOTE SPEAKER Mr. J o s e p h L. Rauh, INTRODUCTION OF SPECIAL GUESTS Kevin Sweeney CLOSING REMARKS Clyde S h o r t MUSIC AND DANCING U n t i l 1:00 A M F l o r a l a r ra n g em en t d o n a t e d by W ilson’ s F l o r i s t s �P o r t i a H askins r e g i s t e r e d to v o te in f e d e r a l e l e c t i o n s . L a t e r , sh e p a i d t h e r e q u i r e d s t a t e p o l l ta x . S t a t e and l o c a l v o t i n g o f f i c i a l s s t i l l r e f u s e d t o p e r m i t h e r t o v o t e , c l a i m i n g t h a t she had f a i l e d t o r e g is te r se p ara te ly for s ta te e lectio n s. Ms. H as k in s ap p ealed . The U n ited S t a t e s D i s t r i c t Cou rt h e l d t h a t "no r a t i o n a l b a s i s e x i s t s " t o s u p p o r t such a s t a t u t e . E q u a l E m ploym ent D a v i d B r o o k s , CORE v i c e c h a i r m a n , c h a r g e d i n May, 1965 t h a t t h e c o u n t y g o v e rn m en t had f a i l e d to f u l f i l l i t s c i v i l r i g h t s o b l i g a t i o n s i n county h i r i n g s , p o i n t i n g t o t h e t o t a l a b s e n c e o f b l a c k s on t h e A r l i n g t o n p o l i c e f o r c e . At l e a s t tw o b l a c k s had a p p l i e d f o r p o s i t i o n s , b u t t h e y a p p a re n tly f a i l e d e i t h e r the e n tra n c e ex am inations or t h e backgr ou nd i n v e s t i g a t i o n , w hich d e te r m in e d w h e t h e r a p p l i c a n t s had a c r m i n a l r e c o r d o r " s o c i a l p roblem s". H o u sin g O p p o r t u n i t i e s On J u n e 22, 1 9 6 8 , t h e A r l i n g t o n County Board a d o p t e d an o r d in a n c e p a t t e r n e d a f t e r f e d e r a l la w w h i c h e s t a b l i s h e d a f i v e - m e m b e r F a i r H o u s in g B o a rd t o r e c e i v e and i n v e s t i g a t e c o m p l a i n t s by any p e r so n c l a i m i n g t o have been d e n i e d h o u s i n g on t h e b a s i s o f r a c e , c o l o r , r e l i g i o n , o r national orgin. C i v i c P a r t i c i p a t i o n As i n many o t h e r l o c a l i t i e s a c r o s s A m erica, n o n v io le n t d e m o n s tr a tio n s b ro u g h t a b o u t t h e d e a t h o f de f a c t o s e g r e g a t i o n . In p a r t i c u l a r , t h e A r l i n g t o n i a n f o r a B e t t e r County, l e d by A l l a n D ean , h ad i t s o r i g i n s i n t h e c i v i l r i g h t s m o v em en t o f t h e 1 9 5 0 's . The L e a g u e o f Women V o t e r s , u nder t h e s t e w a r d s h i p o f E l i z a b e t h Weihe, championed the r i g h t s o f m i n o r i t i e s to p a r t i c i p a t e f u l l y i n the p o l i t i c a l p ro c e s s . D em o n s tra tio n s r e s u lte d in th e i n t e g r a t i o n o f d r u g c o u n t e r s , m o v ie t h e a t e r s , a n d A rlin g to n H o sp ita l. E d u c a t i o n The Supreme C o u r t 's landm ark d e c i s i o n i n Brown v. B o a rd o f E d u c a t i o n o f Topek a on May 17, 1954 b e g a n t h e s t r u g g l e t o d e s e g r e g a t e A r l i n g t o n ' s pu b lic schools. At t h e t i m e o f t h e Brown d e c i s i o n , A r l i n g t o n had a p p r o x i m a t e l y 22,677 p u p i l s e n r o l l e d i n p u b lic sc h o o ls. Of t h o s e , 1 , 4 3 2 w e r e b l a c k . The County a d m i n i s t e r e d f o r t y s c h o o l s , f o u r o f which w ere s e t a p a r t f o r b l a c k s : Hoffm an-Boston, Drew-Kemper, and L an g sto n . Almost f i v e y e a r s o f " m a s s i v e r e s i s t a n c e " f o r c e d b a c k t h e t i d e o f c h a n g e i n A r l i n g t o n u n t i l 1959. S u p p o r t e r s o f i n t e g r a t i o n w ere com pelled t o b a t t l e t h e S t a t e and County go vernm ent e v e r y s t e p o f t h e way. I n �Arlington County Board DEMOCRATS Ellen Bozman John Milliken Mary Margaret Whipple Al Eisenberg salu te Arli ngton YOUNG DEMOCRATS And ■from our new esV uTWemW-s -for q I\ : bO t orV vr\ \AS3.W - A\ E\senberg �1956, a s u i t was f i l e d t o r e v e r s e t h e S ch o o l B o a rd 's p o lic y of r e fu s in g to ad m it b lack c h ild r e n to a l l w h ite schools. The S ch o o l Board moved t o d i s m i s s th e s u i t ; ho wever, F e d e r a l D i s t r i c t Judge Bryan, who h e a r d th e c a s e , n o t o nly r e f u s e d to d i s m i s s th e c a s e , b ut i s s u e d a n o r d e r p r o h i b i t i n g t h e S c h o o l B o a r d f ro m r e f u s i n g t o a d m i t c h i l d r e n t o any p u b l i c sc h o o l on t h e b a s i s o f r a c e , e f f e c t i v e J a n u a r y 31» 1 9 5 7 f o r e l e m e n t a r y s c h o o l s and S ep tem b er, 1957 f o r j u n i o r and s e n i o r h ig h s c h o o l s . I n h i s o p i n i o n , Ju d g e Bryan s t a t e d t h a t Brown v. B o a rd o f E d u c a t i o n h o l d s t h a t "no c h i l d s h o u l d be d e n i e d a d m i s s i o n t o a s c h o o l on t h e b a s i s o f r a c e o r c o lo r." The c o u r t o f a p p e a l s u p h e l d t h e r u l i n g , f i n d i n g t h a t i n t h e two y e a r s s i n c e t h e Supreme Cou rt r u l i n g , " t h e b o a r d s o f e d u c a t i o n h av e t a k e n no s t e p s t o w a r d s rem oving t h e r e q u i r e m e n t o f s e g r e g a t i o n i n t h e s c h o o l s " , and t h a t t h e S ch o o l Board’s a c t i o n "was n o t t h e ' d e l i b e r a t e s p e e d ' i n c o m p l y i n g w i t h t h e l a w ... b u t was a c l e a r m a n i f e s t a t i o n o f an a t t i t u d e o f in t r a n s i g e n c e ." H o w e v e r , t h e V i r g i n i a A s s e m b l y e r e c t e d a new b a r r i e r t o sc h o o l d e s e g r e g a t i o n . The P u p i l P l a cem en t A c t , e n a c t e d i n 1956, r e q u i r e d p u p i l s a p p l y i n g t o a p a r t i c u l a r p u b lic sc h o o l f o r th e f i r s t tim e , or g r a d u a t i n g t o a new p u b l i c s c h o o l , t o a p p l y t o t h e " P u p i l P la c e m e n t Board" f o r e n r o l l m e n t . On t h e f i r s t d a y o f c l a s s e s i n S e p t e m b e r , 195 7, s e v e n b l a c k c h ild re n sought e n ro llm e n t in v ario u s w h ite -o n ly schools. Of t h e s e se v en c h i l d r e n , on ly George Nelson had c o m p l e t e d t h e P u p i l P l a c e m e n t f o r m s . The P u p i l P la c e m e n t B oard a s s i g n e d G eorge to H o ffm a n -B o sto n , w h i c h w as s i x m i l e s f r o m h i s home, e v e n t h o u g h S t r a t f o r d J r . Hig h w a s o n l y o n e - h a l f m i l e f r o m h i s door . Ju d g e Bryan, who r u l e d t h a t "the o n ly g round, a s i d e from p r o v i s i o n s o f t h e P la c e m e n t A ct, f o r th e r e j e c t i o n o f th e p l a n t i f f s was t h a t th e y w ere o f th e N eg ro r a c e . " Ju d g e Bryan o r d e r e d t h a t County o f f i c i a l s comply w i t h t h e law and a d m i t t h e b l a c k s t u d e n t s on S ep tem b er 2 3 , 1957. H o w ev er, t h e C o u n t y a u t h o r i t i e s a p p e a l e d , s t a y i n g t h e a d m i s s i o n o f t h e s t u d e n t s u n t i l t h e S ch o o l Board c o n s i d e r e d t h e i r a p p l i c a t i o n s . U l t i m a t e l y , s c h o o l o f f i c i a l s c o n s i d e r e d an d r e j e c t e d th e a p p l i c a t i o n s of t h i r t y c h i l d r e n fo r t r a n s f e r t o w h i t e s c h o o l s , based upon f i v e c r i t e r i a , i n c l u d i n g " A d a p t a b i l i t y " . Once a g a i n , t h e s t u d e n t s a p p e a l e d , and once a g a i n , Ju d g e Bryan h e a r d t h e c a s e . �S ^ x /i/z^ /csv ^/accn^y ^ efrio cx a /A /; Waco t/l& O ^ £ /l& 0 ^ C U f-/^ y { ^eAl^l/Z/AAeAs■ qjo j.98M, ^! HARRIS MILLER P a id f o r b y H a r r i s M ille r f o r C o n g r e s s C o m m itte e �Oh S e p t e m b e r 17, 1958, he handed down h i s r u l i n g : fo u r o f t h e s t u d e n t s , R o n a ld D e s k i n s , M i c h a e l G. J o n e s , L ance Newman, and G l o r i a Thompson would be p e r m i tt e d t o a t t e n d S t r a t f o r d J r . High. All f o u r were e n t e r i n g t h e s e v e n t h g r a d e , an d a l l f o u r w ere r e j e c t e d on t h e s o l e b a s i s o f " a d a p t a b i l i t y " . Sad ly, f i v e s t u d e n t s o f t h e o r g i n i a l se v en whose t r a n s f e r s had been ord ere d by J u d g e Bryan t h e p r e v i o u s y ear u l t i m a t e l y found t h e i r ap plications rejected . On J a n u a r y 2 3 , 1959, t h e U. S. C o u r t o f A p p e a l s u p h e l d J u d g e B r y a n , b u t t h e S ch o o l Boa rd s t i l l v o t e d to se ek postp o n em en t. The v o t e was 3 - 1 ; Ja m e s S t o c k a r d , t h e l o n e d i s s e n t i n g v o i c e on t h e Boa rd t o c o n t i n u e d s e g r e g a t i o n sin c e th e m id-5 0's , s t a t e d t h a t " i t w o u l d b e a w a s t e o f t a x p a y e r s ' money t o c o n t i n u e t o f i g h t w h a t b o t h t h e s t a t e and F e d e r a l c o u r t s h ave d e c l a r e d t o be t h e l a w o f t h e l a n d , " an d t h a t f u r t h e r d elay c o u l d " l e a d t o n e e d l e s s t e n s i o n s and u n c e r t a i n t i e s am on g A r l i n g t o n c i t i z e n s " . The b o a r d m a j o r i t y s t a t e d t h a t i t "recognized t h a t th e g r e a t m a j o r i t y o f V i r g i n i a n s and A r l i n g t o n i a n p r e f e r s e g r e g a t e d s c h o o l s " . The Board's appeal was d enied by C h i e f J u s t i c e Warren. The " m a s s i v e r e s i s t a n c e " l a w s , e n a c t e d i n t h e 1 9 5 0 ' s , h u n g o m i n o u s l y o v e r t h e e v e n t s o f t h e day. A c c o r d in g t o i t s p r o v i s i o n s , a s t a t e o f f i c e r could c l o s e a p u b l i c s c h o o l , and on Ja nuary 11, 1958, Gover­ n o r J . L i n d s a y Almond an n o u n ced t h a t no i n t e g r a t i o n w o u l d o c c u r i n V i r g i n i a . And I n d e e d , t h e G o v e r n o r c l o s e d s i x s c h o o l s i n N o r f o l k on S e p t e m b e r 2 7 , 1958. H o w e v e r , f o l l o w i n g Ju d g e B r y a n 's o r d e r t o a d m i t t h e f o u r s t u d e n t s t o S t r a t f o r d J r . High, b o th th e Supreme C o u r t o f V i r g i n i a and a t h r e e - j u d g e p a n e l o f t h e F e d e r a l D i s t r i c t Court ru le d the m assive r e s i s t a n c e s t a t u t e s i n v a l i d i n s e p a r a te d e c i s i o n s on Ja n u a ry 19, 1 9 5 9 , c l e a r i n g t h e way f o r s c h o o l d e s e g r e g a t i o n i n A rlin g to n . F e b r u a r y 2 , 1959 was s e t a s t h e f i r s t day o f s c h o o l a t S t r a t f o r d f o r Lance Newman, Ron D e s k i n s , M i c h a e l J o n e s , an d G l o r i a Thompson. Over 85 p o l i c e o f f i c e r s , more th a n h a l f of th e e n t i r e A r lin g to n f o r c e , a s s e m b l e d a t th e school i n r i o t g ear. No major i n c i d e n t s o c c u r r e d , altho ugh a f a l s e bomb t h r e a t was r e c o r d e d , a n d tw o b o y s th r e w a f i r e c r a c k e r f ro m a t h i r d f l o o r bathr oo m window. The c h i l d r e n were d riv en t o sc hool as a s e c u r i t y p r e c a u t i o n , and th ey were c a r e f u l l y g u ided from c l a s s t o c l a s s t h r o u g h o u t t h e day. When t h e s c h o o l day �en d ed , M ichael J o n e s s a i d u s u a l " dayj Ron D e s k l n s " s o r t Th o m p so n r e p o r t e d t h a t s h e o l a s e s b e c a u s e o f t h e immense t h a t he had "a kind of o f l i k e d i t " , an d G l o r i a h ad b e e n l o s t b e t w e e n siz e o f the build in g . The d e s e g r a t i o n o f S t r a t f o r d J u n i o r H ig h was on ly a b e g i n n i n g i n w h a t p r o v e d t o be a l o n g s t r u g g l e , w hich has n o t ended, to a c h ie v e i n t e g r a t i o n i n th e C ounty s c h o o l s . F u r t h e r r e m n a n t s o f s e g r e g a t i o n to f a l l b e f o r e t h e m ar ch o f p r o g r e s s i n c l u d e d s e g r e g a t e d s p o r t i n g e v e n t s (1 961), s o c i a l a c t i v i t i e s ( 1 9 6 2 ), and sc h o o l p e rs o n n e l (1963). I n 1 9 6 4 , t h e S c h o o l B o a rd t e r m i n a t e d t h e s e n i o r h i g h program a t H o ffm an -B o s to n f o r t h e 1964-1965 a c a d e m ic y e a r and t r a n s f e r r e d th e a f f e c t e d s t u d e n t s to o t h e r C ounty s c h o o l s ; i n a d d i t i o n , t h e Board r e d r e w p o r t i o n s o f t h e new sch o o l attendance a rea zones to p e r m i t f u r t h e r i n t e g r a t i o n . As a memorand um p r e p a r e d by t h e S u p e r i n t e n d e n t o f S c h o o l s i n 1964 s t a t e d , " [ a s s i g n m e n t o f p u p i l s i n t h e A r l i n g t o n C o u n ty P u b l i c S c h o o l s w i l l c o n t i n u e t o be d e t e r m i n e d on t h e b a s i s o f ' g e o g r a p h i c d i s t r i c t ' an d not w ith regard to race." Contributors to this article included: E l l e n Bozman James Gee O liver H ill M ic h ael J o n e s I r a Lechner Mary M a r s h a l l Spot sw ood R o b in so n Ja m es S t o c k a r d S . W. T u c k e r Olympic 4E^§porting G oods University Shopping Center • Fairfax, Virginia • 273-0898 Springfield Mall • Springfield. Virginia • 922-9089 Adidas Shop • Skyline Mall • Haileys Xroads, Va • 671-1951 Tennis Shop • Skyline Mall • Haileys Xroads. Va. • 820-4100 Smallwood Village Center • St. Charles, Mary land • 843-8787 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource RG 94, Arlingtonians for a Better County (ABC) Organizational Records Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource A Brief Look at the History of the Civil Rights Movement in Arlington by Kevin Sweeny Description An account of the resource 4 page document discussing the national civil rights movement and the struggle for desegregation in Arlington. Backs of pages include a program of a dinner and dance, a salute of the Arlington Young Democrats by the Arlington County Board Democrats, and an advertisement for Harris Miller for Congress. 8 pages. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource No date Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource pdf Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived RG 94, Arlingtonians for a Better County (ABC) Organizational Records Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Unknown Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant unknown Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource This image is subject to copyright. Unauthorized use of the images in the Local History Collections of the Arlington Community Archives is prohibited. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 94_16_8_53 https://projectdaps.org/files/original/07586d6bf51f76cd0980ed55455ca97f.pdf d441bd6810ec7b41e8b91706394e6b4f PDF Text Text MORE CIVILIZATION OR BACK TO THE JUNGLE. FOREVER /O ofo Icro't&C r& WHITE • BLACK CREATIVE INTELLIGENCE IS IN THE W H I T E BLOOD-- A MINORITY* SEGREGATE THE NEGRO OR LOSE THE WHITE BLOOD FOREVER ~Y> T H E K I S S OF DEATH Re#rie7n$&t, S'ndca, The American mind is weakening. It is not as sound as 20 years ago. Selfishness, greed and easy living are doing the job. We look frantically around for R ussian sp ies, believing that R ussia will attack us with armies. To us everything is material. In the meantime Russia is laughing. She has a more deadly weapon than the atomic bomb. She knows our strength is in our White stock and that when she has mixed our blood with negro that we are licked forever. While R ussia makes laws to protect herself, she con­ tinues to prod us to accept 16,000,000 negroes as social equals and we are doing everything possible to please her. Radio announcers beg us to do th is for strength and unity...Is India strong and united? She once had a White race. Every American who by word or deed helps Russia further this plan of race destruction is a traitor to kind and country. Negro blood destroyed the civilization of Egypt, India Phoenicia, Carthage, Greece and Rome. The Russians regard every negro in our midst as a weapon more deadly than the atomic bomb. Segregation is the law of God, not man, and is observed thru the whole animal kingdom. It is the cornerstone of all civilization. It protects all life on our planet. It made America great. Break it down and you break down our society. Nature it was who gave the White man the brains to make the machine. If she had wanted the negro and Asiatic to enjoy this machine civilization as an equal she would have given him the intelligence to create the machine. Her method of control among animals is to cur­ tail the intellect. The Asiatic and negro are living on lend-lease civili­ zation. Without the White support these people take their rightful place and are no longer a menace. Continue to rob the White race in order to bribe the A siatic and negro and these people will overwhelm the White race and de­ stroy all progress, religion, invention, art, and return us to the jungle. Preserve the White stock and you preserve the Christian way and the good life. Does a rose garden scatter weed seeds in its bed because God made weed seeds? Maybe God wanted to see if we had sense enough to know what to do under the circumstances. Pressure creates mind. Nature’s ways are not easy ways. Only the weak and decadent must have an easy solution. The solution of complete disappearance. We should begin by getting our minds back. Tell the R ussians we are White and intend to stay White and pro­ tect our civilization and our country. The Russians know what the negro is and that he is death to everything. While negroes are multiplying by leaps and bounds, we are persecuting our White stock for trying to protect and preserve its White blood. We a r e accepting the most deadly thing about Communism, the negro, in order to fight Communism. Our first move s h o u l d be to quit sending American treasure to Asia or Africa or any colored race. Help all White people anywhere including the Germans who are our own kind. Help preserve the White blood which is a minority stock. If we would do this we would recover our sanity and lose our fear. We s till have time to save ourselves from Russian prop­ aganda and the fate of India. Remember Christianty would not live 50 years among negroes and Chinese. Remember civilization would not survive if the White man is de­ stroyed. Remember the White stock is the minority race and that the colored people far out-number and out breed the White man. Remember, mixing White children with negroes is a form of insanity. It takes the form of reli­ gion, democracy, brotherhood, etc. It is a pollution com­ plex directed from Moscow. Remember discrimination is not a sin - . It is a sign of Mind of God working thru man to protect what is good. A discriminating person is an intelligent person. Remember the White man is making his la st s t a n d and that he has been overwhelmed by trash more than once and it is what you do and say as an individual that may determine his future forever, for even God cannot turn a negro into a White man again for God follows inevitable laws of kind making kind. In the meantime our courts, churches, newspapers, and radios are helping R ussia in her deadly w o r k of destroying America - or anything that is worth saving in America. © W. Wolfe Negro B lood D estroyed the C iv iliz a tio n of E gyp t, India, P h o e n ic ia , C arth age, G reece and Rome. It w ill D estroy A m erica! 5<t p e r c o p y National Citizens Protective Association 3154a S. Grand or P. O. Box 156, St. Louis, Mo. 50 for $ 1 . 0 0 � https://projectdaps.org/files/original/ac4544f6a6d76398c6dcb87c1b78e0b4.jpg 5512da8ac75870ee32da33820436eb90 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource RG 94, Arlingtonians for a Better County (ABC) Organizational Records Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource The Kiss of Death Description An account of the resource Pro-Segregation literature on the basis of anti-Russian American identity and white supremacy Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource No date Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource pdf Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived RG 94, Arlingtonians for a Better County (ABC) Organizational Records Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource National Citizens Protective Association Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant unknown Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource This image is subject to copyright. Unauthorized use of the images in the Local History Collections of the Arlington Community Archives is prohibited. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 94_16_8_52 https://projectdaps.org/files/original/d9cbf6b93bfa0915a11b771688faeb29.pdf 50cd040042694bbb1e6b0941fc434b4a PDF Text Text r I W hat are the facts about in tegration and ■ A rlington schools? The Supreme Court’s decision out­ lawing segregation in public schools has made integration a legal question, not a political one. A rlington’s School Board members take an oath to support both the Consti­ tution of the U nited States and the laws of Virginia. Thus Board members, no m atter who they are, m ust a t present follow State rulings requiring segrega­ tion. When those rulings are set aside by the V irginia legislature or by a fed­ eral court (as eventually they undoubt­ edly will be in accordance w ith the Supreme Court’s decision), School Board members m ust then comply w ith the order to desegregate no m a tter what their personal w ishes m ig h t he. The only alternative would be abandon­ ment of public schools— a course both CONVENTION and A.I.M. candidates have promised to reject. And if the State of V irginia should g ran t to the counties local option on integration, any school board th a t a t ­ tempted to continue segregation w ould quickly be forced by Federal c o u rt order to change its ways. Thus when political candidates pretend th a t they can preserve seg reg a­ tion in Arlington’s public schools, come w hat may, they are try in g to deceive the public fo r political purposes. C onvention C a n d id a tes----------------------------------------------------- CONVENTION CANDIDATES promise a calm, intelli­ gent approach to integration, with careful planning and w ith­ out hysteria. 2 W ho are the friends of good schools in ■ Arlington? --------------C on ven tion C a n d id ates------------------------------------------------------ CONVENTION CANDIDATES and their supporters are the people who for eight years have led the fight for b e tte r _ schools in Arlington. They are the people who pounded pave­ ments to get bond issues passed . . . who urged higher te ac h ers’ salaries and kindergartens. CONVENTION CANDIDATES believe in attack in g p ro b ­ lems—not schools. i �On th e other h a n d . . . A.I.M. supporters are the same people who fought against letting A r­ lington citizens elect th e ir own school board. A.I.M. leaders b itterly opposed bond issues for new school buildings even though school population was sky­ rocketing. One of the present A.I.M. candidates for County Board signed the unfair and misleading A rlington Ridge Report th a t helped trick voters into killing the 1950 school bond issue. When voters saw w h at had happened, they turned around and approved the bonds some m onths later. In the m ean­ time rising costs had increased the bill to the taxpayers by a half million dollars! A.I.M. members on th e County Board have for three stra ig h t years slashed school budgets so sharply th a t essential school program s were dam­ aged and school book rentals became necessary. A.I.M. County Board members have twice killed kindergartens for A rlington despite strong popular de­ mand for them. A.I.M. backers filed repeated law suits against the elected School Board, holding up sale of badly needed bonds. A.I.M. leaders have made numer­ ous personal attacks on adm inistrators, teachers, and School Board in an a t­ tem pt to undermine public confidence in the schools. Three of A.I.M.’s most prominent leaders went to Richmond last year to tell Governor Stanley that “A rlington schools are rotten from the ground up!” -------------- C o n v en tio n C a n d id a te s------ I t would be folly fo r A rlington to tu rn its schools over to these dem onstrated enemies, when CONVENTION CANDI­ DATES will continue the fine program th a t has brought such good schools to Arlington. 3 Are A rlington Schools rea lly ed u catin g ■ our children? The answer is yes! • GOOD TEACHERS make good schools. Arlington has the best edu­ cated and most experienced teaching staff in the W ashington m etropolitan area. This year’s new teachers have been drawn from 125 colleges and uni­ versities in 39 states, attracted by our g reatly improved salaries and fine teaching conditions. A very high pro­ portion (one-third) have m aster’s de­ grees ; a negligible number are non­ degree. • CLASS SIZE in A rlington is one of the sm allest in the Metropolitan area. H alf-day sessions and over-crowded rooms are things of the past. This means more individual instruction. • EQ U IPM EN T needed by good teachers to do the best job is widely available. Libraries? One in every school; a few years ago no elementary school had one. Modern laboratories for science classes have all been equipped since the elected school board took office eight years ago. �• FU N D A M ENTA L SK ILLS are the h eart of A rlington’s well-rounded school program. N ational achievement tests show A rlington students substan­ tially above national averages in read­ ing, arithm etic, spelling, and language skills. T h ird g r a d e r s , f o r ex a m p le , showed alm ost a full year ahead of the national average in the m ost recent California Achieve­ ment Test. And 8th graders in the m ost recent te st by the V irginia State D epartm ent of Education showed reading skill equivalent to 10th grade level. Reading in all grades in the last four years has shown steady im provem ent on all achievement tests. • EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN are ta u g h t in special classes, groups, and schools to give them m axim um ad ­ vantages and to let te ach ers an d pupils in regular classes to th e ir b e st w ork. • GOOD A M E R IC A N C IT IZ E N ­ SHIP and m oral and sp iritu a l values are stressed by our te a c h e rs b o th in classroom procedure and in academ ic subjects. • SCH O LA RSH IPS w o rth n e a r ly $183,000 from 67 of th e finest u n iv er­ sities and colleges in V irginia an d th e nation were won by A rlington seniors last spring. • COLLEGES now g et two o u t of every three A rlington high school g ra d ­ uates. An overwhelming num ber of re­ ports show th a t our students are m ak­ ing honor roll. How can A rlington end p o litica l favoritism ? In the three years A.I.M. has con­ trolled the County Board, it has sh a t­ tered the M aster Zoning Plan designed to protect residential neighborhoods from encroachm ent by apartm ents and commercial buildings. Prom inent backers of A.I.M. re­ peatedly have been granted spot zonin g s d e s p ite h e a v y p r o te s t fro m citizens. When the Planning Commis­ sion refused to go along w ith such political zonings the A.I.M. Board scuttled it. And when citizens overflowed the courthouse to present th e ir case, the A.I.M. chairm an of the Board angrily told them : “This Board does not intend to be dictated to by mob rule!” On the other hand, when more than 1,000 citizens petitioned the Board for a use perm it to build a swimming pool in an undeveloped p a rt of the Donaldson Run area, the A.I.M. mem­ bers of the Board turned them down . . . because 44 citizens, including friends of A.I.M., objected. --------------C on ven tio n C a n d id a te s------- CONVENTION CANDIDATES pledge th a t they will do everything they can to end this government by the few fo r the few. �How can y o u g e t th e im proved streets, sid ew a lk s, ■ sew ers, g u tte r s, and other public serv ices you need? P rocrastination, inefficiency, and poor business judgm ent on the p a rt of th e A.I.M. County Board have delayed m any public improvements the voters w a n t and long since have approved. More than three-fourths of th a t money is still unused. Similarly almost threefourths of the storm sewer money ap­ proved in 1953 is still lying idle. R ig h t now $5,000,000 of bond money lies idle in banks, costing A r­ lington taxpayers $50,000 a year in interest, because the A.I.M. County B oard sold the bonds long before they had plans ready. Some of this bond money has been eating up interest charges for four years. Almost none of the 1954 bond money has yet been spent. Take highways, for example. In 1953 v o te rs a p p ro v e d “ u r g e n tly needed” road bonds w orth $1,720,000. Despite these facts, the A.I.M. Board now asks voters to approve a politically inspired bond issue of $3.5 million. Ju st as in the past, A.I.M. has made virtually no plans for these proj­ ects; the Board’s own Development Committee severely criticizes the pro­ posed bonds as “u nfortunate both as to content and tim ing.” C on ven tion C a n d id a te s ---------------------------------------------------- CONVENTION CANDIDATES feel th a t citizens should not be asked to vote more funds until the millions of dollars now on hand are p ut to work and until proper plans fo r fu tu re projects have been prepared. ■ W ho r e a lly sa v e s your tax dollar? “More fo r your tax dollar” . . . “Relief fo r hom eowners” . . . “Stabi­ lized tax es.” These have been A.I.M.’s prom ises fo r the la st three years. 2. In the same three years, A.I.M. has forced up personal p roperty taxes by 44%. Yet th is personal p roperty ta x on which A.I.M. relies so heavily is regarded by ta x experts as obsolete. B ut look a t th e record; I t bears unfairly on perm anent resi­ 1. The A.I.M.-eontrolled County dents because it is widely evaded by Board has in three years increased tran sien t residents. real estate taxes by 16%. �3. The A.I.M.-controlled Countylic Law 815 had kindergartens been ap ­ proved. Board killed kindergartens last spring 4. A.I.M. clings to outmoded an d to “save” $235,000. Yet th a t action unreasonably slow methods of stree t, lost A rlington County some $600,000 in sidewalk, gutter, and sewer co n stru c­ federal school construction funds th a t tion and repair, thus w asting ta x (according to Congressman Broyhill) would have been available under Pub­ money. C onven tion C andidates ----------------------------------------------------- CONVENTION CANDIDATES Kaul and K rupsaw prom ­ ise th a t if they are elected to the County Board th ey will do everything they can to . . . . . . curtail evasion of taxes by short-term residents. . . . take aggressive action to get g reater federal paym ents in lieu of taxes on the trem endous am ount of federal property in Arlington. . . . and make greater use of other revenue sources th a t do not bear so heavily on homeowners. ■ W hat do w e m ean b y " c o n flic t of in terest" ? Federal law prohibits men from holding office if their official decisions would be affected by private business connections. A conflict between private and public interest is disastrous to good government. A.I.M. so little understands this concept th a t it proposes for County Board a m an w ith an extensive real estate and construction business in Arlington. A.I.M. ignores the fac t th a t this man would constantly be required to decide on zoning cases as well as storm drainage, road, and sewer p roj­ ects th a t would directly affect his busi­ ness or th a t of his com petitors. Should a board m em ber disqualify himself in such cases, he would seri­ ously reduce th e efficiency of the County Board in much of its m ost im­ portan t business. C on ven tio n C a n d id o te s---------------------- ------------------------------- The CONVENTION CANDIDATES for County Board are two highly respected and successful businessmen who, because they own their homes in Arlington, have a stake in businesslike, efficient government. They can make th eir con­ tribution to A rlington’s fu tu re w ithout th eir private business interests becoming confused w ith the public good. �■ H ow can w e keep good sch ools and g et good g o v ern m en t in A rlington? T h a t 's e a s y ! l u s t e le c t y o u r C O N V E N T IO N C A N D ID A TES . . . n o m in a te d b y t h e P E O P L E of A r lin g to n FOR C O U N T Y BOARD t - UK S C H O O L Nominated by Convention of Arlingtonians for a Better County BOARD Nominated by the School Board Nominating Convention RALPH KAUL DAVID L. KRUPSAW BARNARD JOY MRS. BARBARA RICHES JAMES G. STOCKARD Businessman . . . President, the Kaul Co., specialists in land de­ velopment, building, and finance, operating outside Arlington. Will bring to the County Board an ex­ tensive knowledge of zoning and community development. Served three years on Arlington’s Board of Zoning Appeals; chairman, Arling­ ton Citizens Advisory Committee on Housing (1952). Former Fed­ eral Housing official. In Arlington 14 years. Owns his home but no other Arlington real estate. Two children, one in Arlington schools. Age 41. Lives at 1201 N. Nash St. Member Citizens Committee for School Improvement, PTA, Uni­ tarian Church. Businessman and lawyer. Will bring to the Board high level executive experience as Managing Partner of American Wholesalers (Washing­ ton), President, American Bedding Co., Inc., and former President of Serta Associates, Inc., with 41 factories in the U. S. and Canada. Home-owner, in Virginia 17 years, in Arlington 7 years. Two children in Arlington schools. Age 44. Lives at 1057 South 26th Road. Exten­ sive community activities include PTAs, Citizens Committee for School Improvement, Mental Hy­ giene Society of Northern Virginia, Washington Board of Trade, and National Conference of Christians and Jews. As a founder of Arlington’s school improvement program, Barnard Joy was a member of Arlington’s first elected school board and its first chairman (1948). No layman in Arlington can match his grasp of school needs, school problems, and school budgets gained in 8 years vigorous service on the Board. An Agriculture Department official. Homeowner . • • in Arlington 19 years, taking part in many commu­ nity affairs. Four children, two still in Arlington schools. Age 46. Lives at 1718 N. Hartford St. Mem­ ber: Citizens Committee for School Improvement, Lyon Village Citi­ zens Assn., PTAs, Presbyterian Church. Mother and homemaker. Will bring to the Board experience in person­ nel administration from years as Personnel Officer with the National Broadcasting Company, Borden Company, and Federal Government. Homeowner, in Arlington 5 years. One child, enters school next year. Mrs. Riches has demonstrated in­ terest in schools as chairman of the Kindergarten Advisory Council to the School Board; member, Uni­ versity of Virginia Center Com­ mittee of the County Board; edu­ cation chairman of A.A.U.W. Age 36. Lives at 3140 N. 17th St. Member: Committee of 100, Presbyterian Church, CCSI, Phi Beta Kappa. Former high school teacher. Long an active interest in school affairs: past president of Arlington’s County Council of PTAs and of Walter Reed PTA; member of the School Board’s Advisory Committee on Personnel. Educated in business and public administration . . . na­ tionally recognized for outstanding work as a training specialist in the Federal service. Homeowner . . . in Arlington 14 years. Three children in Arlington schools. Age 41. Lives at 5920 North Washington Boulevard. Deacon in Westover Baptist Church. Mem­ ber: Committee of 100, Citizens Committee for School Improve­ ment. Go Forward — Not Backward... vole lor CONVENTION CANDIDATES �•B/V ‘ L t i o a 3 u t - [ J V 92 29A 9JK .B L d |U |6 jj / \ • i s u stS *a •y -euspoji uoiisanfl OO S O 'W ' u o j 6 uh.i v gie -on Ji.mjad aivd i>Vi l 30visod s n 3|Dd >||ng C o n v en tio n C andidates: Thousands of Arlingtonians helped pick the CONVEN­ TION CANDIDATES for County Board and School Board. 1 Ralph Kaul and David Krupsawjwere democratically chosen in open nominating conven­ tion sponsored by the Arlingtonians for a Better County—a coalition of Republicans, Demo­ crats, and nonpartisans. Nearly 600 voters participated. | Barnard Joy, Barbara Riches, and James Stockardjwere democratically nominated by the Fifth Biennial School Board Nominating Convention. They were chosen by 552 voting delegates representing thousands of members of 70-odd Arlington organizations—PTAs, civic associa­ tions, and county-wide groups. T he O pposition: The A.I.M. candidates, by contrast, were hand­ picked by a committee, which pre­ sented its slate to a small coffee-house breakfast meeting. There was no democratic mass meeting or conven­ tion. Arlington citizens as a whole had no opportunity whatever to influence selection of the A.I.M. candidates. Committee for the Election of Convention Candidates for School and County Board, 4109 N. 33rd Road, Arlington 7, Virginia � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource RG 94, Arlingtonians for a Better County (ABC) Organizational Records Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource The $64,000 Question Description An account of the resource Mailer campaigning for the election of Convention Candidates - Ralph Kaul, David Krupsaw, Barnard Joy, Barbara Riches, James Stockard - to the Arlington County Board and School Board, rather than the A.I.M. candidates. 7 pages Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource No date Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource pdf Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived RG 94, Arlingtonians for a Better County (ABC) Organizational Records Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Committee for the Election of Convention Candidates for School and County Board Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1950s Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource This image is subject to copyright. Unauthorized use of the images in the Local History Collections of the Arlington Community Archives is prohibited. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 94_16_8_51 https://projectdaps.org/files/original/a31e8402452be83be7e5ca8f2374fd72.pdf 47ed9d91f92bd08fcc97500ce44000ed PDF Text Text WHAT I THINK ABOUT S egregation, Inte g ra tio n , and th e Public Schools by Leo Urbanske, Jr. I was born in Arlington and have lived here all my life, so I think I understand how folks feel about this complex problem. My great interest is that the dignity of the county be maintained, that order be preserved. It goes without saying that our public schools must be kept open and functioning, let's face the fact that we have many different opinions, and different degrees of feeling, over this important question, let's agree to be tolerant of all points of view that can be held within a framework of orderly conduct, let's be oalm and let's be responsible. If we set such a standard, we can get through any crisis. The County Board, for which I am a candidate, has no authority of any kind to solve the issue itself. The County Board will be able, however, to act in areas affected by events in the segregation-integration crisis. As a Board member, I shall join my A B C colleagues in following these lines: 1. 2, Stick firmly to the principle that public education must be maintained. 3, If the existence of our public schools is threatened, support any legal action necessary to preserve them. 4. 1958 Urbanske Uphold the County Manager and the Arlington Police in their stated determination to maintain order — although I really don't believe there will be any disorder in a fine community like Arlington. If our share of tax money should be cut off by the State, I will support any legal action required to compel the Stats to pay us this tax money which is rightfully ours. for County Board Committee- 706 north Frederick St. - Arlington 3, Fa. � https://projectdaps.org/files/original/518940cf46c3610325f0af0dd9ce65d3.jpg e84d0f080b9a889a1a89b739d6de1704 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource RG 94, Arlingtonians for a Better County (ABC) Organizational Records Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource What I Think About Segregation, Integration, and the Public Schools, by Leo Ubanske Description An account of the resource Document by County Board member Leo Urbanske stating his commitment to public schools and Arlington County. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource No date Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource pdf Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived RG 94, Arlingtonians for a Better County (ABC) Organizational Records Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Leo Urbanske Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1950s (?) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource This image is subject to copyright. Unauthorized use of the images in the Local History Collections of the Arlington Community Archives is prohibited. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 94_16_8_50 https://projectdaps.org/files/original/3666cabb97f320fb022c503a351390c5.pdf f96098f77689f740862df44435931def PDF Text Text January 4, 1956 Dear Thrifton Neighbor; On Monday, January 9th, we are called upon to vote on one of the most serious issues confronting Virginia in many years; the calling of a Consti­ tutional Convention to amend Section 141 of the Virginia Constitution so as to allow the expenditure of public funds "in furtherance of...education of Virginia students in public and non-sectarian private schools." We would like to urge you to vote "Against" the calling of such a convention for the following reasons: 1. It is too HASTY. We do not know the exact provisions of the Constitutional amendment or the implementing legislation and will have no chance to ratify the action of the convention. Yet we are asked to write a "blank check", while, in the past, even minor changes in the constitution have required two sessions of the Legislature and approval by the voters. 2. It is UNNECESSARY to go to such lengths in order to deal with the serious problems facing certain areas of Virginia because of the United States Supreme Court's decision. The Gray Commission's "pupil assignment" plan, which does not require a constitutional amendment, would give seriously affected areas time to adjust gradually to the court's decision and would not seriously weaken our public school system. The needs of the approximately one thousand students presently receiving State funds for private schooling (6 war orphans, 66 teacher students, 580 negro graduate students, and 280 handicapped persons) could be met by special legislation. 3. It is UNCONSTITUTIONAL for a state to do privately what it may not do publicly or to grant public funds for private purposes. There have been numerous Federal and State decisions along this line. Our own Virginia Supreme Court has so ruled in the Almond vs. Day decision on November 7, 1955, when it stated that it made no difference whether the public funds were paid directly to the so-called private schools or indirectly to the parents. 4. It is too COSTLY, both from a financial standpoint and from an educational standpoint. There is no satisfactory way of estimating the cost of a "tuition grant" plan (an educational allowance for students attending private non-sectarian schools), and whatever the expense involved, it would be especially costly for northern Virginia which already pays more than its fair share of Virginia taxes. It is too costly from an educational stand­ point since the amendment of Section 141 will remove from our Constitution one of the keystones of our public free school system. The "tuition grant" plan will transfer many of our present pressing problems as regards maintenance of satisfactory educational standards (Virginia now ranks 41st in per capita expenditure for public education) from our public schools to private schools (many of which would have to be hastily set up and would find these problems especially difficult of solution) and will further in­ crease the problems of teacher recruitment, maintenance of accreditation, school budgeting, and long-range planning, to mention but a few of the more obvious problems. Because we feel the above reasons far outweigh those put forth by the proponents of the Constitutional Convention, we urge you to come to the polls on Monday, January 9th, and vote "Against" the calling of a Constitutional Convention to amend Section 141 of the Virginia Constitution. Sincerely, Mr. & Mrs. 0. P. Easterwood, Jr Mrs. William Ferrando Mr. 8 Mrs. Peter Henle . Mrs. Alice C. Hickey Mrs. Jane Hogan Mr. & Mrs. Herbert Mr. & Mrs. James F. King Mr. & Mrs. Patrick O'Donnell Mr. & Mrs. Charles W. Smith, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Jack Sronce Mr. 8 Mrs. John D. Stewart . S. Thatcher For further information, call Mrs. Henle at Ja. 7-4508 or Mrs. King at Ja. 2-4415 POLLS OPEN 6:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. - POLLING PLACE: STRATFORD JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource RG 94, Arlingtonians for a Better County (ABC) Organizational Records Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Dear Thrifton Neighbor Description An account of the resource Letter from Thrifton residents, with Mrs. Henle and Mrs. King's names and phone numbers listed as people to contact urging a vote against the referendum. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1956-01-04 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource pdf Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived RG 94, Arlingtonians for a Better County (ABC) Organizational Records Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Unknown Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1950s Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource This image is subject to copyright. Unauthorized use of the images in the Local History Collections of the Arlington Community Archives is prohibited. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 94_16_8_47 https://projectdaps.org/files/original/b5d361a58b9b70750fdc70aa61e58903.pdf 6b0ed6804f6b8abaef9161972687e4c1 PDF Text Text As V o te rs i n Lyon 'P a rk .P r e c i n c t we w i l l v o t e AGAIIT3T c a l l i n g a C o n v e n tio n to, amend a r t i c l e llj.1 o f th e V i r g i n i a C o n s t i t u t i o n , a n d u r g e o u r f r i e n d s arid n e ig h b o r s to j o i n u s , b e c a u s e : I t h i n k i t v e r y l i k e l y t h a t a n y m e a s u re c a l l i n g f o r th e u s e o f p u b l i c f u n d s f o r p r i v a t e p u r p o s e s w i l l e v e n t u a l l y bo d e c la r e d u n c o n s titu tio n a l. T h e re a r e a l r e a d y l e g a l p r e c e d e n t s on t h e s e g ro u n d s. So why amend o u r, V i r g i n i a C o n s t i t u t i o n o n ly to make i t u n c o n s titu tio n a l? J o s e p h A. S z a b o , 906 H o.. 'Jayne S t. H r. and l i r s . R, if. F r i c k , i;.lli N. Kdgewocd S t . I t w ould mean t h e b e g in n in g o f an end t o c o m p u lso ry e d u c a t i o n . W illia m A. H o ffm an , . 2310 IT, 9 t h S t . I am a f r a i d o f w h at w i l l h a p p e n to V i r g i n i a 's s c h o l a s t i c s t a n d i n g i n t h e n a t i o n , h e r a c c r e d i t e d s c h o o l s , th o c h a n c e s of h e r H igh S c h o o l g r a d u a t e s fox’ a d m is s io n to th e b e s t u n i v e r s i t i e s end c o lle g e s . l i r s . H e le n lie W illia m s , 800 H. Wayne S t. T h is w i l l c r e a t e a n e n d l e s s p ro b lem and c o n f u s io n o v e r t a x e s , s c h o o l e n r o l lm e n ts , s c h o o l c o n s t r u c t i o n , e t c . Long r a n g e p la n n i n g w ould 30 b y t h e b o a r d . - f o r don F o r tn e y , 908 IT. C le v e la n d S t. I f e a r t h a t tix is am endm ent w i l l s e r v e a s a s o r t o f " c a r t e b la n c h e " f o r t h e L e g i s l a t u r e to d o w h atev er1 i t w a n ts - i t c o u ld d i v e r t p u b l i c fu n d s a t w i l l , p e rh a p s o i l o f t h e f u n d s f o r a p a r t i ­ c u l a r c o u n ty o r a r e a ; i t m ig h t d i c t a t e w hat a n y c o u n ty , s u c h a s A r li n g to n , s h o u ld d o . l i r s . A l ic e S. P en n , 009 il. Wayne S t . W, V/. S tr o u p , 500 IT. F il lm o r e S t. A p u b l i c s c h o o l sy s te m i s th e f o u n d a t io n o f A m e ric a l i f e . L e t 's n o t ta m p e r w ith i t i n a n y way; l e t ' s n o t p r o v i d e any l o o p ­ h o le t h a t w i l l w eaken i t i n airy fo rm . S irs. W illia m A. H o ffm an , 2310 IT. 9 t h S t. As one viho i n c l i n e s t o th e c o n s e r v a t i v e s i d e i n a f f a i r s o f g o v e rn m e n t, I r e c o i l fro m t h i s h e a d lo n g x u sh t o a u t h o r i z e am en d in g V i r g i n i a 's c o n s t i t u t i o n . Tho b a f f l i n g c h a r a c t e r o f V i r g i n i a 's s o u th s !d e c o u n tie s I re c o g n iz e , bu t tr u e c o n s e r v a tiv e s w ill ask m ore a s s u r a n c e t h a t we a r e n o t p r y in g a t th e l i d o f P a n d o r a 's b o x ! The w o r r i e s o f th o s t a t e ' s lo a d i n g m i n i s t e r s a b o u t t h e u l t i ­ m ate e f f e c t o f su c h an am endm ent on t h e . h i s t o r i c s e p a r a t i o n o f c h u rc h and s t a t e a lo n e a r e en o u g h t o s u g g e s t th e w isdom o f a m ore d e l i b e r a t e c o x irs e . L y le C. B ry a n t, 90.L;. II. Wayne S t . I , t o o , b e l i e v e t h a t n o th i n g s h o u ld bo c b n e to w eak en th o p u b l i c s c h o o l sy s te m i n a n y w ay. - S. S e r v i d i o , 802 IT. Wayne S t . A n a t i v e o f V i r g i n i a 's S o u th s id e , who i s a p r o f e s s o r o f h i s ­ t o r y a t one o f V i r g i n i a 's o l d e s t c o l l e g e s h a s w a rn e d u s , "The C-ray C o m m issio n 's p ro g ra m w i l l s e t V i r g i n i a b a c k f i f t y y e a r s . " Ron R o s s , ij.3 IT. F en w ick S t. I 'm a f r a i d we w i l l l o s e a l o t o f good t e a c h e r s ; o b v io u s ly , new o n es w i l l n o t b e e a g e r t o come to an u n c e r t a i n f u t u r e i n V i r ­ g i n i a . - H r s . i i i l t o n 2 a s lo w , 2701'. II. 1 s t R d. The amendm ent v d l l w eaken t h e p u b li c s c h o o l s y s te m t o an e x t e n t t h a t none o f u s now know . A ls o , a n y m e a s u re t o a u t h o r i z e th e u s e o f p u b l i c fu n d s f o r p r i v a t e p u r p o s e s w i l l q u i t e c e r t a i n l y bo d e c l a r e d u n c o n s t i t u t i o n a l . The d e c i s i o n o n t h e T ex as P rim a ry Law some y e a r s ag o i s a o a so i n p o i n t . R o b e rt W. C ulber’t , 5>09 N. B a r f i e l d Sfc. A c tio n t o f r u s t r a t e th e f u n d a n e n t a l p r i n c i p l e s o f A m e ric a n ism a s d e c l a r e d b y t h e U n ite d S t a t e s Supreme C o u rt i s . u n c o n s c i o n a b le . T h e r e f o r e , V ote HO on t h e H in th . - S , IT. S p i l l e r , 22ij. IT. F il lm o r e S t X f e e l t h a t th e p ro p o s e d " t u i t i o n g r a n t " w i l l p ro v e p a r a s i t i c and u l t i m a t e l y d e s t r o y i t s " h o s t" -- o rrr f r e e p u b li c s c h o o l s . G lad y s P ag a n o , i|2 IT. F e n s ic k S t . �Uhy n o t t r y t h e e f f e c t i v e n e s s o f t h e " u i p i l a s s ig n m e n t" nofchod— a c o n s t i t u t i o n a l a o p ro a c ti b e f o r e a l t o r i n s 30 r a d i c a l l y th e s t a t e c o n s t i t u t i o n ? - U , C aro n , 2(3lO i -T* 3 rd 3 t . The amendment w i l l l e t ob wn th e b a r s to w a rd ’ eak en in g t he w p u b l i c s c h o o l System to a d e g re e t h a t c a n n o t b e f o r e t o l d . iirs* V i l l i a 'i k e e n e r , 316 it; Udgowood- St* I , a l s o t h i n k t h a t t h e u se Of p u b li c fin d s f o r p r i v a t e p u r p o s e s ’ d l l b e d e c l a r e d u n c o n s t i t u t i o n a l and we s h a l l h a v e t o f a c e th e . sane p ro b le m a g a in * - Ups* G. 3 . I lo b le , 710 II* ..'fame J t . V i r g i n i a i s a l r e a d y f a c e d w ith s e r i o u s t a x p ro b le m s y e t now we a r e a s k e d t o p e r m i t u s e o f p u b l i c m o n ie s f o r a p l a n w ith o u t a b u d g e t, e s t i m a t e s , o r e v e n s t a t i s t i c s . - T a y lo r V. G a n n e tt, 908 il. Uayne 3 t . I f t h e amendment i s p a s s e d , t h e r e i s n o a s s u r a n c e t h a t th e l e g i s l a t u r e w o n 't go b e y o n d t h e G ray C om m ission re c o m m e n d a tio n s. E n a b lin g l e g i s l a t i o n may bo much m ore d r a s t i c . Ja n u a ry 9 t h i s th e o n ly c h an ce a c i t i z e n w i l l h a v e t o v o te ‘‘no*1 on t h i s q u e s t i o n . U p s . Goan K. D ru n d a g e , 709 H. Uayne 3 t . VI. if. 3 tr o u p an d H ild a L. S tr o u p , £ 0 0 y , F il lm o r e S t. V i r g i n i a a lr e a d y h a s i t s t a x p ro b le m s , an d I c a n ' t s e c a n y ­ t h i n g b u t h ig h e r t a x e s . - H ild a L. S tr o u p , 'jOO II. F il lm o r e S t. T h in k o f w h a t w i l l h ap p en to F e d e r a l g r a n t s f o r e d u c a t i o n - n o t o n ly p r e s o n t g r a n t s to a r e a s now r e c e i v i n g a i d , su c h a s A r l i n g ­ to n , b u t a ls o to p r o v is io n s in l i k e l y f u t u r e sch o o l a id b i l l s i n C o n g re s s ! - lir a . Irm a F o r tn e y , 908 H, C le v e la n d S t . "So g r e a t l y h a v e t h o s e i n t e r e s t s ( e d u c a t i o n a l ) b e e n d i s t u r b e d a t th e S o u th , and so much d o es i t s f u t u r e c o n d it io n d e p e n d u p o n th e r i s . ng g e n e r a t i o n , t h a t I m n s i d e r th e p r qper e d u c a t io n o f i t s y o u th on e of th e m o st im p o r t a n t o b j e c t s now t o be a t t a i n e d , and one fro m w h ic h t h e g r e a t e s t b e n e f i t s may b e e x p e c t e d , n o th in g w i l l co m p e n sa te u s f o r t l x d e p r e s s io n o f t h e s t a n d a r d o f o u r m o ra l and i n t e l l e c t u a l c u l t u r e , a n ’, e a c h S t a t e s h o u ld t a k e th e m ost e n e r g e t i c m e a s u re s t o r e v i v e th e s c h o o ls and c o l l e g e s , a n d , i f p o s s i b l e , t o i n c r e a s e . t h e f a c i l i t i e s f o r i n s t r u c t i o n , and t o e l e v a t e t h e s ta n d a r d o f l e a r n i n g .........." R o b e rt 3 . Lee (p e r h a p s once a v o t e r i n t h i s v i c i n i t y ) i n a l e t t e r w r i t t e n , w h ile p r e s i d e n t o f V a sb in g to n C o lle g e , to a Rev. C. V. iie y b u rn . T h e r e f o r e , d o n 't f a i l t o v o te AGAINST on Monday , J a n u a r y 9 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource RG 94, Arlingtonians for a Better County (ABC) Organizational Records Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource As Voters in Lyon Park Description An account of the resource Document containing statements of residents of Lyon Park, with names and addresses, declaring why they will be voting against the referendum and urging neighbors to join them. Two pages Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource No date Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource pdf Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived RG 94, Arlingtonians for a Better County (ABC) Organizational Records Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Unknown Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1950s Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource This image is subject to copyright. Unauthorized use of the images in the Local History Collections of the Arlington Community Archives is prohibited. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 94_16_8_46 https://projectdaps.org/files/original/aadb3c242c11741ecb10534e3a33a094.pdf 3bfdb6fe903254deb923707664308e39 PDF Text Text (Not printed at Government expense) i j g Congressional"Record United States of America P R O C E E D I N G S A N D D E B A T E S OF T H E 1 C O N G R E S S , F IR ST SESSION Court, Is o f the essence in this matter, the fought the battle for the whole State should Court emphasizes that fact by saying that thus be penalized and oppressed by the Com­ schools m ust be mixed "with all deliberate monwealth of Virginia. speed.” 2. We call upon the general assembly to OF There be those who, after a year of talk, initiate procedures to amend section 129 of still advocate that nothing now be done, but the constitution so as expressly to give to HON. W ATKINS M. ABBITT that we take our tim e in an endeavor to the general assembly the power to adopt “ hammer ou t”some plan o f procedure u n ­ such laws in relation to schools as the wel­ OF VIRGINIA known to them and to us. We call upon fare of this people requires. That section IN THE HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES such persons, and particularly any such who and the provision for segregated schools are have been honored by election to the gen­ each a part of chapter IX of our constitu­ Thursday, June 9,1955 eral assembly, to meet their responsibility We Mr. ABBITT. Mr. Speaker, the peo­ and to state in frankness and candor to the tion. are ofare aware that there are those who the opinion that the invalida­ ple of Virginia are now in great distress people of Virginia what they have to offer. tion of the segregated-school provision by because of the recent deplorable ruling Unless something be done, and unless the Supreme Court o f the United States has of the Supreme Court of the United som ething be done now, integration will wiped out of our State constitution the States declaring segregation in the begin in Virginia, and, once begun, it, like whole of chapter IX. Indeed, as we read schools unconstitutional. As stated be­ every other vile pestilence, will spread to the the decision o f the Circuit Court of Hanover the whole rendered last week in fore, this ruling is shocking and con­ point where it has covered in our day,body County Board case, that is the the Hanover our view of trary to all legal precedent. Our people politic. Whether it come of our Anglo- School constitutional student who sits the great on children will see the death in Virginia are now facing a crisis. It Saxon civilization. that bench before which Patrick Henry was is necessary that the issue be faced The Commonwealth of Virginia has a right accustomed to appear. There are others who forthrightly and a decision be made by now to expect of every one of her sons and take a different position. This question is our people. daughters who may have any proposal to too important to leave to any uncertainty, In an endeavor to acquaint the public make by which we can preserve our way of and as matters now stand certainty cannot with the problem and to preserve for our life that he speak. Procrastination is not without such amendment be attained until the Supreme Court o f Appeals of Virginia time; people their individual liberties which only the th ief of be the in thiso instance, pro­ has ruled on the question. crastination will thief f our civiliza­ are being gradually taken from them by tion. 3. We call upon the general assembly to a grasping arm of the Federal Govern­ initiate procedures to amend sections 134 The Defenders have certain broad pro­ ment, an organization has been formed posals to make to the people of Virginia. and 141 of chapter IX of the Constitution in Virginia known as the Defenders of They do n ot make them on the spur of so as to remove any doubt that, in case of State Sovereignty and Individual Lib­ the moment. They make them after long necessity, State and local m oneys may be erties. Only yesterday this organization study and after consultation with very many used to pay the tuition and other school expenses private children issued a forthright statement, which I persons both within and without the State localities in which itschools, ofnecessary, of in becomes as herewith include with my remarks and of Virginia. in 1. We recommend to His Excellency the Prince Edward, to close the public schools. commend it to the people of Virginia: Governor that he immediately call a special We do not believe there is a self-respecting man in the State o f Virginia who would advo­ A P l a n f o r V ir g i n ia session of the general assembly. That ses­ The Defenders of State Sovereignty and sion should begin the process of amending cate that people so situated should be rele­ Individual Liberties has, since its organiza­ our State constitution, and it should adopt gated to educate their children as best they tion last fall, been giving itself to a study of certain needed legislation. That session can, and at the same time be com pelled to the questions posed for Virginia by the Su­ should be held not later than the middle pay taxes to assist in the education of chil­ preme Court decision of May 17, 1954. It of July. I f we are to amend our constitu­ dren of other areas. 4. We call upon the general assembly to was n ot surprised by the implementing tion through the plan that permits the peo­ decision handed down on May 31, 1955. It ple of Virginia to vote on the amendments take ou t of our law all mention of com pul­ sory education. We have yet to hear one did not anticipate that a court, composed (and this matter is too important to deal of such judges as now constitute the Su­ with otherwise), the initial step should be single man advocate that compulsory educa­ Virginia, and that any preme Court o f the United States, would taken by the general assembly not later tion be retained in and convicted who may in any respect weaken in its determination than th e 1st o f August of this year. Other­ man be prosecuted to hold his child to force upon the people of Virginia and wise, n otice o f the proposed amendments elect subject him to the ou t o f school rather the South the unsupported views of the cannot be published in sufficient tim e to than integrated school. degrading influences of an If there be such a socialistic and radical sociologists whose perm it the general assembly at its regular m an in Virginia, particularly if there be such opinions it has accepted as constitutional 1956 session to deal with the matter and a man in public life, honesty and candor doctrine. to permit the people to vote next year. compel him so to state, and especially if The Defenders are amazed that there be Unless this initial action is taken by the there be one who is now a candidate for those in our midst who would lull our peo­ 1st of August, we cannot amend the con ­ the general assembly, he will, if he be honest, ple into a false sense of security by assuring stitution by the procedure which gives the so state to the people whose support he seeks. them that under these decisions we have all people a right to pass on the proposals until 5. We call upon the general assem bly to the time we want in which to chart our 1958. That would mean a delay o f three enact such laws as may be needed to prevent course. The Court has n ot given that time. school sessions. This matter does not per­ the expenditure of $1 o f public moneys, State It requires that in "good faith”we "make a m it of such delay. I f other considerations or local, in the support and maintenance of prompt and reasonable start” toward mix­ did n ot require immediate action, the situa­ any racially mixed public school. The ing the races in our schools. If we make tion in Prince Edward County demands it. Supreme Court of the United States has the that start and thus begin the process of The people o f that county will next year power perchance to prevent us spending our mongrelization, there is then the possibility educate their children without help from money as we see fit, but the Supreme Court that we will be given additional time to the State or the locality. They will, in addi­ of the United States can scarcely be so complete the process, but only in the event tion, pay their full State taxes. Tax money oblivious to the Constitution which governs we do so “ the earliest practicable date.” paid by them will go to help support the it as to attempt to com pel a State to levy at If this were not clear enough to satisfy these public schools in other localities. It is n ot taxes and to spend tax money for a purpose false prophets that time, in the opinion of the right that a people who have so courageously for which that State is n ot willing to tax 347536—54790 A Plan for Virginia EXTENSION OP REMARKS �2 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD Its people or to make any appropriation. The people of this commonwealth are unalterably opposed to integration. That being our po­ sition, then as self-respecting men and women, our course is determined. It de­ mands, In self-respect, that we refuse to give any support to any Integrated public school. Integration, like cancer, cannot be contained and limited to one isolated spot. If it exists, it spreads until it kills the whole. 6. We call upon the general assembly to adopt such laws as may be required to make public moneys available to m eet the privateschool expenses of children of those locali­ ties in which the closing of public schools may be compelled. Again, we cite the pres­ ent situation in Prince Edward County, a situation that may shortly exist in other localities. We point to the rank injustice of subjecting those people to the necessity of educating their children out of private funds, and at the same time compelling them to pay taxes to help the more fortunate areas of the State meet their public-school expenses. 7. We pledge to His Excellency the Gov­ ernor, to the general assembly, and to the people of Virginia our support of this pro­ gram, or, if someone can advance a better, which will also preserve education in Vir­ ginia and which will prevent the mixing of the races, we will give our support to it. 8. We call upon all those who are candi­ dates for the general assembly—Democrats, Republicans and Independents—to state openly, frankly and fearlessly what, if any­ thing, they have to propose, and whether they can be relied upon to .give their full support to a program that will prevent integration in Virginia public schools. There may be a time when a candidate is ju s­ tified in indulging in political trimming in order to obtain a seat in the general assem­ bly. Upon that we express no opinion. But we do assert, that in this emergency, no honest person has the right to seek that high office without frankly telling those whom he hopes to represent what may be his position. To act otherwise will be the height of personal, political, and moral cow­ ardice. 9. T oo long have many of those who rep­ resent us in the halls of Congress and in the general assembly remained silent. Some have spoken ou t frankly and have told the people of Virginia that in which they be­ lieve. We call upon those who have been honored by the people of Virginia and its localities with public office, elective or ap­ pointive, from United States Senators down, now to give their advice to the people of Virginia in a forthright manner and to meet the responsibilities of the leadership to which they have been chosen by assisting to guide us along a road that will preserve our race. 347536—54790 We do n ot consider that these proposals mean death to public schools. We think that the only hope o f public schools lies in their adoption. Those who talk of pre­ serving our public-school system know not of what they speak. Our public-school sys­ tem—that system which we have known for many years in Virginia, which has been so beneficial to white persons and which rescued the Negro ou t of illiteracy—cannot be preserved. The United States Supreme Court has killed it for years to come, and it will remain dead until such time as the American people may by constitutional proc­ esses correct the error of that Court, or the personnel o f the Court may be changed to include those who recognize that the judicial power may n ot rightfully be used to amend the Constitution to make it con­ form to that which the Court may think it should be. No system of public schools n ot approved of by the people can exist. Virginians want nothing of an integrated public-school sys­ tem. Our white citizens who have paid the greater part o f the taxes which have edu­ cated both white and Negro children will not submit to the enormous cost of main­ taining schools to which they are n ot will­ ing to subject their children. Only 1 o f 2 public-school systems can now exist. Each is novel and new to Vir­ ginia. The one is an integrated publicschool system. That system the people of Virginia will n ot support. The other is a segregated public-school system—segregated n ot as a matter of law and by State com ­ pulsion, but segregated by the good sense of our people, white and black. If it be said that the NAACP will not con­ sent to the maintenance of the latter, but will excite som e ill-advised Negroes to ap­ ply for admission to the white schools, and thereby cause the school to be closed, or that one of that pitifu l little group of white persons who fraternize with the NAACP will sacrifice his child by seeking his admission to the Negro school and thereby cause the school to close, we admit that possibility. Virginians do n ot choose, however, to be ruled by such elements. If that happens those schools will close. They will regret that the Negroes for whom they have done much will no longer receive their help, but that will be at the wish of their leaders. We will care for our own and they will care as best they can for theirs, each assisted by the same help from public funds to the extent that help is sought and within the limits of available funds. We do not be­ lieve many schools will close before our Negro citizens, fine as m ost of them are, will see to it that their people throw off the leadership of these radicals who have done so much to destroy good race relations, and together we can p u t our educational sys­ tem on a firm and lasting basis. If our be­ lief in that respect be n ot sustained we will put other schools for our children on a firm and lasting basis and let the Negroes do with theirs as they will. We are n ot unm indful of the ultimatum thrown down to the people of Virginia at a radio forum held in Richmond on May 17, 1955, by one of the chief Virginia counsel of the NAACP, who in an unguided m om ent cried out: “ Like it or not, your schools will be integrated.” Virginians are n ot ready to accept that dictation. We have heard o f no specific proposal that would look to integration in Virginia. We hope we hear of none. Should one be forth­ com ing which would propose that a start be made on the road to integration w ith­ out it having first received approval of all governing bodies of the locality affected, both State and local, and also approval by the people at the ballot box, we would know of no way to characterize it save by the use of such a word as dastardly. We do not believe our people, or any segm ent of them, is ready to condemn their children to a com ­ plete socialization of the races. We do m ost solemnly assert that the man who would advocate that that be permitted without first giving the people an opportunity in solemn vote to express their views is entitled to no respect and to no support from the people of Virginia. We realize that there are those tim id souls among us who will say that we ad­ vocate an extreme program. We have no fear of adjectives. We are confronted by an extreme emergency. We have been served with a decision so extreme that it has aban­ doned all rules of constitutional interpreta­ tion; it has denied the validity of the views held for 175 years by the American people; it has accepted as our fundamental law not the Constitution adopted by this people, but the views of foreign and radical sociologists which have nothing to support them other than the opinions of the authors—men who would mix the races in all features o f life. T o attem pt to compromise between the segregated school and the integrated school, is n ot to compromise. I t is to accept the integrated school. That we are not willing to do. We call upon all the good people of the State o f Virginia who would protect their children and their children's children from the deteriorating and deadly effects of in ­ tegration to bestir themselves, to join with us, and to help in this our day to protect that pure way of life which our fathers pre­ served for us, and preserved it when they were in a situation nowhere nearly so strong as we, and when they were threatened with forces equally as destructive as those which now seek to encompass us. » S. G V R M N PRIN G OFFICE: . OEN ET TIN � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource RG 94, Arlingtonians for a Better County (ABC) Organizational Records Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Congressional Record, Proceedings and Debates of the 84th Congress, First Session Description An account of the resource Remarks made by Representative Watkins Abbitt on Thursday, June 9, 1955. Rep. Abbitt reads a statement prepared by the Defenders of State Sovereignty and Individual Liberties, an organization formed in opposition to the Supreme Court's ruling declaring segregation in public schools unconstitutional. 2 pages Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1955-06-09 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource pdf Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived RG 94, Arlingtonians for a Better County (ABC) Organizational Records Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Watkins M. Abbitt Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1950s Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource This image is subject to copyright. Unauthorized use of the images in the Local History Collections of the Arlington Community Archives is prohibited. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 94_16_8_45 https://projectdaps.org/files/original/63726f800ea3de326e6e06c19c29146c.pdf 1b35bee8fb5331e5bbca0db969bf01f4 PDF Text Text i i Honorable Charles a la 6733 Lee Arlington, Virginia Dear unwic* -Htt i re:erence La the special legislative joeetn, a called far Hovamber 30, Xv55jWe would Xixa ,ou to know our thoughts concerning the purpose for which Xt has h a ) called. et Xt l our position that any aove In the direction a a aaemUnj the Virginia ‘ t tats Constitution to allow the use oi public funds for aubaidrxln? private school* would he detrimental to our public school system. Bithout t x n i a position on the many it r s covered al. an by the ^ a Commission report,we sincerely hope you will ry ejree with us and oppose any move toward amending our ■ a # Constitution to allow the use of public funds tor tt private schools. sincerely yours. Copies Un ^atnxyn . ‘ tons C. Harrison Mann J . Maynard Moyrudsr William Winston A.E.S. -tephens � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource RG 94, Arlingtonians for a Better County (ABC) Organizational Records Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Unsigned Letter to Senator Charles Fenwick Description An account of the resource Unsigned letter to Senator Charles Fenwick to ask him to oppose amending the state constitution. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource No date Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource pdf Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived RG 94, Arlingtonians for a Better County (ABC) Organizational Records Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Unknown Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1950s Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource This image is subject to copyright. Unauthorized use of the images in the Local History Collections of the Arlington Community Archives is prohibited. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 94_16_8_44 https://projectdaps.org/files/original/269719d2327a57b7b7653ef050edc69a.pdf 5b5f9712edd43697fa67f86cc7839a0f PDF Text Text REQUEST FOR ACTION BY NORTHERN VIRGINIA VOTERS Public schools in Virginia ARE IMMEDIATELY THREATENED. On November 30, a special session of the General Assembly will meet to consider calling a constitutional convention. The purpose is to amend Section lid of the Virginia constitution so that public funds may be given for tuition in private schools, as recommended by the Gray Commission. The bill proposing the convention may be so worded as to permit even further action, -- without time for general discussion or measuring the consequences. There is too much at stake to risk such haste. If tuition grants are legalized, the Gray Commission frankly expects that many public schools will be abandoned. There has been no discussion of what the school children in such communities would lose if this should happen. It could involve scrapping the compulsory attendance and minimum term laws. There is no known plan for maintaining standards or securing qualified teachers for the private schools. No one knows what the tuition grants would cost. There is no assurance that private high schools operated under such a plan would be accredited. If the constitution is to be amended to launch such drastic action, it can be done by tvro successive sessions of the Assembly and a referandum of the voters, with time to raise these and other questions. Tie can help to protect public schools in Virginia by informing our delegates to the General Assembly that we want them t o oppose/calling the constitutional convention when they meet on November 30. Urge voters whom you know to write, phone, or personally call upon any or all of the legislators listed below. Do the same yourself. The time is very short. You can fold this sheet and mail it with a two-cent stamp to another voter who will act. DO IT NON. Uphold those legislators who will fight to protect our public schools, and put the others on notice that their constituents want Virginia's public schools maintained. These are the Northern Virginia Delegates and Senators: Senators: Charles R. Fenwick, 6733 Lee Highway, JE 2-1210 John A. K. Donovan, 928 Wi Great Falls Street, Falls Church, JE 2-2770. Delegates: Armistead Boothe, Vicar Lane, Alexandria TE Omer Hirst, Hummer Road, Annandale JE J. Maynard Magruder, JfL19 N. 23rd Street JA Harrison Mann, 1818 S. Arlington Ridge Road OT Kathryn Stone, 1051 S. 26th Road OT John C. Webb, Lee Forest, Fairfax CRescent 6-6663 2-0707 2- 7035 ii-7965 U-8078 3- 0308 Prepared and distributed by the Education Committee of the Community Council for Social Progress, Robert Reed, Chairman, 106 S. Court House Road, Arlington, Virginia, JA 7-5577. November 21, 1955 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource RG 94, Arlingtonians for a Better County (ABC) Organizational Records Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Request for Action by Northern Virginia Voters, Public Schools are Immediately Threatened Description An account of the resource Mailing urging recipients to call or write to Northern Virginia Delegates and Senators to oppose calling a constitutional convention. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1955-11-21 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource pdf Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived RG 94, Arlingtonians for a Better County (ABC) Organizational Records Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Education Committee of the Community Council for Social Progress Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1950s Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource This image is subject to copyright. Unauthorized use of the images in the Local History Collections of the Arlington Community Archives is prohibited. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 94_16_8_43 https://projectdaps.org/files/original/0a820229bce54c967220f8f24fec37c1.pdf eaecb64970b93f779b01c04eefa5ef8c PDF Text Text CITIZENS CLEARING HOUSE ON PUBLIC EDUCATION Editors Carolyn H. Planck 3234 N. Pershing Drive, Arlington, Va. Mailing Address: 5200 Carlyn Spring Rd., Arl., Va. WILL VIRGINIA'S PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM BE DESTROYED IF RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE GRAY COMMISSION ARE CARRIED OUT? This question underlies consideration of the entire report and heads a list of many other related points which are of gravest concern to every man, woman and child in the state. Vir­ ginia voters have a particular and immediate responsibility for searching examination of the Gray Commission proposals because it is almost a certainty that in January they will be asked to carry out the first request of the Commission by voting to authorize a constitutional con­ vention. Purpose of the convention would be to delete from the constitution Section 141 pro­ hibiting allocation of public funds to private educational agencies. Such an amendment is necessary to open the way for the remaining Gray proposals, particularly the devices under which tuition grants would be paid to parents who wish to enroll their children in private schools rather than to accept integrated public schools. Could removal of Section 141, therefore, lift the lid from a Pandora's box of troubles far more serious than the problems involved in adjusting to integrated schools? Before voting for a convention that could take this first step toward abandonment o f public schools, every citizen should seek clear and satisfactory answers to that question and many others such as theses General Educational Efforts and Where legal doubt exists, will special sessions, constitutional conventions, delay confusions be wasted effort? What would be the effect of the proposals on the total educational process even if public schools are not abandoned in all localities? Where private schools replace public schools, who will set and enforce standards? Reasonable uniformity in courses? Quality of instruction? curriculum Will private high schools be accredited? Can and will compulsory attendance laws be enforced in a mixed system of public and schools? private The Gray plan says a locality may operate schools for less than nine months with no loss of state funds. Does this indicate that a shorter year will be tolerated or encouraged? If compulsory attendance is scrapped and/or the school year shortened, what will be the effect on juvenile delinquency? Added police costs? The ultimate ability of our youn^ people to earn adequate livings? Can a taxpayer legally prevent his money from going even indirectly to subsidize private schools? The commission recommends that no locally provided tuition grant "exceed the total cost of operation per pupil" in public schools during the preceding year, and that the state bear �"one-half of the additional costs." Are parents to pay the other half of this difference between the cost of public and private schools? Will this mean that children in low and middle income groups will be squeezed out of private schools? Will tuition grants be made to Negro parents as well as white sufficient to pay for the education of their children in private schools if they so desire? Does even a nucleus of private facilities exist for elementary and secondary Negro education? Would public school buildings be sold to private interests? be incurred? If so, what losses would Would there be any control in the public interest over the amount of profit that operators of private schools would be allowed to make? What will happen to hard-won teacher salary schedules and standards, contracts and sick-leave provisions? Will private schools require or be forced to require the present standards for preparation of teachers? Can private school facilities be expanded sufficiently and rapidly enough to absorb even the white children in areas where public schools are abolished? Some private schools already screen applicants for admission- Will children of any minority group other than Negro — Jewish, Chinese, etc., — ■ be admitted without discrim­ ination? Will any community wishing to preserve its public schools and at the same time conform to Federal requirements be hampered in making the necessary adjustments by the complex machinery for pupil transfer spelled out by the Commission? While the report states that school boards "may' furnish transportation,it goes on to say that "it should be made perfectly clear that no county board be required to furnish transportation to school children." Does this Indicate localities will be permitted to assume no responsibility for getting pupils to either private or public schools? In many cases, would the offer of tuition grants be useless unless transportation is also avilable? Has the Commission ignored the Supreme Court's willingness to allow communities time to make gradual adjustment to integration of schools? Would it be better for Virginia in the long run for voters and legislators to reject the Gray proposals and set about genuine efforts to achieve the gradual transition outlined by the Supreme Court? Can and will the State excerise satisfactory control over text books and teaching materials in private schools to assure their quality and their freedom from un-American ideas? What will be the impact on Virginia taxpayers? Since provision for state aid to localities indicates that the Commission recognizes that private schools cannot be operated as economically as public schools, will this mean a rise in income tax and other levies? Will the Gray proposals stand up in court as the "good faith" compliance upon which the Supreme Court insists? Citizens should seek authoritative information on the foregoing points, and other pertinent questions before they are faced with voting to call a constitutional convention. This vote will be their only direct opportunity to register approval or disapproval of the Gray Commission approach. For additional copies write to Jack C. Orndorff, 5200 N. Carlyi. Spring Road, Arlington, Contribution of postage will be appreciated. � https://projectdaps.org/files/original/07e4b8db1ccb8541305f5c5f0040ce3a.jpg 2bf19e1e0c1e684c0d8b0f5052a52b88 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource RG 94, Arlingtonians for a Better County (ABC) Organizational Records Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Will Virginia's Public School System Be Destroyed If Recommendations of the Gray Commission are Carried Out? Description An account of the resource Mailing by Jack Orndorff to Virginia voters asking them to research and consider the impact of the proposed change to the Virginia Constitution before voting in the referendum. 2 pages Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource No date Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource pdf Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived RG 94, Arlingtonians for a Better County (ABC) Organizational Records Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Jack Orndorff Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1950s Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource This image is subject to copyright. Unauthorized use of the images in the Local History Collections of the Arlington Community Archives is prohibited. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 94_16_8_42 https://projectdaps.org/files/original/919925f1864980be954cdbe6fc58b4da.pdf 80d612ddb1a6a3902b88060c7348f38a PDF Text Text December 28, 1956 Dear Fellow members To all members living in Virginia Monday, January 9th is another important VOTING DAY for Virginia. A proposed constitutional convention, to amend the Virginia State Constitution, to allow public tax funds to be used for private non­ sectarian schools, is proposed by the State Legislature. The churches of Virginia and organized labor are leading the opposition state wide, along with citizens associations and PTA's in the Northern Virginia area. The Gray Commission report on the school segregation issue has two main features; (1) A pupil assignment plan which proposes that laws be adopted to allow School Boards to assign pupils " ..... based upon the welfare of the particular child as well as the welfare and best interests of all other pupils attending a particular school. The school board should be authorized to take into consideration such factors as availability of facilities, health, aptitude of the child and the avilability of transportation." People on both sides of the integration issue itself agree that laws based on the above will take care of almost all of the problems of integration, which we all recognize are more acute in some sections of the state than otherss (2) The second half of the Gray Commission report involves the present consti­ tutional question (Section 141) which we vote on January 9, 1956. The State legislature is in effect asking for a complete blank check, an attitude of - sign here, we will fill in the rest. Don't let the professional politician fool you, this second half (amSjnd section 141) is the only thing we vote on Jan. 9, 1956. The state legislature leaves too many questions unanswered at this time to ask us to make such a radical change in our public school system. VJe in organized labor feel the present schools are not now up to the standardise want for the children of Virginia, much less trying to support an additional school system of tax supported private nonsectarian schools. At least we ought to first try the pupil assignment plan. The pupil assignment plan can be enacted into law without a change in the State Constitution. We urge everyone to vote NO on the 9th of January. Sincerely Yours, Leo Urbanske, Jr. For Local 2336 CWA L/1 I/ � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource RG 94, Arlingtonians for a Better County (ABC) Organizational Records Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Letter from Leo Urbanske Description An account of the resource Letter from Leo Urbanske urging a vote against the referendum. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1956-12-28 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource pdf Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived RG 94, Arlingtonians for a Better County (ABC) Organizational Records Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Leo Urbanske Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1950s Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource This image is subject to copyright. Unauthorized use of the images in the Local History Collections of the Arlington Community Archives is prohibited. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 94_16_8_41 https://projectdaps.org/files/original/981758a1d74b6562a35b933d2343bc12.pdf 45982f961ed528368285cbae3fb068e4 PDF Text Text Virginia Society for Preservation of Public Schools Information Sheet on Referendum Monday, January 9, 1956 ��VIRGINIA SOCIETY FOR PRESERVATION OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS Information Sheet on Referendum Monday, January 9, 1956 Point 1 What The Referendum Involves. . At the referendum on January 9, the people of Virginia will vote on one question only. It is: “ Shall there be a Convention to revise and amend Section 141 of the Constitution?” You must vote for or against. This is the one and only question and the one and only chance to vote upon the question. If the referendum carries, the Con­ stitutional Convention itself will change Section 141 and will pro­ claim the change without submitting it to the voters for approval. Point 2. How Section 141 Of The Constitution Will Be Amended. Section 141 provides basically and simply that no public funds shall be spent for private schools. The amendment will permit public funds to be spent for non-sectarian private schools, both private elementary schools and private high schools. Point 3. Tuition Grants Will Not Be Limited. Under the constitutional change tuition grants will not be lim­ ited to children whose parents wish to remove them from integrated schools. If the change in 141 is made, the door will be open to grants to any children at any non-sectarian private school. The Gray Report says that the present intention is to limit grants to the children of parents objecting to integrated schools, but this intention may change. The door, let us repeat, will be open to grants to children in any non-sectarian private school in the state. 3 �Point 4. No Ceiling On Tuition Grants. In answering questions of the Roanoke Times, Governor Stanley said there would be no ceiling upon tuition grants in counties where public schools have been abandoned after the first year. The only limit now proposed is based upon per pupil operating cost in the preceding year. There is nothing in the Gray proposal or in the law to prevent increasing state allotments to such counties in a sum sufficient to cover the full cost of private school tuition. The pressures will be great. Thus the Gray plan actually amounts to an invitation to counties to close their public schools entirely. At the Special Session, an attempt was made to provide that tuition grants should be paid only in those localities where public schools were kept open. This proposal, too, was voted down overwhelm­ ingly. Point 5. Unjust Distinctions. Tax money should not be used for any private schools. But it is unjust to distinguish between sectarian and non-sectarian private schools. There are in Virginia today 30 private schools run by the Episcopal, Catholic, Methodist, and Baptist Churches, besides paro­ chial schools operated by Episcopal and Catholic parishes. These are established schools with fine buildings, able teachers and state accreditation. If public funds are sent to non-sectarian private schools which are newly formed, with inadequate buildings, un­ qualified teachers and no accreditation, then in fairness public funds should go to the students at the better qualified sectarian schools. Any other result would be inequitable both to the better schools and their students. Point 6. Haste. Section 141 was placed in the Constitution of Virginia in 1902 after 33 years of rough going for the Virginia public school system and after the Constitution, including Section 141, was debated for 370 days. Now you are asked to remove Section 141 after 37 days from December 3, 1955. Point 7 History And Meaning Of 141. . The history of Section 141 shows how important it is to keep Section 141 intact, and not to amend it. We quote from the brief of the respondent (pp. 25, 26), the winning brief, in Almond V . Day, decided by the Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals Decem­ ber 7, 1955. 4 �“ Three streams appeared to feed the movement away from state support. The first was the felt need for tighten­ ing the public purse in order to prevent raids on the public treasury. * * * The second was the rise of the whole public school system, usually identified with the efforts of a few pioneers, * * * and the subsequent expansion of the public school system owing to industry’ burgeoning need for more s trained people. It became apparent that the double drain of supporting both public and private schools was not only expensive but possibly incompatible with democratic tenets. The third was the felt need to resist the growing attempt to secure state aid for sectarian schools * * *” We quote further from the Supplemental Brief of the Respondent Almond v. Day (pp. 2-4) : “ The overriding purpose which, more than any other, gives to Section 141 its meaning was the felt need to build up the public school system by insuring that the use of public monies, raised by taxation for education should be put exclusively under the control of public authorities. * * * “ That this was the dominant purpose is revealed by the debates (i.e. of 1901-1902) wherein it was insistently stated (limited exceptions apart) that public money should be spent only by those who were responsible to the taxpayers. It is also revealed by the history of education in Virginia. “ The most authoritative treatment of this history is that of Dr. C. J. Heatwole whose book ‘ History of Education A in Virginia’ was published (Macmillan Co.) in 1916. “ Chapter VII (* * *) he shows how slowly the idea of In universal public education took hold in Virginia. It was looked down on by the aristocracy as intended for indigents or paupers and its acceptance thus awaited the emergence of a stronger and more powerful middle class. “ Chapter VIII (* * *) he describes the prevalence of In so-called ‘ academies’ which, with a few exceptions (which re­ ceived appropriations from ‘ The Literary Fund’ were sup­ ) ported by tuition fees paid by the students. “ Chapter XII (* * *) he describes the effort to intro­ In duce a public school system following the constitutional provi­ sions of 1869. He asserts that there were large diversions of school funds especially in the period from 1870 to 1880. The motive back of the diversion — a motive which was not spent until much later — was due to indifference to the need of public education and, indeed, to ‘ effort to weaken and ulti­ an mately defeat the public school system’(* * *). He then describes the change in public sentiment and the devoted efforts * * * to awaken the people to the need of public education. �“ Chapter XVI (* * *) is devoted to what he terms the ‘ Educational Renaissance in Virginia.’ A pivotal meeting had been held at Capon Springs in 1898 out of which grew a gen­ eral interest ‘ public education, maintained and controlled in by state systems’(* * *). As summarized by Heatwole: “ * * In determining upon the essential features in ** this new development, they settled upon popular education as one of the first and most fundamental factors that would insure stability and sanity to the future progress of her (i.e., the South’ institutions. The states of North Caro­ s) lina, Virginia, and Tennessee led in introducing into their political campaigns the question of a more efficient system of public education for all the children of those states. The governors who were elected at this time gained national reputation as “ educational governors” .’ “ concludes: He “All this prepared the way for the provisions for educa­ ‘ tion in the new state constitution. Thus the people of the state were prepared for the constructive work of the admin­ istration of Jos. D. Eggleston as state superintendent of public instruction, whose election occurred in 1906.’ “ The significance of Heatwole’ history * * * indicates that s the overriding intent lying back of Section 141 was the strengthening of the Public School System; negatively it shows that this aim was not one which was being thwarted by in­ direct aid funneled through the children to sectarian or other private institutions.” Point 8. Need For Public Schools. Today as never before, we need the public schools intact. Never in the history of America or Virginia, has the very life of our civilization so imperatively demanded public education for our children, for each and every one of our children. Our school system divided against itself will fall. It cannot stand half public and half private. Again, to quote from respondent’brief in Almond V s . Day: “ use taxpayers’money to assist private schools is to To suggest that American society use its own hands to destroy itself.” Point 9. Amendment Of 141 Will Weaken 129. The proposed amendment to Section 141 inevitably will under­ mine and weaken Section 129 of the State Constitution. Section 129 provides: 6 �“ The General Assembly shall establish and maintain an efficient system of public free schools throughout the State.” To amend Section 129 as Governor Stanley indicated in June 1954 might be advisable, would destroy the public school directly. To amend Section 141 will destroy the public schools indirectly. The difference is between a quick death and a slow one. For the life blood of the public schools is public money, taxpayers’ money. If any of this is taken from the public schools and diverted to private schools, it can serve only one purpose, namely, to weaken the former and strengthen the latter. At the Special Session, Senator Ted Dalton proposed that the General Assembly incorporate in the amendment to 141 a guarantee that 129 should not be affected. It is significant and alarming that this proposal was voted down overwhelmingly. Point 10. Some Are Opposed To Public Schools. Strong forces in Virginia today advocate at least a partial aban­ donment of the public school system. On Wednesday, November 30, 1955 before a joint hearing of the Privileges and Elections Com­ mittee of the General Assembly, the “ Virginia Citizens’ Committee for Better Schools”presented a resolution asking for tuition grants for children attending private schools, “ Both as a measure for preventing enforced integration and also as a legal alternative for parents and guardians who (1) object to public school teaching propaganda or indoctrination, or (2) prefer to send their children to non-public schools for educational, religious, social, or other reasons.” On Monday, November 21, 1955, at a luncheon sponsored by the Chambers of Commerce of Alexandria, Arlington, Falls Church and Fairfax, at the George Mason Hotel in Alexandria, a representative of the State Affairs Committee of the Virginia Chamber of Com­ merce stated publicly: “ Down our way we’ not altogether satisfied with what our re public schools turn out. Public schools now have no competi­ tion. If we had private schools removed from unfair competi­ tion, it might put public schools on their toes.” He suggested that it was a mark of “ free enterprise”to use the taxpayers’ money for private schools. Honorable Robert Whitehead, Delegate from Nelson County, stated on the floor of the House of Delegates on December 1 1955: , 7 �“ And here it should be observed that there are in Virginia many people, constituting a sizeable element of our population, who do not really believe in public free schools, and regard it as socialism to tax them in order to help pay for the educa­ tion of the children of those who are less fortunate financially. They may be counted upon to join in the clamor for the abolition of the public schools.” Today in Virginia we face a real danger from the opinion of those people who too frequently are heard to ask: “ What is so sacred about our public schools?” Point 11. Virginia’ Dilemma. s Virginia faces the greatest dilemma of a century. The customs of our State indicate that our public schools be segregated. The law of the United States forbids that our public schools be segre­ gated solely on the basis of race. As State Senator Harry F. Byrd, Jr. has said, an irresistible force has met an immovable object. Our problem is to devise a means whereby we can, first, preserve our public schools, and second, preserve segregation in those schools within the limits of the law. The Supreme Court must honor our traditions. The decision of May 31,1955 does recognize that the problem is a State problem, that local differences exist, that school authorities and not the Courts “ have the primary responsibility for elucidating, assessing, and solving these problems” We are required to exercise good . faith and to make a prompt and reasonable start toward compliance. But if we make a start, we shall be granted additional time. It is important to remember that no time limit has been set. We have indefinite time. In practical terms, we must find a solution of our problem some­ where within the framework of the law. Point 12. Two Proposals In Gray Report. The Gray report recommends two chief methods for solving the problem. First, it recommends that the Virginia Legislature enact laws authorizing school boards to assign pupils to particular schools and providing for a system of administrative appeals. This is called the “ Pupil Assignment Plan.” It is constitutional and practical and should be adopted by the General Assembly in Jan­ uary. Second, the Gray Commission recommends that Section 141 �of the State Constitution be amended so that public funds can be used for private schools. This is known as the “ Tuition Grant Plan.” This recommendation, it is respectfully submitted, is un­ constitutional and impractical and should be rejected by the people. Point 13. Assignment Plan Will Work. The Assignment Plan will work. Let us try it first. If it does work, we keep our public schools intact, adhere to our Southern traditions, and obey the law. If it does not work, we shall mean­ while consider continuously other advisable legislative action. Under the Assignment Plan in no part of Virginia will a single white child be sent to a colored school. Under the Assignment Plan in Virginia counties where the social problem is most acute, no colored children will be assigned to white schools. Under the Assignment Plan, in some sections of Virginia, a limited number of outstanding Negro pupils may be admitted to some white schools. The law says this must be. This process will not be one of gradually increasing tempo. It must be tightly and conservatively administered so that no social problem will ever result. It will, to a limited and continuously controlled degree, recognize individual achievement regardless of race. Incidentally, the right of a citizen of the United States and of Virginia to stand on his own two feet, according to his own abilities and character, is one of the fundamental rights of free men which Virginia gave to America. The Assignment Plan is the best plan so far adopted to keep segregation in our schools to the extent and for the length o f time that we can show the Supreme Court the customs of Virginia de­ mand that it must be kept. In complete fairness we must point out that total segregation in all parts of Virginia cannot be secured forever. No man in the Commonwealth, from the Attorney Gen­ eral on down, can guarantee that some integration somewhere within our borders, to some extent, will not occur some time. Un­ fortunately, the Supreme Court decision makes some integration somewhere at sometime inevitable. Point 14. No Referendum Needed For Assignment Plan. The Assignment Plan can be enacted into law without a referen­ dum. It does not require any change in the Constitution. The Legislature can meet in January and enact into law all of the 9 �Gray Commission proposals except the Tuition Grant Plan. Re­ member, we do not need to amend the Constitution in any way, manner, shape or form in order to put the Assignment Plan into law. If the referendum fails to carry we still can adopt the Assignment Plan. Many people do not realize that this alternative exists regardless of what happens on January 9th. Point 15. Tuition Grant Plan Will Not Work. The Tuition Grant Plan will not work. It will give us a State­ wide incurable headache. It will transfer public buildings to pri­ vate hands, will remove teachers to private schools at less pay, will endanger teachers’ retirement benefits, will lower the standards in public schools and replace them with fly-by-night private schools whose accreditation will be dubious at best, and will penalize the poorer families who cannot afford to pay the difference over and above the tuition grants in order to send their children to private schools. Let us take a look at the problem of buildings alone. Local school buildings are owned by the localities. The law permits these build­ ings to be disposed of if they are no longer needed for educational purposes. There are no school buildings in the Commonwealth which are not needed for educational purposes. For the past ten years we have built 4200 school rooms. In the next six years we must build 4800 more, Mr. Dowell J. Howard, Superintendent of Public Instruction, tells us, at the cost of one quarter of a billion dollars ($250,000,000). For ten years we shall need 1500 teachers each year more than the year before — 15,000 more in the next ten years at an extra cost, after ten years, of forty-five million dollars a year. With these demands upon us this is no time to cut the financial heart out of our public free school system. Point 16. Tuition Grant Plan Costly To Taxpayer. The Tuition Grant Plan will cast a prohibitive burden on the taxpayers. No proponent has felt able to estimate its cost. Whether it will require funds in an amount equivalent to an income tax rise of 20% or 50%, it is certain that two school systems will cost more than one. It is argued that without tuition grants, schools in some counties will close down, that the state must maintain them under Section 129 and that the cost to the state taxpayers outside those counties will be higher. The answer is simple. If the state fulfills its high moral duty under Section 129, then the state alone will be able to operate 10 �public schools in those counties for the people who want them at less cost than the state’ share of maintaining all the schools in s those counties today. Point 17. Additional Information On Cost of Tuition Grants. Additional information as to the cost of the Tuition Grant Plan appears in the Bulletin issued by the League of Women Voters in Virginia. The statements in the League bulletin are as follows: HOW MUCH WILL THE TUITION GRANT PLAN COST US? ARE WE WILLING TO SIGN THIS BLANK CHECK? Any estimate of the dollar cost of the Gray recommendations, either locally of statewide, would be guess work. Commission spokesmen have been quoted as saying that it is “ impossible now to calculate” . 1 A great deal hinges on what laws are actually passed at the . next session of the General Assembly to implement these proposals (if the amendment is adopted). 2. We have no idea how many pupils in the state will request tuition grants. 3. We do not know what effect these new laws, if passed, will have on Federal assistance to education in Virginia. This amounted to $16 million in 1953-54, or almost 9% of the total. $65 million came from state funds and $104 million from local funds. There are tremendous problems involved in budget-making when the number of pupils who will request tuition grants is not known and when there is the necessity of cutting back or adjusting budgets quickly as the number of pupils fluctuates. Commentators have pointed out that, since interest and retirement on debt for new buildings are fixed obligations, the cuts, in order to avoid increasing the total school budget, would have to be made in such items as salaries, number of teachers employed, maintenance, etc. These questions arise immediately: If a local school budget is inadequate to cover the public school operations plus the tuition grants, how would the school board get the money to make up its half of these “ additional costs” mentioned in the Gray Report? How will the state estimate the amount it needs to budget for this “ addi­ tional cost” We have so far seen no attempts to make any esti­ ? mates of the likely magnitude of this part of the program. The state grants made in 1954-55 to seven counties which have said they would cease operating their public schools averaged $91 per pupil, which is considerably higher than the average for the state as a whole, ($74). What sort of schooling can be bought for $91? If these seven counties use their tax-levying authority to raise this grant to the “ operating cost per pupil” the highest , 11 �operating cost among these counties, $191, still seems inadequate to buy good private schooling. The Gray Report does not mention any standards that would be set up to govern the quality of educa­ tion in private schools, and it specifically suggests that the present rule of an 180-day school year (in order to be eligible for state grants) be relaxed. At the present time it is estimated that 750,000 children now are enrolled in schools in Virginia. Of these, some 715,000 are in the public schools and only about 35,000 in private and parochial schools. With 95% of children in the public schools today, it is easy to see what public education means in Virginia, and even easier to see what will happen if it is abolished. Point 18. Tuition Grant Plan Unconstitutional. The Tuition Grant Plan is unconstitutional. This is a legal point but a simple one. A lay man can understand it as well as a lawyer. Two plus two equals four. A private pupil plus public funds equals a public school. Under the Supreme Court decisions, State action providing public education to children on a racially segregated basis violates the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution. Tuition grants would constitute State action. State action was found to exist in the white primary cases where the State permited so-called private groups to operate the machinery of Demo­ cratic primaries. State action would be found to exist where the State spent public funds, taxpayers’ money, for private schools and where such schools are operated on a racially segregated basis. Moreover, under our own Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals decision in Almond v. Day, it would make no difference whether the public funds were paid directly to the so-called private schools or indirectly to the parents. In the opinion of our own court: “ both cases, the parent and guardian to whom the tuition In fees are paid is merely the conduit or channel through whom the aid from the state to the school is made.” And again: “ When we consider the natural, reasonable and realistic effect of the provision . . . for the payment of tuition . . . of eligible children who attend private schools . . . we are forced to the conclusion that it constitutes a direct and sub­ stantial aid to such institutions. . . .” 12 �At the joint hearings of November 30 and December 1 1955 , the eminently able and fair counsel for the Gray Commission did not advise that the Tuition Grant Plan was constitutional. He did advise that the assignment plan was constitutional. He acknowl­ edged that in the Tuition Grant Plan we would be traveling new paths whose ultimate destination we could not know. The G. I. grants do not generally apply to elementary and high schools. Their constitutionality, moreover, has never been attacked. Point 19. Too High A Price To Pay. The value of the Tuition Grant Plan is negligible. The price to our people is prohibitive. Payment of tuition grants to private schools directly or indirectly will constitute State action and will clothe those schools with a public nature. If we cannot prevent a Negro child from entering a present public school on the basis of race alone, we cannot pre­ vent him from entering a school partially supported by public funds. Therefore, if the Constitution is amended and the Tuition Grant Plan adopted, we shall still have the very problem we face today. We shall have removed from our Constitution one of the keystones of our public free school system and will have accom­ plished nothing except the transfer of our dilemma from one set of schools to another. We shall have gotten nowhere. Our weapon will have become a sword of ashes. And what a price we shall have paid! We shall have sold our birthright of public education for a mess of pottage containing nothing except confusion and frustration. Point 20. Radical Amendment Not Necessary. It is not necessary to amend Section 141 so radically in order to aid war orphans, Negro graduate students and others formerly receiving public grants at private schools. If such were the pur­ pose, then the amendment to 141 could have been limited to serve those very needs. However, the proposed amendment extends far beyond those needs and covers all students at all non-sectarian pri­ vate schools, elementary and high schools. During the past year only 6 war orphans receiving state aid were at private schools. About 10% of the persons enrolled in the Reha­ bilitation program were enrolled in private schools. Last year 580 Negroes received $149,000 to help pay the cost o f graduate study 13 �at out-of-state colleges. Approximately $50,000 was appropriated for the current biennium for 66 teacher students enrolled at private colleges. $22,000 was appropriated for scholarships for nurses but apparently none of those is being spent in private schools. The Highway Department has 279 persons taking courses at private schools, mainly correspondence courses in higher engineering, at a cost of about $46,000. All of this adds up to nearly 800 persons at a maximum cost of $225,000 whose education was interrupted or interfered with by the Almond v. Day ruling. In order to take care of all of them, it should be repeated, the Constitution could be amended in a much less radical way than that proposed in the referendum. It need not be amended so as to permit public grants to all students at all non-sectarian private schools. 14 �� Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource RG 94, Arlingtonians for a Better County (ABC) Organizational Records Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Virginia Society for Preservation of Public Schools, Information Sheet on Referendum Monday Description An account of the resource Information Sheet compiled and published by the Virginia Society for Preservation of Public Schools against amending the constitution and tuition grants. 15 pages Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1956-01-09 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource pdf Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived RG 94, Arlingtonians for a Better County (ABC) Organizational Records Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Virginia Society for Preservation of Public Schools Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1950s Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource This image is subject to copyright. Unauthorized use of the images in the Local History Collections of the Arlington Community Archives is prohibited. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 94_16_8_40 https://projectdaps.org/files/original/d28c7be29bc46a7970afb9cf894855f4.pdf bdc0a2ee150414bcedae25b6192fcc66 PDF Text Text January 5, 1956 Dear Neighbors Next Monday, January 9, 1956 we have an important issue to VOTE on. There has been much debate concerning the segregation issue. There is also some confusion about the Gray Commission report on this subject. Some people feel so strongly about this whole issue that facts have become confused with fear in some cases. No one knows for sure what effect the total Gray Commission report will have in the future on our public school system. We do know that basically the report can be divided into two parts! (1) A pupil assignment plan which proposes that laws be adopted to allow School Boards to assign pupils "....based upon the welfare of the particular child as well as the welfare and best interests of all other pupils attending a particular school. The School Board should be authorized to take into consideration such factors as availability of facilities, health, aptitude of the child and the avilability of transportation." People on both sides of the integration issue itself agree that laws based on this pupil assignment plan will take care of almost all of the problems of integration, which we all recognize are more acute in some sections of the state then in others: (2) The second half of the Gray Commission report involves the present constitutional question (Section 141) which we vote on January 9, 1956. The State legislature is in effect asking for a complete blank check in taking care of the problem as they see fit; without another chance for the citizens to vote on any final plan. Vie can only speculate as to what will happen if the State Constitu­ tion is amended. It seems to me that at least the pupil assignment plan should be tried: before the tax payers are asked to support an additional school system of tax supported private aonsectarian schools. A jno vote on January 9, 1956 will protect us from too radical an action concerning our public schools and at the same time it will allow the legislature to pass laws to put into effect the proposed pupil assignment plan. The vote will be----- are you FOR or AGAINST, calling a constitutional convention to amend Section 141 so public funds can be used for nonsectarian private schools????????? Sincerely Yours, 904 S. 18th. St. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource RG 94, Arlingtonians for a Better County (ABC) Organizational Records Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Letter from Leo Urbanske Description An account of the resource Letter from Leo Urbanske urging a vote against the Constitutional Convention referendum. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1956-01-05 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource pdf Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived RG 94, Arlingtonians for a Better County (ABC) Organizational Records Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Leo Urbanske Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1950s Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource This image is subject to copyright. Unauthorized use of the images in the Local History Collections of the Arlington Community Archives is prohibited. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 94_16_8_39 https://projectdaps.org/files/original/9c8fb2c0f7d540610faa6126e416670f.pdf 13d60e0c613dd87f16423bb0a60a4447 PDF Text Text January 5, 1956. Dear Voters in Madison Precinct: We mothers of children in public schools— your neighborsinvite you to vote next Monday nagainst" calling a limited constitutional convention for the purpose of repealing or amending Section 11(1 of our State Constitution. We ask your support in voting afcainst an unsatisfactory plan: (1) Virginia has been noted for its honesty in government. If we voters authorize the use of public funds for private tuition grants, we place an intolerable burden on the most honest administrates. They would be subjected to all kinds of pressures for granting tuition monies and also xn following through-— to determine if the children of parents receiving the money were actually enrolled in private nonsectarian schools. (2) We will be faced with much heavier tax burdens, if we ask the State to maintain three school systems. Arlington now is allotted in State and Federal funds together less than it raises locally to support its public schools, Seven coiuitiss in southern Virginia that have threatened to close their- public schools already obtain more monies from the State alone than they provide from local revenues. (3) The hard-won excellence of Arlington's public schools will be in jeopardy. No one knows how many parents might apply for tuition grants for private non-sectarian schooling. If parents of one child in every 10 now in the public school system received tuition grants, the loss to our public school budget would approxi­ mate $6^0,000, or roughly the equivalent of 160 teachers. This could wipe out art, music, speech, and all the other special services that enrich our school curriculum. For these and other reasons, we invite you to join us at James Madison School, on N. Stafford St., one block east of the N. 3800 block of Glebe Road. Polls are open from 6 a. m, to 6 p. m. Committee of Mothers, Madison Precinct Lucille Keating Mary Bell Groom Doris Murphy Sara Moorman Ann Reynolds Zelda Kosh Catherine Bachman Irene Hamilton Elsie Knott Eleanor W„ Zimmerman Helen Abrams Rose Langbein Catherine Wood Elizabeth VJeihe � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource RG 94, Arlingtonians for a Better County (ABC) Organizational Records Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Letter from the Committee of Mothers of the Madison Precinct Description An account of the resource Letter from the Committee of Mothers of the Madison Precinct urging a vote against the Constitutional Convention referendum. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1956-01-05 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource pdf Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived RG 94, Arlingtonians for a Better County (ABC) Organizational Records Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Committee of Mothers, Madison Precinct Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1950s Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource This image is subject to copyright. Unauthorized use of the images in the Local History Collections of the Arlington Community Archives is prohibited. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 94_16_8_38 https://projectdaps.org/files/original/308df7133c6b80b180a7b768b817e055.pdf a0be1c1264a8b9a9226cfe67bbf1416b PDF Text Text R oute 1, B ox 411 V ie n n a, V ir g in ia D e a r N e ig h b o r, I a m s u r e you a r e a w a r e th a t I am a c a n d id a te f o r e le c tio n to th e V irg in ia C o n s titu tio n a l C o n v e n tio n w hich w ill c o n v en e M a rc h 5, 1956 to r e v i s e S e c tio n 141. W ith e le c tio n d a y s c h e d u le d fo r n e x t T u e s d a y , F e b r u a r y 2 1 st, i t is n e c e s s a r y f o r m e to w r i t e to you to e n lis t y o u r h e lp . I o n ly w is h th a t I c o u ld ta lk to th e h u n d re d s o f m y fe llo w c itiz e n s of F a ir f a x a n d F a l l s C h u rc h w ho h a v e in d ic a te d t h e i r w illin g n e s s to w o rk fo r so u n d g o v e r n ­ m e n ta l p r in c ip a ls a n d f o r c a n d id a te s p le d g e d to t h e i r o b s e rv a n c e . Y o u r i n t e r e s t in th e p u b lic s c h o o ls and in th e c iv ic a f f a i r s of o u r c o m m u n ity e n c o u r a g e s m e to hope th a t m y c a n d id a c y w ill m e e t w ith y o u r a p p ro v a l. M y p o s itio n is e s s e n t i a l l y th is : I v o te d a g a in s t th e p ro p o s a l to a m e n d S e c tio n 141 b e c a u s e I b e lie v e d th a t o t h e r m o r e m o d e ra te s u g ­ g e s tio n s m a d e by th e G r a y C o m m is s io n fo r m e e tin g o u r sc h o o l c r i s i s p o ss e s se d g re a te r m e rit. W hile th e m a j o r i ty of o u r n e ig h b o rs fe lt a s I did, a la r g e m in o r i t y in o u r c o m m u n ity s u p p o r te d the p r o p o s a l to p ro v id e p u b lic fu n d s f o r p r i v a t e s c h o o lin g . A s a n a tiv e V irg in ia n I f e e l c o n s tra in e d to ta k e c o g n iz a n c e o f th e e x p r e s s i o n of V irg in ia n s g e n e r a lly w hile y e t v o ic in g w ith d ig n ity th e m a j o r i ty v ie w s of o u r v o t e r s h e r e . If e le c te d a s y o u r d e le g a te I p led g e to w o rk fo r a r e a f f i r m a t io n o f S e c tio n 129 - - w h ic h r e q u i r e s th e G e n e ra l A s s e m b ly to m a in ta in a s y s ­ te m o f f r e e p u b lic s c h o o ls in o u r s ta te . I b e lie v e it is im p o rta n t to g a in a s s u r a n c e th a t no a m e n d m e n t to 141 s h a l l c o n tra v e n e S e c tio n 129. W hile th e r e s u l t s o f th e C onv en tio n a r e a fo re g o n e c o n c lu s io n I f e e l th a t o u r c o m m u n ity s h o u ld be r e p r e s e n t e d b y a D e le g a te w h o s e v ie w s c o in c id e w ith th o s e o f o u r c itiz e n s in th is d i s t r i c t . I a m , t h e r e ­ f o re , in a ll h u m ility , a s k in g you to h o n o r m e w ith y o u r s u p p o r t in g e ttin g out the v o te a n d in p o llin g a s u b s ta n t ia l n u m b e r in T u e s d a y ’s e le c tio n . I w ould a p p r e c ia t e h e a r in g fro m y o u . Y ou c a n c a l l m e a t P l e a s a n t 9 -2474, S in c e r e ly y o u r s . D e an B ru n d a g e � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource RG 94, Arlingtonians for a Better County (ABC) Organizational Records Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Letter from Dean Brundage, Vienna, Virginia Description An account of the resource Letter from candidate to the Virginia Constitutional Convention on March 5, 1956 explaining his position against amending Section 141 of the constitution. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1956-03-05 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource pdf Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived RG 94, Arlingtonians for a Better County (ABC) Organizational Records Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Dean Brundage Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1950s Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource This image is subject to copyright. Unauthorized use of the images in the Local History Collections of the Arlington Community Archives is prohibited. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 94_16_8_36 https://projectdaps.org/files/original/98a3bd6eba2c5a9bb7758bc46cc639ac.pdf 74ab7cfa281911f26bdb193f8ca4054a PDF Text Text DISTR IC T OF COLUM BIA 7 1 8 J a c k s o n P la c e , N. W . W a s h in g to n 6 , D. C. IN DUSTRIAL U N IO E x e c u tiv e 5 5 8 1 D e c e m b e r 30, 1955 D e a r S ir a n d B r o th e r : T he A m e r ic a n l a b o r m o v e m e n t c a n co u n t am o n g its c o n c r e te a c h ie v e m e n ts the a g ita tio n w h ic h b ro u g h t ab o u t th e e s ta b lis h m e n t of a s y s te m of f r e e p u b lic sc h o o ls in th e l a s t c e n tu r y . It is in c u m b e n t upon u s , a s s u c ­ c e s s o r s of th e w o r k e r s o f th a t d a y , to p r o te c t th e f r e e p u b lic s c h o o l s y s te m fo r the b e n e fit o f th e c h il d r e n o f th e s t a te . On J a n u a ry 9 , 1956, V irg in ia v o te r s w ill go to the p o lls to v o te f o r o r a g a in s t th e G ra y C o m m is s io n re c o m m e n d a tio n to c a ll a c o n s titu tio n a l c o n ­ v e n tio n to p e r m i t th e u s e of s t a t e funds fo r p r iv a te sc h o o ls . P a s s a g e of th e r e fe r e n d u m w ould be th e se c o n d and m o s t im p o r ta n t s te p in a m e n d in g S e c tio n 141 of th e S ta te C o n s titu tio n , w h ic h h a s b a r r e d th e im m e d ia te a d o p tio n of th e s o - c a l l e d tu itio n g r a n t p la n . T h e G r a y C o m m is s io n w as o rig in a lly e s ta b lis h e d to find w ay s a n d m e a n s by w h ic h V irg in ia s c h o o ls co u ld be k e p t on a s e g r e g a te d b a s i s . I ts r e ­ p o r t, file d in N o v e m b e r, m a d e tw o m a jo r s u g g e s tio n s . U nder one of t h e s e , lo c a l s c h o o l b o a r d s w ould b e g iv e n b ro a d p u p il a s s ig n m e n t p o w e rs , b y w h ic h th e y c o u ld a s s i g n p u p ils to s c h o o ls in s u c h a w ay a s to k e ep th em fo r th e m o s t p a r t s e g r e g a te d . T he o th e r m a jo r s u g g e s tio n is th e tu itio n g r a n t p la n , b y w h ic h th e S ta te C o n s titu tio n w ould b e a m e n d e d to p e r m i t th e u s e of s ta te funds f o r p r i v a t e sc h o o ls , by m a k in g g r a n ts d i r e c t l y to p a r e n ts who a p p ly fo r th e m . T h is p la n a s s u m e s th e c o m p le te c lo s in g of so m e o r a ll of th e p u b lic s c h o o ls in p a r t i c u l a r c o u n tie s and c it i e s . Q u ite a p a r t fro m the t h r e a t to th e p u b lic s c h o o ls t h e m s e l v e s , o u r m e m b e rs sh o u ld be m ad e k e e n ly a w a re of th e f in a n c ia l p ro b le m s a n d th e p r o b ­ le m s of e d u c a tio n a l s ta n d a r d s in h e re n t in p r iv a te s c h o o l e d u c a tio n . T u itio n in good q u a lity p riv a te s c h o o ls c o s t u p w a rd s o f $500 a y e a r , b u t the fu n d s a v a ila b le fro m s t a t e a n d lo c a l s o u r c e s f o r in d iv id u a l p a r e n t s w ould b e fa r belo w th is a m o u n t. T h e s e funds w ould b e e q u iv a le n t to th e a m o u n t c u r ­ re n tly b e in g s p e n t in e a c h c o u n ty o r c ity fo r e a c h s tu d e n t. In the w e a lth ie s t c o u n ty in the s t a te , A rlin g to n , a b o u t $340 w o u ld be a v a ila b le fo r e a c h stu d e n t. In P r i n c e E d w a rd C o u n ty , one of th e c o u n tie s w h ic h �- 2- w ould be am o n g th e f i r s t to c lo s e its p u b lic s c h o o ls a n d to u tiliz e th e tu itio n g ra n t p la n , th e a m o u n t a v a ila b le fo r e a c h s tu d e n t w o u ld b e o n ly $ 1 8 5 . T he d iffe re n c e b e tw e e n th e s e a m o u n ts and the tu itio n c o s t a t a p r i v a t e s c h o o l w ould h a v e to b e b o rn e by th e p a r e n t s . B oth p ro p o n e n ts a n d o p p o n en ts of the tu itio n g ra n t p la n a g r e e th a t s ta te in c o m e ta x e s w ould h a v e to be in c r e a s e d (s o m e e s tim a te s r u n a s h ig h a s 20%) to m e e t in c r e a s e d c o s t s in v o lv e d in th o s e c o u n tie s w h e re a c o m b in a tio n o f p u b lic and p riv a te s c h o o ls w o u ld b e o p e ra te d . T h e s e in c r e a s e d ta x e s w o u ld b e b o rn e b y a ll in co m e ta x - p a y in g c itiz e n s th ro u g h o u t the s ta te . T he p ro b le m o f s e ttin g up a p r iv a te s c h o o l s y s te m to e d u c a te a n y s u b s ta n tia l n u m b e r o f V i r g i n i a 's c h ild re n a d e q u a te ly is in s u rm o u n ta b le . T h e r e a r e no s ta te s ta n d a r d s f o r p r iv a te s c h o o ls , a n d G o v e rn o r S ta n le y h a s s a i d th a t s u p e r v is io n and s ta n d a r d s w o u ld b e le ft u p to the p a r e n ts . T r a in e d s c h o o l a d m i n i s t r a t o r s , now in s h o r t su p p ly a ll o v e r the N atio n , c o u ld n o t b e fo und in s u ffic ie n t n u m b e r s to m an a g e any la r g e n u m b e r of p r iv a te s c h o o ls . T ra in e d t e a c h e r s , a ls o in s h o r t su p p ly , w ould be a s k e d to w o rk u n d e r c o n d itio n s of g r e a t u n c e r t a i n t y w hen th e ir s e r v i c e s a r e in d em an d b y o th e r s t a te s th ro u g h o u t th e n a tio n . A nd no s ta te law is a v a ila b le to s e t m in im u m s ta n d a r d s fo r te a c h in g in p r iv a te s c h o o ls . T he a v a ila b ility of sc h o o l b u ild in g s w ould be a s e r io u s p r o b le m . B y law , V ir g in ia 's s c h o o l b u ild in g s m a y b e s o ld o r le a s e d o nly by o r d e r o f a C i r c u i t C o u rt ju d g e . And r e c e n t d e c is io n s of the f e d e r a l c o u r ts in d ic a te th a t s u c h s a le o r le a s e m a y b e u n c o n s titu tio n a l. F in a lly , t h e r e is s e r io u s doubt th a t th e U nited S ta te s S u p re m e C o u rt w ould a cknow ledge th e c o n s titu tio n a l v a lid ity of s u c h a p la n . In th e p a s t , th e C o u rt h a s fo rb id d e n s t a t e s to do b y p r iv a te o p e r a tio n a n y th in g w h ic h is fo rb id d e n to the s ta te s th e m s e lv e s . It sh o u ld b e n o te d th a t th e J a n u a r y 9 r e fe r e n d u m is n o t a n i s s u e of in te g r a tio n v e r s u s s e g r e g a tio n . The is s u e is w h e th e r o r n o t V ir g in ia is g o in g to k e e p i ts s y s te m of f r e e p u b lic sc h o o ls o r w h e th e r it w ill a b an d o n i t in fa v o r of a s y s te m o f h ig h -c o s t p o o r - q u a lity p r iv a te s c h o o ls . U ndoubtedly a l a r g e m a j o r i ty of th e o p p o n en ts of th e tu itio n g ra n t p la n th e m s e lv e s b e lie v e in s e g r e g a t io n a n d b e lie v e th a t s e g r e g a te d p u b lic sc h o o ls c a n b e r e ta in e d u n d e r th e p u p il a s s i g n ­ m e n t p la n . P ro p o n e n ts of th e re fe re n d u m q u e s tio n h a v e b e e n d o in g th e p e o p le of the s ta te a g r e a t d i s s e r v i c e b y in je c tin g th e r a c i a l is s u e in to t h e i r c a m p a ig n . It is c l e a r th a t th e c h ild re n w ho w ill s u f f e r m o s t s h o u ld th e p ro p o n e n ts c a r r y th e J a n u a ry 9 r e fe r e n d u m a r e th e c h il d r e n of p a r e n ts w h o se e a r n i n g s a r e in the low a n d m id d le in c o m e b r a c k e ts . T h e s e c h il d r e n w ill s u f f e r b e c a u s e t h e i r p a r e n t s w ill not b e a b le to a ffo rd an e x p e n s iv e , h ig h -q u a lity p r i v a t e s c h o o l e d u c a - �-3 - tio n , and b e c a u s e th o s e p u b lic sc h o o ls w h ic h do s ta y open w ill b e th r e a te n e d w ith a lo s s of funds e q u iv a le n t to the n u m b e r of s tu d e n ts who w ith d ra w to go to p r iv a te sc h o o ls . It is c le a r th a t th is g ro u p , w h ic h fa c e s a la c k of good e d u c a tio n , p o o r e r e m p lo y m e n t o p p o r tu n itie s l a t e r in life , and a ll the b e n e fits to b e d e ­ r iv e d fro m a b e tte r e d u c a tio n , in c lu d e s th e c h ild r e n of a ll m e m b e rs o f o r ­ g a n iz e d la b o r in the S ta te o f V ir g in ia . T he V irg in ia S ta te I n d u s tr ia l U nion C o u n c il th e r e f o r e u r g e s a ll m e m b e rs of its a ffilia te d u n io n s to v o te on th e J a n u a ry 9 re fe r e n d u m , a n d to c a s t t h e i r b a llo ts AG AINST th e p ro p o s e d c o n s titu tio n a l c o n v e n tio n . S in c e r e ly and f r a t e r n a l l y y o u r s , / i< X Y: '" 'J j > •- T h o m a s M o ra n S e c re ta ry -T re a s u re r liu 1695 a f l- c io �� Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource RG 94, Arlingtonians for a Better County (ABC) Organizational Records Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource District of Columbia Industrial Union Council Description An account of the resource Letter from the Virginia State Industrial Union Council on District of Columbia Council stationary urging union members to vote against the Constitutional Convention referendum on January 9th. 4 pages. Back of last page has handwritten names written on it. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1955-12-30 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource pdf Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived RG 94, Arlingtonians for a Better County (ABC) Organizational Records Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Virginia State Industrial Union Council Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1950s Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource This image is subject to copyright. Unauthorized use of the images in the Local History Collections of the Arlington Community Archives is prohibited. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 94_16_8_33 https://projectdaps.org/files/original/11eeb1262c3bbf4a9ac83bcb6e8dcd5c.pdf efbe6965536051fe32edad90dd443fec PDF Text Text DECEMBER 1955 FACT SHEET JDH VOTERS I s s u e d ‘ C i t i z e n s C om m ittee f o r S c h o o l Im provem ent by C i t i z e n s ax e g iv in g c a r e f u l c o n s i d e r a t i o n to th e C o n s t i t u t i o n a l r e fe re n d u m o f J a n u a ry 9 l n th e l i g h t o f th e Grqy Commission r e p o r t . The i s s u e o n Ja n u a ry 9 w i l l n o t he i n t e g r a t i o n v e r s u s s e g r e g a ti o n . I t w ill h e th e i s s u e o f th e p r e s e r v a t i o n o r d e s t r u c t i o n o f a so u n d sy stem o f p u b l i c e d u c a tio n i n V i r g i n ia . I t i s f o r t h i s re a so n t h a t t h o s e who p e r s o n a l l y f a v o r i n t e g r a t i o n an d th o s e who p e r s o n a l l y f a v o r s e g r e g a tio n can f i n d common c a u s e i n v o tin g a g a i n s t a C o n s t i t u ti o n a l C o n v en tio n whose p u rp o s e i s to rem ove th e o n l y h a r to l e g i s l a t i v e a c t i o n w hich c o u ld do th e s e t h i n g s : 1. End Com pulsory E d u c a tio n i n V i r g i n i a : The G overnor o f V i r g i n ia h a s conceded p u b l i c l y t h a t com pulsory e d u c a tio n i n V i r g i n ia w ould h e ended b y t h e s p i r i t o f th e G ray R e p o rt b e c a u s e " th e r e i s no o t h e r c h o i c e . " 2. S e v e re ly Weaken P u b lic S c h o o ls : There w i l l be trem en d o u s p ro b le m s i f we h av e to b u d g e t f o r a s c h o o l y e a r when th e number o f p o s s i b l e t u i t i o n g r a n t s i s n o t known— when th e r e i s th e n e c e s s i t y o f c u t t i n g b a c k o r a d j u s t i n g b u d g e ts a s th e number o f p u p i l s f l u c t u a t e s . The Gray Comm ission f o r e s e e s th e c u r t a i l m e n t o f " t r a n s p o r t a t i o n , c a f e t e r i a s , a t h l e t i c s and e x t r a c u r r i c u l a r a c t i v i t i e s . " I t also recommends t h a t a n in e m onth sc h o o l y e a r sh o u ld no lo n g e r be r e q u i r e d . 3. I n c r e a s e Our T axes: The G ray Commission re c o g n iz e s th e f q c t t h a t th e u s e o f p u b l i c fu n d s f o r p r i v a t e s c h o o ls w i l l in c r e a s e l o c a l c o s t s . I t a l s o r e c o g ­ n i z e s th e f a c t t h a t 50$ o f th e s e " a d d i t i o n a l c o s t s " w i l l be f u r n is h e d by t h e S t a t e . T h is w i l l n e c e s s a r i l y mean a sh a rp in c r e a s e i n o u r ta x e s o r a d r a s t i c lo w e rin g o f t h e q u a l i t y o f p u b l i c sc h o o l o f f e r i n g s . U. I n t e n s i f y th e A lre a d y A c u te S h o rta g e o f Good T e a c h e rs : The u n c e r t a i n t y t h a t w i l l p r e v a i l th ro u g h o u t th e S t a t e w i l l red u c e th e a t t r a c t i o n t h a t A r l i n g ­ ton* s s c h o o l sy stem h a s f o r c a p a b le young t e a c h e r s . As a r e s u l t , a l r e a d y d i f f i c u l t r e c r u it m e n t p ro b lem s w i l l be m u l t i p li e d . T here i s th e a d d i t i o n a l p ro ­ blem t h a t many good te a c h e r s may move to s t a t e s w here s i t u a t i o n s aren* t u n c e r ta in . 5. Open th e D oor to Y ears o f E x p e n siv e L i t i g a t i o n : The C o u rts have r e p e a t e d l y r u l e d t h a t th e s t a t e s nay n o t do i n d i r e c t l y w hat th e y may n o t do d i r e c t l y . They have a l r e a d y r u l e d t h a t a l i b r a r y which r e c e iv e d s t a t e fu n d s b e r e q u i r e d to ad m it N eg ro es. Why s h o u ld we v o te f o r an e x p e n s iv e , cumbersome sy s te m w h ich w i l l p ro b a b ly be d e c la r e d u n c o n s t i t u t i o n a l a f t e r much c o s t l y l i t i g a t i o n ? 6 . B rin g About D r a s t i c L e g i s l a t i o n A g a in s t P u b lic E d u c a tio n : I f th e re fe re n d u m p a s s e s , th e G e n e ra l Assem bly c o u ld v o te to u se more S t a t e e d u c a tio n a l fu n d s f o r p r i v a t e s e g re g a te d s c h o o ls . They need n o t f o llo w th e recom m endations o f th e Gray R e p o rt and th e r e i s no g u a ra n te e t h a t th e y w i l l . 7. D estro y V irg in ia * s S c h o l a s ti c S ta n d a rd s : F l y - b y - n i g h t p r i v a t e s c h o o ls w i l l s p r i ig up to a b s o rb t u i t i o n g r a n t p u p i l s . The S t a t e w i l l have l i t t l e o r no c o n t r o l o v e r t h e i r s ta n d a r d s . Where p u b lic s c h o o ls a r e a b o lis h e d ( a s t h e Gray R e p o rt f o r e s e e s ) and p r i v a t e s c h o o l s w i l l n o t o r ca n n o t a c c e p t p u p i l s f o r th e amount o f th e t u i t i o n g r a n t (w h ich i s in a d e q u a te ) , w here w i l l c h i l d r e n go? C itiz e n s r e c o g n iz e th e d i f f i c u l t y o f th e p roblem w hich f a c e s th e S t a t e o f V i r g i n ia . They a r e e a g e r to s u p p o r t a comprom ise p la n w hich w i l l s a t i s f y S o u th s id e V ir g in ia an d s t i l l le a v e o u r p u b l i c sc h o o ls i n t a c t . The G ray P l a n f a l l s f a r s h o r t o f t h i s r e q u e s t . I t does n o t in te n d to le a v e o u r p u b l i c s c h o o ls i n t a c t . The Supreme C o u rt h a s g iv e n u s tim e to re a c h t h i s com prom ise. The p r e s e n t " s u g g e s tio n " o f a p l a n made by th e G ray R e p o rt w ith i t s many r a m i f i c a t i o n s c a l l s f o r a n im m ediate refe ren d u m . T h is referendum comes upon th e c i t i z e n s b e f o r e th e y h av e had an o p p o r tu n ity to r e a s o n th ro u g h i t s many i m p l i c a t i o n s . The R e p o r t an d i t s s u p p o r te r s can* t answ er th e many s e r io u s q u e s tio n s i m p l i c i t i n i t s n a t u r e . They can o n ly a d m it t h a t th e y h a v e n o t found th e " f i n a l a n s w e r." Many C it i z e n s ARE SURE, WHATEVER THE ANSWER, IT MUST NOT TEffiEATEN PUBLIC S C m O L S W ^ ' Bumper S t r i p s — "SAVE OUR SCHOOLS" "NO ON THE yTH" a r e a v a i l a b l e , c a l l L au ren c e S^-Krtappen,.- Chairman-, 'C i t i z e n s C om m ittee-j£or S c h o o l Ix g )ro v e m e n t-O t.^ 7 7 ^ 3 * � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource RG 94, Arlingtonians for a Better County (ABC) Organizational Records Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Fact Sheet for Voters Description An account of the resource Fact sheet issued by Citizens Committee for School Improvement against the referendum for a Constitutional Convention on January 9th. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1955-12 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource pdf Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived RG 94, Arlingtonians for a Better County (ABC) Organizational Records Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Citizens Committee for School Improvement Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1950s Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource This image is subject to copyright. Unauthorized use of the images in the Local History Collections of the Arlington Community Archives is prohibited. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 94_16_8_32 https://projectdaps.org/files/original/591d81e0b5ef7ce3e08616db550dc5a0.pdf 29bce4799ae342ee4774400da9965fa1 PDF Text Text S ave O ur S chools Committee of A rlington December 29, 1955 Dear Neighbors We hope that you have read in the newspapers the facts about the Referendum of January 9th. Partisan comments on both sides have generated considerable heat. This is an additional message about what your vote in the Referendum means, brought you by the people and organizations listed on the other side,, We ask that you soberly consider how best to legislate for orderly government and continued educational progress in our State when you vote on January 9th. The Referendum for or against a Constitutional Convention will be followed by new State legislation for public schools. We have concluded that the proposed constitutional convention would be only the first step to­ wards poorer educational opportunities. While more laws may be needed for improving public education, we do not look for their enactment out of chang­ ing the State Constitution in haste. The suggestions of the Gray Commission for further State laws are vague. No authoritative estimates of additional costs have been presented. The tuition grants, the proposal to use tax money to pay private school tuition fees, are unsound public finance. Also, more fundamental than the implications of higher cost and poorer education, the grant pro­ posals fail to meet the "good faith implementation of the governing consti­ tutional principles" set forth in the Supreme Court decisions. According to constitutional experts, the evasions of the grant proposal will, in time, be declared unconstitutional. Should this happen, we should then have to face up to the realities of the 20th century to provide educational oppor­ tunities on the basis of a public school system that will have been weakened during the period of confusion. We, therefore, join with the churches of all faiths and recommend a vote "Against" the Constitutional Convention in the Referendum on January 9th. The moral forces of the community testify that continued segregation and continued defiance of the law of the land are both wrong and unwise. A vote "Against" is a rejection of a subterfuge unworthy of Americans and Virginians. A vote "Against" is support of less drastic upheaval and is support of more deliberate speed in gradually molding our institutions to the traditions of our great country. A better way can and must be found to move step-by-step through the years without violence either to our neighbors in the South or dishonor to our fine State and its proud institutions. Edward B. Hincks Chairman, Save Our Schools Committee of Arlington �Federal Judge John J. Parker, May 31 decision of the Federal District Court . . . “Washington Post and Times Herald ” “What it (the Supreme Court) has decided is that a State may not deny any person on account of race the right to attend any school that it (the State) maintains . . o O "New York Times" . . © . editorial, December 5 p S3 ? 3g g g » f 2 > S * » w O -*>- w > § £ JSv'W t»o > ® 5 o r “ >lS ^ >• > w > g HS^ N > '? >•2. SH = S to . |3 .r■ 5t • q O 3 i—S y 3 w 1 s 5>J l z l 3 S | » I > ra < ! < =2 e g gr' -* 4 = 5 £» I l S So J?S S ? W1 1 SB » S g' 3 I ? P s ^ ?*9 5 $ ® | | S » g“§ S h I So g * a e ? 2 .i § 4 JH z " 2 ’’ n c u 5H5CC 5-2 g » § £ ff h i C 2 5-§ S O g W* f g O ■ <.> g » W I * B- 3-S..&; B ^ s » W g H 3 > < > » S SO 53 z ? 5 ~ W r.W W 3 ° 3 M *3 C .w 'S- sa 2 S > SAM o rth e i il |S I s « is 11 r„ B2 3 S i* II l > * i 3 § S.- £ I 8 S * § “ - > a l i§ i f & g ? | s„ 3- 8.8 r i . gfi ? | 3 "?l o sg, ” ? « gl ? ? | 8.8 f ly I aI "Is% 3 . It - < S- 8 ' If sf c r "fl ! gf- 5 OF "NO” 3 3 ! | l l ON THE 9 ™ «• m % W - 3 o| 8-s s > s ® (5W oSwO PS o o G » «■ y ►O * » ® «CJ S.W S - o o b f g P -1 §%ig I §•"* « !;"<*■* «' ^ * F 2 i> — s 0 * _ 1 it | §I - .» $ I 5 I .P S > S B P z n H O ■ z m n S o © G t/5 l%c . P ostage PAID P erm it No. 315 A rlington, Va. ARLINGTON 1307 N. Cleveland St. ARLINGTON 1, VA. VOTE Q § ■ Bulk R ate S ave O ur S chools COMMITTEE 2* ^ jl* m o og £ o 5 o > 2B 3M ^ P5 ggFB ? s I-g»5:1- * J U «>S > § S r i II I s- I 1 S'l 1 ; p " • ^ s - O n ►S' ft s “t^ lo ol Is 9^'s.s- 1 2 , editorial, Dec. 17 “Perhaps the most telling argument of all is the grave likelihood that the Supreme Court would overrule the private grant program as an evasion. In that event all Virginia would have done would be to weaken their public schools and open the door to several years of chaos.” . . an element of fair play must govern the relation­ ship of individuals each to each and to the society as a whole. The Virginia subterfuge strikes at the very root of this concept. It is unworthy of the state and its citizens.” s w ►?* £ * 3 O 00 53 rt- hrt . . . “It is both mystifying and distressing to witness the headlong rush of conservative leaders in Virginia to sup­ port a radical change in the State constitution. M en who customarily weigh every nickel of State expenditures are blindly endorsing the Gray Commission plan for private school tuition grants without the faintest notion of what the plan would cost . . . with no definite answer to such essential questions as how the proposed private schools will be housed and staffed. ; � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource RG 94, Arlingtonians for a Better County (ABC) Organizational Records Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Save Our Schools Committee of Arlington Description An account of the resource Letter from the Save Our Schools Committee of Arlington to the public regarding the referendum on January 9th. Two pages Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1955-12-29 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource pdf Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived RG 94, Arlingtonians for a Better County (ABC) Organizational Records Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Save Our Schools Committee of Arlington Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1950s Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource This image is subject to copyright. Unauthorized use of the images in the Local History Collections of the Arlington Community Archives is prohibited. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 94_16_8_31 https://projectdaps.org/files/original/3a1ba4206d9a1bccdfefb7e89bba32ef.pdf e53358cada413e6c6d6811a5499aa699 PDF Text Text - d r iin c ^ t o n C L a m le r 3150 W ILSON BOULEVARD, A R LIN G T O N 1, V IR G IN IA C c m m e rc e o JA ckson 2-1 21 4 PRESTON C. CARUTHERS President June 2k, 1963 CUFF L ELLIS 1st Vice President ASHTON C. JONES 2nd Vice President FRED A. COSNELL, Jr. 3rd Vice President W. T. MAGRUDER Treasurer RO BERT J. JOHNSON Managing Director NOLEN HUGHES Membership Relations ANN D. RAWLINSON Office Manager SHIRLEY STAFFORD Office Secretary BOARD OF DIR TO S EC R Preston C. Carutha Ban H. Cooper Alfred E Crowe . Gordon L. Dewey Allen J. Dickey Cliff I. Ellis Frank S Embrey . Charles R Fenwick . Thom B Filsgarald as . Fred A. Cornell. Jr. David H. Gordon Dr. Carlton E Gregory . Kelly s C. Kimball H. Logan McKinney ■Megruder Mr. Leo Urbanske, Jr., Member Arlington County Board Arlington Court House Arlington, Virginia Dear Mr. Urbanske: Recently the Board of Directors of the Arlington Chamber of Commerce passed a resolution, udiich concerns itself with the Arlington County School Board's action in re the Hoffman-Boston School. Our B oard of Directors favored its resolution by a vote of 27-1. I have been instructed to send to you, and, other members of our County Board, a copy of the above resolu­ tion. It is enclosed, heremth. ROBERT\j. JOHNSON, Mgr. Dir., Arlington Chamber of Commerce Daniel E Ragalie . Em arson G. Reinsch Charles H. Rideout George M. Rowiaa, Jr. Robert P Rucker . Thom E Sebrell, III as . C. I. Thompson C. Wynn. Tolbert Charles F. Warner A �"WHY THE RECENT SCHOOL BOARD DECISION IN RE HOFFMAN-BOSTOH SHOUID BE CHANGED1 1 BY - THE ARLINGTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE The Arlington Chamber of Commerce recommends, that in the best interest of the community, the Arlington School Board reconsider the effects of its recently adopted policy of the enforced integration of Hoffman-Boston High School students into the three other Arlington high schools. It is the opinion of the Chamber, that such a policy is obviously at cross-purposes with the practical educational and community improvement of Arlington County. The current estimated enrollment in Hoffman-Boston (Arlington School Research Department) shows that it will have only 10 pupils over capacity in enrollment this Fall, while Wakefield, WashingtonLee and Yorktown High Schools will have 75? pupils over their capaci­ ty (even though the Board's forced integration into these schools will not have taken effect). These figures reveal how ridiculous a propos­ al would be to transfer 2$0 additional Hoffman-Boston students to the other high schools, already overcrowded. Placing them, this would give 1,00? pupils over capacity, while at the same time, causing Hoffman Boston to be 2lj0 below capacity. This type of thinking by the School Board, certainly does not depict of having the welfare of Arlington or its school system in mind, nor does it make good sense to thinking Arlington citizenry. If the Board's action would take place in the 196ti-65 school year, again using the Board's Research Department's projected enroll­ ments, it would be forcing our three other high schools, to which Hoffman-Boston pupils would be (unnecessarily) bussed, to be over their capacity by 8?0 pupils, while Hoffman-Boston, from whence they would be bussed at public expense, would be operating at more than 35% under capacity. The Chamber of Commerce feels, that this just does not make good sensei This integration policy of the Board would mean, that even through the 1967-68 projections, Hoffman-Boston School would be under capacity, while without the proposed influx of pupils to Wakefield, Washington—Lee and Yorktown in 1967—68, they would still be slightly over capacity. The community has a big investment in Hoffman-Boston, and the colored community, which it serves, has the pride of a school in its community. It has its own athletic team, its own social activities and its own extracurricular programs. Hoffman-Boston has the lowest pupil-teacher ratio of any high school in Arlington. The fact, that it is not huge in size, is a considerable advantage to its pupils. - 1 - �"Why The Recent School Board Decision in Re Hoffman-Boston Schould Be Changed" By The Arlington Chamber of Commerce ----- Continued A local private school, which has only about one-half as many pupils per grade of Hoffman-Boston, and which offers far fewer courses, attracts more pupils than it can accommodate, because it offers the advantages of its small size classes. Further, it is interesting to note, that this school, which offers far fewer courses than HoffmanBoston, sends well over 95% of its graduates to outstanding colleges and universities, annually, Hoffman-Boston students will lose much in this forced dispersal policy, and, if the District of Columbia is any criteria, the communi­ ty will lose also. The Hoffman-Boston community and its pupils, have a pride in a school it can call its own, whereas, if these children are spread throughout the system, this school pride will disappear. The District of Columbia's example of forced integration of its schools and its neighborhoods has found, that this has meant a disin­ tegration also of its schools and its neighborhood areas. We are cer­ tain the Board knows the frictions, which it will have created of its own making, yet, we cannot find any educational or community assets in these frictions. These frictions have always created liabilities in every instance where they have been instituted. The Chamber be­ lieves that, if additional educational facilities are needed at Hoffman-Boston, they should be added. It -will have public support. If, however, the Arlington School Board insists, that it will enforce its policy of bussing colored children to white high schools in the interest of integration, and asks the community to support bond issues to build the additional classroom space at Wakefield, Washing­ ton-Lee and Xorktown, where they are not logically needed, then such an untenable position cannot, in good conscience, be supported by the Chamber and other interested citizens of the community, and, the School Board is certain to face unsurmountable resistance. In fact, any pro­ posed bond issue, until this newly adopted policy is changed, would have to be studied most carefully. We would hope, that the implications of the disintegration, which have taken place since the integration of the District of Columbia schools, would not have half the effect in Arlington, which it is hav­ ing in the District of Columbia, or even 25% of the effect, but, it is presumptuous to believe, that it will not have its effect on our Ar­ lington educational and residential communities, both white and colored. So, the Chamber of Commerce adds, "at what price" is this new de­ cision of our School Board? - 2 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource RG 94, Arlingtonians for a Better County (ABC) Organizational Records Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Letter to Mr. Leo Urbanske of the Arlington County Board from Robert J. Johnson Description An account of the resource Letter from Robert Johnson, managing director of the Arlington Chamber of Commerce, updating Leo Urbanske of the Arlington County Board of a recent resolution passed by the Chamber. Attached is Resolution by the Arlington Chamber of Commerce that the board should change it's decision to integrate students at Hoffman-Boston into the three other Arlington Schools. Three pages. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1963-06-24 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource pdf Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived RG 94, Arlingtonians for a Better County (ABC) Organizational Records Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Robert Johnson, Arlington Chamber of Commerce Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1960s Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource This image is subject to copyright. Unauthorized use of the images in the Local History Collections of the Arlington Community Archives is prohibited. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 94_16_8_30 https://projectdaps.org/files/original/9bf303c6a1c4f522bf210cf4f18de142.pdf cf2fccc1bf741f95f4d20f4b0e8d2925 PDF Text Text ADDRESS OF THOS. B. STANLEY GOVERNOR TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1955 SENATE DOCUMENT No. 2 C o m m o n w ea lth of V irg in ia Division of Purchase and Printing Richmond 1955 �ADDRESS OF THOS. B. STANLEY GOVERNOR TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY EXTRA SESSION WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1955 Mr. Speaker, Mr. President, and Members of the Joint Assembly: The call for this extra session of the General Assembly of Virginia is the direct result of the decision of the Supreme Court of the United States on May 17, 1954, and its decree of May 31, 1955. We in Virginia, and the people throughout the South, had administered our public schools in ac­ cordance with the law of the land as enunciated by the Supreme Court in 1896 and reaffirmed on many subsequent occasions. In good faith and with firm resolution, we had moved forward steadily in a concerted effort to improve our school system and provide the best possible educational op­ portunities for the youth of both races. Millions upon millions of dollars have been expended to equalize facilities, and today the physical plants and courses of instruction of many of our negro schools are superior to those afforded white pupils in the same localities. The Commonwealth has given unprecedented financial aid to the counties and cities in meeting their school construction needs; salaries of white and negro teachers were equalized long ago, and until the separate but equal doctrine was challenged in the federal courts, we had every reason to look forward to an era of un­ surpassed educational progress. The decision of the Court discarding the law as we had known it, and as the Court itself had interpreted it throughout all these years, im­ mediately created problems of enormous proportions. Mingling of the races not only was prohibited by the Constitution of Virginia but was contrary to the customs, traditions and wishes of the vast majority of our citizens. The future of our whole educational system, therefore, was left in dire jeopardy. Recognizing the gravity of the situation, I invited thirty-two members of the General Assembly in August 1954 to serve on a special commission to study the effects of the Supreme Court decision and make recommenda­ tions to the Governor and their colleagues in the legislature. This group, designated the Commission on Public Education, has labored for more than fourteen months, studying proposals advanced in other states as well as many plans and suggestions originating in Virginia and with its own membership. In my charge to the Commission, I expressed the firm belief that separate schools for white and negro pupils were in the best interest of both races and that it was my purpose to do all within my authority to maintain segregated schools. The Commission, early in its deliberations, conducted a lengthy public hearing at which the overwhelming majority of those who availed them­ selves of the opportunity to appear confirmed the belief which I had expressed. �4 Senate Document No. 2 On November 11, 1955, the Commission submitted its report. It was made public on Sunday, November 13, 1955, and the following day I issued the call for this legislative session, in keeping with the recommendation and request of the Commission. I concur wholeheartedly in the recommendations from this able, conscientious and dedicated group of legislators. I cannot permit this occasion to pass without making public acknowledgment of my great appreciation, personally and officially, to the Honorable Garland Gray, Chairman, and every member of the Commission, its legal counsel and staff, and the Attorney General of Virginia, who collaborated on the report. They have rendered a service of untold value to the people of Virginia in bringing forth a program which bears promise of attaining two essential objectives, namely: (1) avoidance of enforced integration of the races in any of our public schools, and (2) maintenance of educa­ tional opportunities for the boys and girls in all sections of Virginia, despite the wide variation in problems and density of white and negro population. The first, and the vital, step toward accomplishing these objectives involves amendment of Section 141 of the State Constitution; This section now reads: “No appropriation of public funds shall be made to any school or institution of learning not owned or exclusively controlled by the State or some political subdivision thereof; provided, first, that the General Assembly may appropriate funds to any agency, or to a school or institution of learning owned or controlled by an agency, created and established by two or more States under a joint agreement to which this State is a party for the purpose of providing educational facilities for the citizens of the several states joining in such agreement; second, that counties, cities, towns and districts may make appropriations to non-sectarian schools of manual, industrial, or technical training, and also to any school or institution of learning owned or exclusively con­ trolled by such county, city, town or school district.” The Supreme Court of Appeals of Virginia on November 7, 1955, held that the present language of this Section bars the appropriation of public funds to the support of private schools and, specifically, invalidated pay­ ments for tuition, institutional fees and other designated expenses of certain children who attend approved or designated private schools. The State Comptroller, on the advice of the Attorney General, has withheld certain other funds coming within the scope of the opinion, including money appropriated for equalization of higher educational opportunities heretofore made available to a large number of negro students attending private institutions outside Virginia, and still other funds which have been used for teacher scholarships in private institu­ tions within this State. The Commission on Public Education, in the light of this decision and conscious of the problems in many areas of the State, has offered recommendations which, if adopted, will have the effect of overcoming this barrier, insofar as non-sectarian private institutions are concerned, and of preserving educational opportunities in all localities. Its unanimous report proposes a limited Constitutional Convention for the sole purpose of amending Section 141: “To permit the General Assembly and the governing bodies of the several counties, cities and towns to appropriate funds for educational purposes which may be expended in furtherance of �Address of Thos. B. Stanley, Governor 5 elementary, secondary, collegiate and graduate education of Virginia students in public and non-sectarian private schools and institutions of learning in addition to those owned or exclusively controlled by the State or any such county, city or town.” Such authority would permit students in localities where public schooling may be interrupted to continue their studies, with state aid, in non-sectarian private schools or in other public schools located elsewhere. In addition, it would apply to the children of parents who decline to send them to public schools where pupils of both races may have been enrolled. Thus, no pupil would be required to attend any school, open to negro and white children, against the wishes of his parents, and localities tem­ porarily without public schools would still have some means of educating their children. The Commission on Public Education made other recommendations for legislative action—after the amendment of the Constitution is effected. I concur in its suggestion that the other proposals, interrelated as they are, be deferred pending your action, the action of the electors, and the action of the Constitutional Convention, if authorized, on Section 141. I submit, therefore, with recommendation for its introduction and passage, a single bill for a referendum on the question of holding a Con­ stitutional Convention to amend Section 141 as heretofore described. The bill is identical with that originally drafted by the Commission, with two exceptions. One change in language corrects an inadvertent transposition of words, and in no way changes the intent or scope of the bill. The second change specifically limits the bill and the Constitutional Convention to Section 141. These changes were submitted to and approved by the membership of the Commission since its report of November 11. As you know, the same session of the General Assembly which au­ thorizes a referendum on a Constitutional Convention cannot also authorize the second election necessary for the selection of delegates to the Con­ vention. To expedite consideration of the constitutional change, it there­ fore appeared desirable and necessary to convene the Assembly in this extra session. Action here—at the polls—at another legislative session— again at the polls, and in a Constitutional Convention will require, at best, several months. If we are to safeguard our rights and maintain an educa­ tional system, it is imperative to act now on this question. As I conclude this message, may I express my personal gratification in being privileged to meet again with each member of this distinguished Assembly. The problems ahead are difficult, but not insuperable, and I know that they will be met and solved in keeping with the finest traditions of this proud Commonwealth. � https://projectdaps.org/files/original/81c4a9ac8a0d50e0410af2344ba75239.jpg 9967544268b0feb437a2d33d668ed6d9 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource RG 94, Arlingtonians for a Better County (ABC) Organizational Records Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Address of Thos. B. Stanley, Governor, to the General Assembly Description An account of the resource Address of the Governor to the General Assembly submitting a bill for a referendum on holding a Constitutional Convention to amend Section 141 of the Constitution of Virginia. 4 pages Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1955-11-30 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource pdf Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived RG 94, Arlingtonians for a Better County (ABC) Organizational Records Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Virginia General Assembly Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1950s Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource This image is subject to copyright. Unauthorized use of the images in the Local History Collections of the Arlington Community Archives is prohibited. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 94_16_8_28