Godwin's statewide education conference assessed the state of public schools
In 1966, Dabney chaired Governor Godwin's education conference in hopes to stir up support for public education. He discusses the controversy surrounding bonds and sales tax initiatives, which contradicted Senator Byrd's pay-as-you-go financial policies.
Citing this Excerpt
Oral History Interview with Virginius Dabney, July 31, 1975. Interview A-0311-2. Southern Oral History Program Collection (#4007) in the Southern Oral History Program Collection, Southern Historical Collection, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Full Text of the Excerpt
- DANIEL JORDAN:
-
One of the major categories we would like to discuss today involves your
work with education. In general, I would like to comment on some of your
highlights of work in this field and get you to assess what you did, the
nature of the work itself. You were the chairman of a statewide
conference in 1966 called by Governor Godwin to assess current Virginia
commitments in the field of education. What was the nature of that
conference and your chairmanship?
- VIRGINIUS DABNEY:
-
The conference was called by the governor to stimulate interest in better
appropriations for higher education and the public schools. Both
categories of education were dealt with in the conference and it was
well attended from all over the state. The Mosque was filled on the
lower floor and partly in the mezzanine. There was great enthusiasm. The
program went off very well and the reaction was excellent. Governor
Godwin made, I think, eight speeches after that in eight sections of the
state in order to stir up grass roots sentiment for better education and
better support for it. He, of course, at the next session of the
legislature, backed general obligation bonds and a sales
tax, both of which were essential to the progress that he
achieved.
- DANIEL JORDAN:
-
Now, what was your role in the conference, as chairman? What exactly did
you do?
- VIRGINIUS DABNEY:
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Well, I helped to organize the conference. I presided. I made an opening
statement and a closing statement and introduced the speakers.
- DANIEL JORDAN:
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You mentioned Governor Godwin's support of a sales tax and a bond
referendum. Did you support that partly from a pay as you go
approach?
- VIRGINIUS DABNEY:
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Yes, we supported both of them in the Times-Dispatch
and I did personally. The time was ripe for both changes. It was obvious
that Virginia couldn't possibly go forward in education and various
other areas without these additional funds.
- DANIEL JORDAN:
-
Had you supported either before this time? Either personally or
editorially? Either sales tax or bonds?
- VIRGINIUS DABNEY:
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No, I don't think I had.