Page 3 of Kentucky Negro Educational Association Journal v.22 n.1

Editorial Comment . . . 9 EQUAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY NEARER The K. N. E. A. notes with pleasure the progressive trend in thinking and consequent legislative action within the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Of special interest has been the increase in the com- mon school fund, and an insistence that further increase is impera- tive if the needs of education are to be met adequately. We note, also, the partial realization of certain objectives of the legislative program of the Association. The taking over of Lincoln Institute by the State, to provide high school training for Negro pupils living in communities where no secondary education was available to them, was the first significant accomplishment of recent years. The Lyman Johnson case, resulting in removal of the racial barrier to admission to the University of Kentucky, the recent modi- fication of the Day Law, authorizing institutions of higher learning which wish to do so to admit Negroes to courses not offered at Kentucky State College, brought nearer equality of educational op- portunity on the undergraduate, as well as the graduate level. A significant accomplishment during the recent legislative ses- sion was an amendment to the Regional Compact, as follows: "In its participation in the regional compact approved by Senate Resolu- tion No. 53 of the 1950 General Assembly, or in any other regional plan having a similar purpose, the Commonwealth of Kentucky shall not erect, acquire, develop or maintain in any manner any educational institution within its borders to which Negroes will not be admitted on an equal basis with other races, nor shall any Negro citizen be forced to attend any segregated regional institution to obtain instruction in a particular course of study if there is in operation within the Commonwealth at the time an institution that offers the same course of study to students of other races." Modification of the Day Law, and the agreement that the Region- al Compact will not provide racial segregation are two of the most significant occurrences affecting Negro education in recent years. These, along with increased appropriations for schools, should do much to raise the educational level, self respect and citizenship status of Negroes throughout the Commonwealth. The K. N. E. A. 3