Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1920-10-28
THE SCHOOL AMENDMENT

THE SCHOOL AMENDMENT
The upon the proposed school amendment is matter
of vital Importance the should consider this mat
ter with mind free from religious political prejudice
and deal with it spirit of tolerance and fairness free from
any spirit of bitterness Christian with another.
The purpose of this amendment is plainly and undenaby
to abolish all parocha schools but especially the
rious denomnational religious schools
The paper twenty years experience in
school that the
amned the pupils of the Petokey Parocha school That
fully the equal of that the public schools
for the pupils of the paroha school passed the state 9Th grade
citizens
fact that there rural parochia schools and that
such schools exist only in the larger and congsed
munites question would not affect the
school status of Alma Gatiot county The facts that
$4,000 of these children with approximately 5000 teachers
costs about seventy million dollars for the public schools and
this amendment it would school
ating million dollars in addition that
sentative estimate of the these
children fifty million dollars These facts which
get away from are practical objections which should appeal to
every thoughtful citizen.
On matter of this kind give to the
opinions of those who know the school business and close
touch with school activities Thomas E. Johnson Sup of Pub
lie Instruction THE proposed school amendment strikes
vital blow at the public school system the state especially with
regard to the district school,"
The president of the Michigan Normal College Charles
McKenny says: MY own conviction that the amendment
serious mistake The private schools Michigan both Catholic
and Protestant have helped the public schools"
Ex-Governor W. n Ferris who conducts the most efficient
private school in the United States says MY belief that
the aim Of the amendment is primarily to close the parocha
Stars and Stripes feel that this cowardy attack upon
thousands of oul.best citizens.
opinions follows:
Emeritus Huchins: proposed amendment
judgment of doubtful validity and unwise in the extreme
Regent w. l.. Sawyer Hlsdale: THE adoption of the
amendment to the constitution in opposition to private pa
rochial schools would be unfortunate and u-Amercan
Regent L. L. Hubbard Houghton "The proposed amend
would public liberty and the rights of
person pursue religious investigation and
gou instruction to his children The least have is
sonal liberty to children, religion and morality
Regent o. Murfn Detroit Il against this proposed
number of First and foremost
pears dishonest it is sound principles and
sound ideas and is most decided step backward have yet
to learn good sound argument for 1T
Regent Frank Leland Detroit g" do not favor the amend
many think it is unAmerican and in my
opinion its incorporation into the basic law of the commonwealth
would be unwise at time
Regent L. Clements Bay City: Il against the abol-
shment parocha schools They have fulfilled good work in
education Their adjustment by law would be contrary to all
principles wherein freedom OF thought IN rgous matters mas
been long established"
Regent BENJAMIN Hanchett Grand Rapids: 81 earnestly
opposed proposition that would result in the closing OF
parocha any private schools that maintain standard
of instruction under the banner of American ideals In the first
place do not believe is right to attempt to dictate to parents
shall shall their children be educated
large number of Michigan private schools the graduates of which
enter the university direct the merits of their credits
Regent j. E. Bea Ann Arbor IF for other than
that parohal schools would greater
overcrowdg of the public school buildings throughout the state
should be against the proposed believe the children
parOchial schools deal OF good religious
they there that they would and do not
the public schools The religious side of these schools is
to my mind, most commendable."
posed to the parochia school amendment think
is Objectionable from every point of view deem it wholly
for the that the legislature has sufficient
thority in the premises
The who give these opinions Catholics OF
Luthean but the best informed Protestant educators of the
State of Michigan.
We should thoroughly inform ourselves and vote for th
best interests of state regardless of religious poa
beliefs, to which entitled.