Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1920-04-06
END OF PRIVATE
SCHOOLS SOUGHT
InitiatOry Petition Filed i'm Mich
lgan for Constitutional
Amendment

DETROIT, Michigan-With Zone
Flag, One Language, and One School,
as its rallying cry, powerful move
| ment is under way in Michigan to
abolish private schools by an amend
ment to the state Constitution. The
Wayne County Civic Association of
Detroit, of which James Hamilton is
president, through its hundreds of
volunteer workers throughout the
State, has already obtained $4,000
names to an initiatory petition, where
only 1855 were required. The petit
ton has been filed with the Secretary
of State, but still the names continue
to pour in. Mr.. Hamilton now esti-
mates that 175,000 persons have
signed. There are approximately $780,
900 voters in Michigan.
ut is not religious question" Mr.
Hamilton told a representative of The
Christian Science Monitor, "but sim
ply one of Americanism. 1t is not
right that the peoples taxes should
be used to pay truant officers to en-
force attendance of children at schools
conducted by the Seventh Day Ad-
ventists, the (Roman) Catholics, the
Mohammadans, and the Lutherans. At
all these schools children of an i'm
questionable age are instructed in one
idea. We want them to be sent to the
public schols and given an education
that will fit them to be real American
citizens"
Text of Proposed Amendment
The proposed amendment, which has
attracted the commentator of some
national educators, Is brief. 1t simply
adds these two sections to the Consti-
tuition:
"All residents of the State of Mich
igan, between the ages of years and
16 years, shall attend the public
school in their respective districts I'M
til they have graduated from the
eigth grade; provided, that in dis
tricts where the grades do not reach
the eigth, then all persons herein de-
scribed in such district shall COM
plete the course taught therein.
THE Legislature shall enact all nee
essary legislation to render the pre-
vious section effective"
Mr.. Hamilton and his coworkers in
sist that there is no doubt that the
amendment will be adopted. AS can
didates for Governor have failed to
take stand on the subject, petitions
are now being circulated to place Mr..
Hamilton on the ticket.
Many Roman Catholic Signers
An interesting feature Is that many
Roman Catholics are reported by the
association to have signed the petition
for the amendment. Mr.. Hamilton
says that hundreds more will vote for
it in November He also declares that
many merchants who for business
reasons did not care to put their name
to the petition will take advantage of
the secrecy of the election booth.
This is third attempt to put the
question to a vote, others having
been thrown out on technicalities..
Progress being assured, the civic as
ISOLATION is gradually delegating its
leadership to the Public School De-
tense League, a subsidiary, of which
Mr.. Hamilton is also the leader.
A feature being stressed by propo-
nents Of the amendment is in connec-
ton with the national agitation for
increased pay for teachers. Mr.. Ham
ilton holds that it is to the interest
of the present private schols, as COM
petitors, to weaken the public school
system. He believes that adoption of
the amendment will bring not only
higher standard of citizenship, with a
more thorough education for the in
for teachers.-Christian Science Mont
tor