The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1960-06-03

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For the latter reason as
we'll, reports had it an amend
ment to provide Federal sup
port of salaries of public
school teachers, mueh-desired
by the influential National
Education Association and a
provision in the Senate's bill,
would also be declared not
germane.
1t happened that way on
the floor. First an amendment
to include support of teach
ers' salaries was ruled out Of
order.
Later, Rep. Roman c. Pu-
clnski of Illinois arose TO in
troduce an amendment for
loans. The proposal called for
providing an amount equal to
10 per cent of the aid voted
public schools which would be
made available by the US.
Commissioner of Education
in loans to private, nonprofit
schools.
REP. CLEVELAND M.
BAILEY of West Virginia, a
member of the House Educa-
ton committee, challenged
the amendments pertinency.
Rep. Pucinski answered that
the bill before the House
dealt with the difficulties of
fi~nancing construction and his
amendment proposed to help
a substantial segment" of
the nations school population
meet this problem.
But, Rep. Forand then is
sued his ruling. He felt bound,
he said, despite the laudable
aims of the proposal, to use
the same reasoning as had
been applied TO the proposal
for public school teachers
salaries.
Rep. Clement j. Zablocki
OF Wisconsin then arose, say
ing he had an amendment sim
liar to that offered by Mr..
Puclnski to aid private
schools, but that the decisions
of the chairman had "effec-
lively closed the door to con-
sideration Of my substitute"
Il am deeply distressed by
these developments" he said.
Hitting the counting-in Of
private and parochial school
pupils for the purpose of al
location of funds to states,
but counting them out In their
distribution, he said:
II SINCERELY HOPE that
that the Committee on Educa-
ton and Labor will correct
this discrimination in future
legislation. | hope that the
needs Of all school children
will be kept in mind in future
legislation.
In his comment on the
Houses action, which ends
months of Congressional de
liberation that already had
seen the loan amendment de-
feated by a 40 to 81 vote on
the Senate floor last Febru-
airy and rejected twice in the
House Education Committee,
Bishop Shehan said:
1.-THE Department of Edu.
cation of the NCWC is great.
ly disappointed at this turn
Of events and surprised at the
disregard of precedent and
American tradition.
TWO YEARS AGO, Con.
gress enacted the National
Defense Education Act If
which it enlisted the resour.
ces of all education public anc
nonpublic, to meet a national
emergency. A loan program
completely in harmony witt
the Constitution enabled pri
vate, nonprofit schools to i'm
prove their facilities for the
benefit of the nation. II is
puzzle to the Department tina
this precedent had not beer
followed.
1.-The proposed legislation
ailocates money for grants foI
school house construction OF
the basis OF all school agt
children in each state, Blu
then confines the use Of tina
money to public schools.
1.-THE procedure is a viola
ton of justice and deprive.
one segment Of the citizenr,
of equitable treatment. Fur
thermore, 1t implies that al
tendance at public schools i
a requisite for Federal assist
ance. Such a requirement !
contrary to American trad
tions.
"Our country has been en-
riched by the healthy, cul
tural pluralism We find in OH
society. A significant part o
that pluralism is the exist
ence of diversified education
al systems.
"AMERicANS ARE oppo,
cd TO forcing their childre.
into a single educational mole
They reserve to themselve
the freedom to choose the sy'
TEN of education they desire
Congress has failed to rec
ognize this fact by elemlnatin
private, nonprofit educatio
from legislative proposals.
Congress is going to involv