Evening star., 1961-03-27
Aid to Education


beyond one Of necessity. That
is that it partially deprives
American citizens of q right
as well as an obligation.
An active populace in each
school district, willing to in
form themselves on their local
issues. surely can direct their
schools better than an agency
in Washington which must
attend to thousands Of such
districts and strive to satisfy
the many pressures brought
to bear upon 1t.
And as for money, cannot
the States raise funds Just
as easily as Washington?
Politicians seem to grow
braver In the use Of money
when they are long miles
from the voters. Already the
States have apparatus to col
lect and distribute educa-
tional funds whereas In order
to federally process them
without unreasonable waste
we must institute new studies
and the like. And this to do
q job which could be per.
formed more efficiently by
the people and should in the
democratic scheme Of things
be performed by them, If
our leaders are willing to
concede that the people of
this country are not willing
to keep vigilance over their
Government then they have
conceded the cold war.
Why waste time on legisla-
ton which is only q sad
substitute for an awake cit
izenry when only the real
thing will make any differ
ence?
Henry T. Canaday
. = Z =
The cry now seems to be
toward the poor taxpaying
parent who is forced to sup
port the public school sys-
tenn as well as pa1 for send
ing his child to q parochial
school. One such abused par
ent suggests that the taxes
he spends for support of pub
lie schools be refunded to
him and all parents who send
their children to parochial
schools.
However, II such parents
should be refunded tax
money. why shouldn't those
parents whose children are
now adults and educated re-
ceive refunds too2 Why
shouldn't retired citizens
whose tax money also goes
to support of schools receive
refunds? What about the
unfortunate couples who have
no children but who also pay
taxes, q part Of which sup
ports schools receive refunds?
Now that we are on q give
away or refund basis, what
about those of US who have
been sending our children to
private school, for which the
price is very high. but who
are still paying q percentage
Of tax money for public
schools? Shouldn't we be re-
imbursed too? Where do the
unmarriedS come in-men
and women who never will
have children, but whose
taxes also pay a portion
to schools2 Can they also
be included in the refund pro-
gram?
It disturbs me to realize
that the people In this coun-
try have lost their sense Of
values to the extent that the
Government must be the
keeper and Santa Claus to
all. Have the American peo-
pie completely lost the initia-
tive that was once the back
bone of this Nation, that we
are willing to let the Gov
ernment do for us what we
ought to be doing for our
selves? Couldn't this per-
haps be the answer to the
Presidents question about
what we can do for the coun-
try and not what can the
country do for US? Or are
we already so close to social
ism that we can't see the
forest for the trees?
Kathlyne W., Olsen
80
II the Federal aid to educa-
tioh bill is necessary, then it
should benefit not only public
schools. but also private
schools. The same classroom
shortage, the same teacher
shortage. the same initiation
of expenses are being ex-
perienced by both public and
private schools.
One third Of the money
earned today goes into taxes.
city, State and otherwise.
Parents Of private school