The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1961-08-18

Continued from page u
construction has been actually
running et q higher rate than
that for more than five years
already.
3. The number of teachers
and their salaries have also
been increasing. Between 1883
and 1859, the certified staff in
public schools increased "a
per cent, while the number
Of pupils grew by only Is
per cent. Teachers salaries
have increased 40 per cent in
constant dollars since 1850.
Hence, the objective find
ings of disinterested research
show that the need for the
Federal government to enter
into education on the elemen-
tary or secondary school
levels is at least open to ques'
ton and discussion.
Who are the chief pro-
ponenfs of Federal aid?
Public school teachers and
administrators, especially
through their organizations,
the National Education AS
ISOLATION and the Council of
Chief State School Officers.
What is the position of
Catholic bishops on nonprofif
Independent schools sharing
in any Federal aid program?
Speaking in behalf of the
Bishops previously mentioned,
Archbishop Alter said: in the
event that there is Federal
aid to education, we are deep
ly convinced that in justice,
Catholic school children
should be given the right to
participate" Similarly, Cardi-
nal Ritter remarked: 'If pub
lie funds are raised for the
educational benefit of the
children in America, then all
children should share in that
benefit"
What is the position OF the
Catholic laity on nonProfit in
dependent schools sharing in
any Federal aid program?
Although there have been
a few dissenting voices, the
public statements of leading
Catholic laymen and lay
women and of their 0rgani-
cations have been in vigorous
support of the right of all par
ents, children, and schools to
share in any massive Federal
educational program.
Why do Catholics believe
that all school children
should share in the benefits
of any Federal aid program?
at is unthinkable," declar-
ed Cardinal Spellman of New
York, that any American
child be denied Federal funds
because his parents choose for
him a God-centered educa.
ton" Catholics think ii UNI
American for the Federal gov
eminent to say: I'VE will help
you educate your child, and
help him To become a more
useful citizen, but only if you
send him TO a school in which
he will learn nothing about
his Catholic faith from the
age of six to eighteen"
What is the principal srsu'
ment used by those who wish
TO exclude private schools
from Federal aid?
The principal argument
they use is that including
private schools in the Federal
program would violate the
separation of Church and
State. which they say is com
manded by the First Amend
ment.
What does the First Amend
lnenf say?
II says: Congress shall
make no law regarding an
establishment of religion or
prohibiting the free exercise
thereof" BY forbidding the
establishment of a national
or state church, ii safeguards
the religious liberty of the
individual. But ii also does
more; it forbids the Fedora
government to lay burdens or
the exercise OF religious free.
dom which are not reasonably
necessary to the attainment oil
national purposes.
Do the nonprotii schools
conducted by Protssfsnfs
Jews, and Catholics render
public as we'll as . privsf'
Serviee7
Yes. In addition to teaching
religion, these schools teach
with a competence equal To
that of the public schools, the
secular subjects taught in the
latter. They thus render q
valuable public service and
should be included by tho
government in any program
TO achieve educational excel
lence.
To refuse to make public
benefits available through
these schools is to discrimi
nate against them in favor oil
q religiously neutral school
system. Many OF the Founding
Fathers of the Republic would
be shocked at such discrimi
nation. More Importantly
such discrimination will frus
trate the achievement of the