The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1961-03-17
Our opinion
EDITORIALS
Federal Aid

Much controversy has arisen over President Ken
nedy's proposal of Federal Aid to Education.
1t seems to us that certain points ought to be
clarified to enable citizens to see this question in pro-
per perspective.
FIRST OF ALL, is Federal Aid to Education
necessary? Roger Freeman, in his books, School
Needs in the Decade Ahead and Taxes for the
Schools, says that d good many governors and edu-
Gators in the states see no need for massive Federal
aid TO education. This view is corr0brated by many
throughout the land.
SECONDLY, is FEDERAL Aid to Education use
full or desirable? There are those who hold that sup
port for education can well come from local govern
ments if the tax assessment structure we're revised.
Others fear that Federal Aid will mean Federal Con
troll on the premise that Congress VIII want to know
what is being taught and by whom if federal monies
appropriated to schools.
These two questions need to be decided by our
legislators before they approve a bill for Fedral Aid.
Citizens should write their congressman in Washington
so that our legislators may vote in light of the views
of those they represent.
Now, if the answer to these two questions is in the
affirmative, the next question is: Who is to be aided?
Government exists for the people, When the
%goVrnment proposes to aid its people in the area of
Education, all citizens are entitled to aid.
sUCH HAS BEEN THE practice in the federal
school lunch program, the CT. Bill for college edu-
cation, and in some states which provide bus trans
portation and textbooks.
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TO students in unsupported and nOn-tax-supported
schools as well. No objection has been raised on con-
stitutional grounds against this aid to students in
private and parochial schools, who share the benefits of
the legislation with those In public schools.
But President Kennedy in his Federal Aid Bill has
stated unequivocally that "n accordance with the
clear prohibition of the Constitution no school funds
are allocated for constructing church schools or pay
ing church school teachers salaries"
THE ADMINISTRATIVE oAR of the National
Catholic Welfare Conference has answered that a Fed
deral Aid Program which excludes children in private
schools makes them victims of discriminatory legisla-
ton
Why would it be discriminatory? Father Neil Nc
Cluskey of AMERICA magazine states it this way:
All parents are forced by compulsory education laws to
send their children to school. Catholic parents are
consclence-bound, where possible, to send their chill
dren to parochiaI schools, and their right to do so
is constitutionally guaranteed. But when Catholic par
ents have to pay taxes to support the public schools
and then must contribute again to finance their own
schools the constitutional guarantee has for them a
price tag attached. Catholic parents are thus victims Of
discrimination because they have to PAY in order to
enjoy the free exercise of religious liberty.
IN DIFFERENCE TO THE Presidents position we
must certainly admit that direct federal aid to private
elementary and secondary schools presents consti-
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probation. But the current reading is not necessarily
the delinitive one as has been shown so often in the
past. Just recently tax aid TO STUDENTS of private
schools was reaffirmed by the Supreme Court in the
Connecticut bus transportation case.
If direct aid to our schools is unconstitutional,
naturally we do not seek it. What Catholics do want is
recognition of our legitimate claims as citizens. There
are many welfare programs which could be extended
more; there are tax credit programs which have been
proposed. And the Bishops have suggested long term,
low interest loans be made an amendment to the pre-
sent proposed legislation.
SOME RECENT STORIES in the daily press we're
headlined by captions to The effect that Catholic
Church Opposes School Aid. This is not true. If
federal aid is necessary, useful, and desirable for our
public school students we are definitely in favor of it.
But If it is granted TO students in public schools, out
OF simple Justice some provision ought to be made for
students OF other schools as we'll.
Catholics want justice for all citizens, regardless
OF creed. -GAF.