Geauga record. [volume] (Chardon, Geauga County, Ohio) 1952-1962, 1962-05-10
We Should Help Our
Parochial Schools


would help solve our public school problem. Actually
4 nothing could be farther from the truth Unless pub
0 lie, school boards and school administrators change
completely their thinking about the situation our own
public schools are likely to be seriously hampered in
their operation and growth.
Common thinking was that the establishment of
Catholic schools will take part of the load OF meet
ing the expanding needs of our community off the pub
lie school, 1t amounted to thinking we were going to
get something for nothing which is almost always
falacy in this world.
While we were voting down bond issue for our
schools last fall, Catholics in Community were
not only paying their regular taxes but pedging ad-
dtona funds to build and operate their own school.
The Catholic families in Geauga paying dou-
BILE charge paying their share of educating our child
and paying separately for educating their own
haven't heard a single solitary Catholic complaint
against the situation But consider reasonably how IS
Catholic going to vote on proposition OF improving
or expanding our schools which benefits him not at
all?
It's hard enough for you and me to pay our present
increased taxes Consider how much harder it is for
Catholic family to pay their regular taxes plus sep
arate school expenses besides. Catholic pockebookS
are limited like anyone ese's. No matter how much
they may be in favor of Improvement in the county,
an "X" in the mo" column for public school improve
ment.
In every community always have substantial
minority who vote regularly against any improve
ments If we add to this portion of the Catholic vote
our schools are in an impossible condition.
Consider the equities of the situation. Two and two
makes four and cat spells cat in either public or
parochal school. Most of the teaching in parOchial
school has nothing to do with religion it's just the
material taught in the public schools.
There's no question that when the Catholics want to
teach their children religion they should and will
ing to do it at their private expense. But why
rthmetic? English? spelling?
If it is important enough to us to have state and
federal subsidies to improve education for nonCathOc
boys and girls then why not for Catholic boys and
girls Or they to be included with second rate
citizens?
Nobody suggests paying any part of the Catholic
religious education But on the other hand is not eh
cal and moral education desirable? If Catholics, at
their expense teach the Ten Commandments and
The Sermon the Mount, is it not good thing Even
a Buddhist or Mahomedan would be inclined to say
yes
factor in the feeling of many of us towards Cath
olics is coored by the fact that civilization
rent apart few hundred years ago by the rebellion
gains the Catholic church. Some of my own ancestors
came to this country to escape Catholic persecution
Qn all fairness should add that when they had the
opportunity they just vigorously prosecuted Cath
lics). But the fighting over long time ago and
decided to live together in peace and friendship.
But the old grievances still ranke in many 1t is
only that it has been possible for Catholic to be
elected president of the United States Maybe is pos
sibe for us in Geauga to move forward together
to give our children better education in the years
head.
a2Ir.
What can we do in Geauga? We can't of course sig
nifcanty influence the ALLEGATION of state or federal
aid But there are many things do locally. For
example, school bus service to the bene-
fit of all children whether Catholic Protestant.
l,l,