Jackson advocate., 1963-03-23
Church Group
Opposes Aid TO
Private Schools
washington

tional Council OF CnurcneS tolo
the House Committee on Edu-
cation and Labor that its 81
constituent Protestant and
Orthodox denominations op-
pose federal aid to private and
parochial schools, including
those which some OF the de-
nominations themselves oper-
ate.
Dr. Gerald E. Knoff, exc
cutive secretary of the NCC's
Division of Christian Educa-
ton. testified before the COM
mittee headed by Rep. Adam
Clayton Powell (D) OF New
York. which Is studying the
Presidents aid-to-education
proposals.
He told the committee that
> while Protestant and Orthodox
churches might claim for them
selves the right to establish
private elementary and second
ary schools, the NCC's general
board has expressed the hope
that "no such general develop
ment" of private school sys-
TENS along sectarian lines
would occur.
'In particular, the council
has indicated that the local
churches and denominations
associated with it did not ask
for public funds for sucFEele-,
mentary and secondary schools
under the control of its men,
Der churches, recognizing that
the practical results of such a
claim would be chaos, divisive-
ness, and loss of control for
the public authority" he said.
Dr. Knoff declared that "for
the most part" the bill CHR.
3000), sponsored by the admin
istration is in agreement with
the policy positions on aid to
education taken by the Ma
tional Council Of Churches.
He said the general board of
the NCC is in accord with
President Kennedy's views on
the unconstitutionality of di-
rect aid to religious schools.
It also would oppose the
granting Of such aid as being
"unwise and not in the public
interest" he added.
According to DR.. Knoff, the
council has adopted a position
favoring federal aid to educa-
ton if it is administered by
the states and there are "ade-
quate safeguards against fed
eral control of educational
policy"
DR.. knott emphasized that
the councils position makes it
opposed to special purpose"
grants to nonpublic schools as
well as Unconstitutional"
grants.
He said the council also op-
poses plans to provide "schol-
arships" from public funds to
assist students in elementary
and secondary schools, and that
it opposes various plans for
"tax credits" and "tax forgive
ness" for parents of pupils in
private schools.
Finally, he noted, it is op-
posed to a program of loans for
construction of nonpublic school
facilities.
DR.. knott said, however, that
the council is neutral on the
possibility of counting tuition
paid to parochial schools as a
deductible religious contribu-
tion," a plan proposed by Rep.
Roman G. Pucinski (D) OF, I'LL
nois of the House Education
and Labor Committee and
other legislators.
He also said the council has
taken no position on the matter
of forgiving so percent of col
lege aid loans made to teachers
who take positions in private
schools or colleges.
lStand Explained
DR.. Knoff told the commit
tee he regretted having to ap-
pear to "oppose the conscien-
tious convictions of a repre- "
sentative. Of another body of
fellow Christian believers" "a
'eference to Msgr. Frederick G..
Hochwalt, director Of the De-
partment of Education of the
National Catholic Welfare Con-
ference.
"Still we must be faithful to
our own cherished principles"
he declared, land we must
take a position which we be-
lieve is for the good of the
whole nation.
"This difference of judgment
must not be allowed by either