Considers Bus Question

HELLO FOLKS! — Our government has launched a program of planned deficits. This will probably create some inflation. The inflation has a definite impact on items purchased.

To the wage earner one per cent inflation will see his costs go up $10 per $1,000. For the farmer, who has to spend at least $20,000 in order to have a $5,000 income, this means his cost of the inflation is $40 per $1,000 of income.

—o—

ONE OF THE big issues before the State Legislature concerns transportation for parochial schools. This is generating a lot more steam than the news media indicates.

Roman Catholics are generally the ones pushing for transportation to non-public schools. Their argument is that they are educating children while still supporting public education; thereby maintaining an overburdening amount of the total cost.

There is truth to their statement. It should be easy to see their point of view. When they see busses go by and cannot ride them, but have to pay the transportation out of their own pockets they are bound to feel that something is not quite right.

Main Argument

Those who favor parochial schools say they do so because they feel that their children do not get enough religious instruction in public schools.

The core of the matter, then, hinges on the answer to this question. Do parochial schools give the children better religious training than they can otherwise obtain?

We may readily agree that children who go to parochial schools get a deeper indoctrination than do the others. This seems natural when students are exposed to it each day in school. However, history positively indicates that citizens education in non-parochial schools, and consequently get their religious education through Sunday School, Bible school and preaching services, get a better Christian education and are better qualified for leadership.

It stands to reason that a child who is reared among children of various beliefs is more apt to be tolerant than one who is reared in a close doctrinal atmosphere. He is also apt to learn more of the true concepts than one reared without the contrasting beliefs.

Others Pay Bill

Non-Catholic Christians maintain a very effective and quite complete system of religious training. They pay their own costs and do their own transporting. While it is not as burdening as those who send their children to parochial schools, is done without thought of state renumeration.

I understand that Catholics are beginning to have Sunday School supplemented with home instruction. This might eventually eliminate the need for parochial education. Judging from the success of other denominations, this would be a step in the right direction.

With this view in mind, allowing bus transportation to parochial schools, and thereby encouraging this form of education, would be a step in the wrong direction.