Few institutions touch as often or kindle as much emotional fire as the schools. Few people have no opinions about the educational issues being argued across America today: bussing for racial balance, citizen control of textbook and curriculum content, aid to private education, open vs traditional class room setting, new teaching techniques, discipline policies, and violence in the school. Each reader, whether parent or not, has a strong opinion about at least one of these issues.
On a local level we are approaching a tax levy election. Some opponents have criticized the St. Louis School System [wording obscured in source] efficiency and question the necessity of levying more taxes. Without engaging in a defense of the school system, we would like to point out to those people that the financial records of the public schools are open to public scrutiny. If they can substantiate their charges with details, it would be a service to the community; if not, their charges are worse than irresponsible–they are destructive.
It is in our American tradition to voice opinions, but we would suggest that to vote against the school tax levy on November 5 is a poor way to register a complaint, whatever it is. There are nearly 200 other school days of the year in which you can become involved in improving the school program for the benefit of your own child or someone else’s. It will only hurt that child and many others if you vote “No” behind the cloak of the voting booth. It will improve nothing.
If we truly love children, as society is fond of professing, we will not begrudge ten times this tax increase.
Originally published in The Paper, November 1974.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1974_11.pdf, printed page(s) 2; PDF page(s) 2.
