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Show IN CONCERT EDUCATION VOLUNTEER of the school, and that any attempt to change the laws would meet with a good deal of opposition. I think, therefore, that they must be challenged in the courts, and on the constitutional libertarian grounds THE UTAH A city-wide donation drive will that I have suggested. be scheduled sometime in “NOT SO GOLDEN RULE DAYS” I do not want to imply, however, September through the area that unless and until the courts churches. Groundwork for this By John Holt overturn these laws, nothing can be project requires a hard worki committee - call 486-9371 to done. One example may _ be Pitman volunteer your help. cited: A nine-year old child who 1969 attends the leading elementary school in a fairly civilized community came home in tears one day. From her first day in school Part Jes this girl had been a model student. On this particular day she had had a substitute teacher in her class. She had finished a piece of assigned young children; very few, if any, I have offered a number of “seatwork” and, having nothing reasons why | think compulsory parents would want to keep their else to do, drew a picture of a school attendance is against the children home from school for rabbit on a small piece of paper. WORDPOWER would like to pay best interests of the schools; but I econimic reasons. The fact is that The teacher stole up behind her, tribute to a fine organization in oppose it largely because I believe it the only exploiters and destroyers saw the drawing, and without Salt Lake City that often received is harmful and unfair to children. In of children today are the schools warning, snatched the paper and The Utah Community Choir criticism and little support from the speaking to many parent groups themselves. pencil away, crumpled up the performed in a one hour concert at community. The Salt Lake branch around the country, most of them What should the law say? It paper, threw both pencil and paper the Beehive Lodge of Elks, 248 of the NAACP, under the in suburban areas where one might should say that if in the opinion of against the wall, and at the top of leadership of Mr. James Dooley, has West South Temple on Sunday, suppose the school systems are a child and his parents the school is her voice said, “If I catch you August 2. This outstanding group is become an action organization. A among the very best, I have heard doing no good for him, or is indeed drawing another picture in class, | comprised of forty-two local Black few of their accomplishments more stories than I can remember doing him harm, he should not be am going to make you write ‘I shall youngsters between the ages of include: an increasing scholarship about children being hurt and required to attend any more not draw pictures in class’ until seventeen and thrity dedicated to fund for young people to continue injured, and perhaps in important frequently than he wishes. There your hand hurts!” The child’s the art of religious, gospel and their education; a strong credit ways crippled, by their schools or should be no burden of proof on mother, when she heard this story classical music. Their: performance union with Danny Burnett at the the parents to show that they can their teachers. As a result, I have after school, was furious. She called on Sunday was very moving. They helm; committees working hard in come to think that these laws are a provide facilities, companionship up the principal, described what sing with clariety and _ strength, the areas of Labor, Education, most serious and fundamental with other children, and all the had happened, and then said that enjoying every minute of their Housing, Legal Problems and other things the schools happen to violation of the civil liberties of the although she understood why it performance. It was obvious that Employment; an office set up fora children and their parents. I believe provide. If Billy Smith hates school, might not be possible for him to the audience was affected by the vottr registration drive and the they should be challenged--and and his parents feel that he is right fire the substitute teacher, she standard selections and by the possible awarding of funding for perhaps can be overturned--on in. hating it, they <are would not return her child to the original arrangements that the choir WORDPOWER to train minorities constitutional grounds. constitutionally entitled to relief. class as long as this teacher was offered. The pianist, Miss Senobia in journalism, communication and I am aware that from time to They are not obliged to there. The principal decided to Smith displayed her many talents — public affairs. It is the dedicated time, in various parts of the demonstrate that they can give him ignore the absence of the child, in piano playing, solo and lead singing effort of Mr. James Dooley that is country, parents have challenged -a perfect education as against the my view a wise decision. In other and arranging two of the numbers. bringing about this funding and we the compulsory school attendance bad one the school is giving him. It words, a policy of resistance to the Mr. Nick Little, choir director, has are deeply grateful to him and to is a fundamental legal principle that laws, usually with no success. These school attendance laws can perhaps worked hard with the group and his the branch for their support. if we can show that a wrong is challenges have been made on achieve some results, even before efforts have produced one of the Special thanks to Albert Fritz and rather different grounds from being done, we are not compelled the courts formally repeal or most inspiring group of performers to Mary Schultz for their generous mine--not so much that what the to say what ought to be done in its overturn them. ever seen in Utah. donations. | school was doing was bad or place before we are permitted to harmful to the child as that the insist that it be stopped. parents could do as well or better at I know many children who find home. To this essentially elitist school hateful and intolerable who. argument the schools have replied, might discover that it was not only reasonably enough, that the school bearable but interesting if they provides certain kinds of were not obliged to be there every Wordbb werd is published every other educational resources, among them day. Even those who hate school Thursday by Wordpower, Inc., a the opportunity to come in contact most do not want to be away from non-profit organization. with large numbers of other _it all the time. After all, it is where children, that cannot be provided in their friends are and where the ARNE’S MAREE Editorial Office _ the home. Their case has been action is. Many who cannot stand 975 East 300 South Suite 1 strong enough so that the courts five days a week might actually Telephone: 486-9371 @e S37] Ge 460 have usually been willing to uphold enjoy two or three and get more it. The challenge I propose is education and more satisfaction EDITOR different. I say that the schools than they now get out of five. Marlene Marie Young have no right to demand a child’s Anyone who knows anything about schools--including almost all attendance unless they are in fact CONTRIBUTING EDITORS helping him, that the burden of students--recognizes that children Glen K. Douglas, Sports proof is on them to show, at any who use any substantial part of for friendly people Lucy Black, “Whose Pond” Column time, that they are in fact helping, their intelligence and energy can do Roberta Hershfield and that where they cannot show in two days or less what schools ask Virginia Heaton, Jobs this or where, for whatever reasons, them to do in five. If the law saidMarie. Darling, “From the President’s Desk” their effects on the child are that children could go to school Cathy Jamison, Central City Editor negative rather than positive, they only as much as they wanted, they Mary Jones, Social Security and Medicare have no right to demand that he be would be able to undertake in Jorge Arce-Larreta, Assistant Project Director there. In short, though it often nonschool time a great many Manpower Planning Council CARES talks and acts as though it were, serious projects for which they now school is not the army. The have no time. It is worth noting the unwed mother historical and legal justification for “that the eleven-year-old Rumanian ov those wanting to adopt -schools has been that they are good girl who was the favorite of the for children, every child and each crowd at the Olympic figure-skating children needing homes EDITORIAL BOARD child. We have not yet decided to championships at. Grenoble in 1967 Wilfred Simpson, NAACP have universal: conscription for does all her studying at home. It is CALL US FOR HELP six-year olds. _ Linda Muntu, BBOS both interesting and sad that a Fourth 320 East South 322-2569 It is worth noting that when the Jorge Arce-Larreta, Manpower Communist dictatorship should compulsory attendance laws were Marie Darling, UWRO allow at least one of its children a enacted, they were rightly freedom to learn that the Lucy Black, South County considered a pro-rather than supposedly free United States will Joseph Geter, Apprenticeship Program anti-civil liberties measure. They not. Don Ray Sampson, CAP Administration ‘were enacted to defend the right of I agree with Edgar Friedenberg children to an education against that it is both a serious mistake and Donations can be made to Wordpower, those adults who, in order to -a grave injustice for our young Inc., to help defray the cost of publishexploit them economically, would people to have no inalienable rights _ ing. have denied it to them. The farmers of their own, with the possible and small shopkeepers and artisans exception of the right to life. (I say © of America, many of whom had not “possible” because I have read that themselves had formal schooling, there are some states in which a naturally preferred to have their school may kill a child while children at work in the shop or admi nistering Advertising Department *“corporal mine or mill, or on the farm. The Director: Manny Rojas, punishment” without Cee any _ Staff: Glen K. Douglas law was passed to prevent the legal penalty.) Publicity Director: Shirley Shields exploitation by such. But times and I doubt that any state legislature customs have changed and the at the moment can be persuaded to Advertising rates available upon request. condition that the laws were passed modify the school attendance laws.. SALT LAKE CITY AND OGDEN to remedy no longer exists. There is I. suspect that most parents value no large market for the labor of the babysitting or jailing function, COMMUNITY > CHOIR ec THANK YOU “WORDPOWER™ a riendly store "CATHOLIC CHARITIES ~ 5 When a |
