OCR Text |
Show WHY NOT GIVE THE FACTS? Perhaps no civic subject of current interest is being so generally gener-ally confused by false information and erroneous discussion as the compulsory education bills grouped under the general term, Oregon School Law. Measures of similar import have been voted upon by the electors of Washington and Michigan, and undoubtedly like legislation will be proposed in other States. Various editorials and a l tides profess to discuss these measures and, either through ignor-c'-ce or malice, the purpose and provisions of these bills are r.::L represented. As an illustration, the Lynchberg (Va.) Advance makes this statement: "Apply such a law to Virginia and see what would hap-i hap-i ci. It would put the Catholic school in this city out of commission '; ::i at the same time it would put Randolph-Macon Woman's Col-i.-e out of existence, it would put Lynchburg College out of existence, exist-ence, for every one cf them is a church-controlled school." Now the fact of the matter is that should such a law be passed in Virginia not one of the colleges named would be affected in the Last. The proposed laws relate to schools of the grammar grades i.i which children are educated from, say six to fourteen years of age. The laws do not affect high schools or collegiate institutions. Adl legislative proposals should be frankly, freely nad comprehensively compre-hensively debated, but in the interest cf the public welfare those who profess to discuss the issues should acquaint themselves with the facts and should not mislead the public through ignorance or by deliberate intent. |