Does State Aid Mean State Control Of Schools?

Chronicle (Levin), 11 December 1948, Page 2

Does State Aid Mean State Control Of Schools?

WELLINGTON Dec. 10. "T notice ttat ouce again certaii; ]ieo])le are seeking .State aid for privalo scliools," said the headiuaster of Wellesley College (Alr. W. II. Steveu^) at the prepeutatiou of prize.s for the year. "By State aid 1 presume that nionetary aid is meant," he added, and ret'errod to the risk of control involved. "Tlie State at present gives a cer tain aniount of aid to private schools," continued Mr. Steveus. "Their pupiS receive the School .Tournal, lext books and milk. In addition under certsiin conditions parents of children wlio live at a distance ' from 'the school rau obtain an extra 10s a week as a boarding allowance. No doubt fnrther assistance along similar lines wil! Im forthcoining, possiblv in the form of subsidies for the purchase of such expensive apparaths as radios and sound- ■ (ilm ])rojectors. "But 1 do not think," concluded Mr. ■itevens, "that any Government wil! give anv great measnre of State tnonelary aid without State control. It is not reasonable to expect it. The a*jeptance of State aid can mean only ane thing — the end of the private school ind of that for which it stands. After ill it may he that freedom once again ivill return to this land, arul nntil such irne where else can its ideals be cherishod better than in private schools?"