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* The Newberry Sun, Newberry, S. C., Thursday, June 1, 1967—PAGE 7 ARMAGEDDON FOR EDUCATION One of the scenes of “Preview of America”, a chapel program presented by the 8th grade classes at Junior High last Wednesday, was signing of the Declaration of Independence. From left are Russell Garner, representing Thomas Jefferson; Ralph Bryan, Benjamin Franklin; Joe Reames, Paul Revere; Skipper Mathis, Uncle Sam; Frances Williamson, Miss America; Carolyn Chapman, Betsy Ross; and Kitty Crump ton, assisting Betsy in making the Flag. (Sunphoto). The war is now being waged over control of public education in the United States. The future of public, grade school educa tion hangs in the balance. This is a war which cannot be either won or lost in one battle, but each and every skirmish has the most serious implications on the future course of events. Historically, and constitution ally, the complete control over the educational processes of the country resides in the hands of the people of the states and local communities. This tradi tion has served our country well. INITIAL ASSAULT The first assault upon the tradition of local control of the school systems occurred only thirteen years ago with the Su preme Court’s decision in Brown v. Board of Education, where sociological factors were given precedence over legal factors. In the short span of intervening time, the inroads upon the principle of local con trol have accelerated rapidly. CHIEF REASON The chief reason for the rapid erosion of local control was the decision by the Executive and the Congress to contribute fi nancially to the operation of the local school systems. The controversy over general fed eral aid to education raged over a number of years and, aside from the obvious constitutional issue involved, the primary con cern expressed was that the federal government would at tempt to exert control over the local schools. These protests were met with pious claims to the contrary, and the bill was even amended, supposedly to prevent federal control. The history of federal aid shows that federal control follows the federal dollar, however, and aid to education has proved to be no exception to the general role. The genuinely held fears of those who were concerned about the integrity of the local schools were simply over whelmed and the popularly held notion that the time had come to “do something for educa tion.” It is becoming increasingly apparent that the “something’ that was done for education was to turn it over to the social reformers and starry-eyed lib erals who work their will from Washington. HOPE FOR FUTURE A ray of hope flickered on the scene this year when the general aid to education bill was up for renewal. Republi cans in the House of Represen tatives, bolstered by gains in the last election, came forth with a substitute proposal which would continue the finan cial assistance but eliminate much of the control exerted over local school districts by the Office of Education. Their proposal would have authorised block grants to the state agen cies for use as they saw fit. In addition to effectively cur tailing the powers of the Office of Education, this plan would have been much more fair to the states in the distribution formula. Under the Adminis tration’s bill, which is supposed ly geared to the number of needy children in the district, the wealthier states receive a windfall because of their gen erous to the point of extrava gant welfare programs. For in stance, few of the poorer states can afford the expensive Aid-to- Dependent-Children program, and yet the number of children receiving such aid in the school district is one of the criteria in the formula for distributing federal funds. This works to the advantage of the larger wealth ier states and penalizes the smaller, less affluent states. It is a poor indicia of need. Concessions were made by the administration in order to win support for their version of the bill. They were largely meaningless, however, including sacrificing the chief enforcer of the guidelines. It is the policy which must be changed, and not the men enforcing the pol icy. The war for control of the local schools will continue and will in all probability escalate. Many pitched battles loom ahead, and all the big guns on both sides will be used. Tarrer dies in Florida W. T. Tarrer, 72, formerly of Columbia, died Tuesday at the home of his sister, Mrs. Alma T. Joy of Miami, Florida. He was the son of the late Keith and Emily Dean Tarrer of Columbia. Surviving are a sister; a half sister, Mrs. F. N. Nesbitt Sr., of Columbia, and a half-broth er, Walter C. Tarrer of New berry. Funeral services were held Thursday in Miami with inter ment there. Ezbon Wicker service held Ezbon Livingston Wicker, 53, died Wednesday morning at the Mills Clinic in Prosperity. He had been in declining health for nine years. He was born and reared ’’n Newberry county, a son of the late Henry Pierce and Audrey Livingston Wicker. He was a member of St. Phillips Luther an church: a veteran of WW2; and a former employee of Whitten Village. Mr. Wicker is survived by his wife, Mrs. Eola Felker Wicker, Newberry; three sis ters, Mrs. Nelson King, Clin ton; Mrs. H. C. Martin, Pros perity; Mrs. H. C. Lindler, Cha pin; one brother, Harold H. Wicker, Newberry. Funeral services were held Thursday from his church with Rev. C. L. Robinson conducting. Interment was in the church cemetery. Active pallbearers were Kenny Wicker, Henry Mantis, Robert Wicker, George Sligh, Henry Wicker and Steve Lind ler. Honorary pallbearers were members of the Church Council. rites Sunday Mrs. Sara Butler Norris, 85, of Silverstreet, died Saturday at the Newberry county Mem orial hospital after a lingering illness. Mrs. Norris was born in this county, the daughter of the late John and Lucretia Longshore Butler. Her husband was the late W. A. Norris, She was a member of West End Baptist church. She is survived by one daughter, Mrs. Zula Brewing- ton of Laurens; one step-dau ghter, Mrs. Nell Mills of Clin ton; two brothers, John Butler of Silverstreet and James C. Butler of Newberry. Funeral services were held Sunday at Whitaker Funeral Home by Rev. Ralph E. Rhyne. Burial was in Rosemont cem etery. Mrs. Cora Pitts Mrs. Cora Grizzard Pitts, 82, wife of the late J. W. Pitts, died Sunday morning at the Columbia hospital. She had been ill for several months. Mrs. Pitts was born in Geor gia and was the daughter of the late T. J. and Martha John son Grizzard. She spent most of her life in the Trinity sec tion of the county, was a mem ber of Trinity Methodist church and the WSCS. Mrs. Pitts is survived by one son, James J. Pitts, Florence; four daughters, Mrs. G. A. Lindler, West Columbia; Miss Vera Pitts, Newberry and Easley, Mrs. M. B. Welch, N. Charleston, and Miss Clara Pitts, Newberry; one sister Mrs. Ora L. Davenport, New berry. PROPERTY TRANSFERS Newberry No. 1 George H. Attaway to Geo. T. Oxner and Jewel F. Oxner, one lot and one building, on Hillcrest Road $5. W. Frank Smith and Thomas D. Johnson to Eleanor D. John son, one lot and one building on Boundary street $5. Mutual Builders, Inc. to Winston C. Jones and Joyce A. Jones, one lot and one building, Harrington Heights $14,750. Pauline W. Wooten, com mittee for Annie Mae Pappas, to Joseph H. Bishop, one lot and one building on College St. $6,250. Andrena Rutherford to Mary Alice Baker, one lot and one building, 823 Taylor St. $5. Newberry No. 1 Outside E. E. Hite to M. R. Hite, one lot, $5 love and affection. M. W. Vaughn to E. E. Hite, one lot $5. Bush River No. 3 S. Downs Wright and Mamie Newton Wright to Henry L. Parr, 7.76 and 129 acres, $402.50. Little Mountain No. 6 H. M. Hentz to Leroy Hous- eal and Daisy Houseal, .69 acre, $69.00. Lloyd C. Allen and Nora G. Allen to James W. Smith and Dottie June Smith, two lots and one building, $19,900. Florence K. Wilson to Viv ian W. Birts and Z. W. Birts, three acres and three buildings $5 love and affection and as sumption of a mortgage. Melvin H. Richardson to Clifford A. Turner, one lot $10. Local man's sister dies Mrs. Pearl Vaughn Sr., of Simpsonville, wife of Lawrence James Vaughn Sr., died in a Greenville hospital Saturday from injuries received in an auto accident. Survivors include a brother, Edgar S. Sutherland of New berry. COUNTY BUILDING PERMITS George H. Attaway, Route 3, five room brick-veneer dwell ing, $13,750. •V-. Pictured above is one of the ballet classes of the Tommy Lybrand School of Dance that will be performing Friady, June 2, 8 p.m. at the Newberry High School Audi torium. The students are Lila Fischer, Deborah Graddick, Ann Hentz, Pat Shealy, (student instructor), Sandra Wicker, and Cile Purcell. This group will be dancing the ballet “Vivaldi”, choreography and instruction by Tommy Lybrand. No admission. 4.50 % CURRENT DIVIDEND Insurance of building and loan sav ings accounts ceiling increased to $15,000 We pay you to save at State Building and Loan . . . and the pay is getting better all the time. Th# STATE Building & Loan Association 1117 Boyce Street Newberry, S. C. Dial 276-5660 Ralph B. Baker Pinckney N. Abrams Louis C. Floyd Thomas H. Pope R. Aubrey Harley Mrs. Norris, 85,