Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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The Newberry Sun, Newberry, S. C., Thursday, August 1, 1968—PAGE 3 SENATOR! ■STRO HURMOND Reports PEOPLE A FREEDOM LOST All over the nation school ad ministrators and parents are finding that the bureaucrats of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare make hard taskmasters. These ad ministrators have taken it upon thems-Ives to dictate the com position of the social conditions in our public schools. In crowded cities, children are bused across town to strange schools and strange playmates in order to learn the current mathematics of the population mix. Although they are forced to play together to satisfy the whim of some bu reaucrats, the children are for bidden to pray together. HARSH EDICTS Such a turn of events fre quently is the result of harsh edicts, issued without recourse by anonymous HEW function aries, who have no concept of the disruption and hardship such orders cause in a settled community. School boards are placed in an impossible situa- tio ii the board is of a mind to resist Federal intervention and Federal warnings about cutting off aid to which the dis trict is entitled under law, the only alternative is litigation be fore the Federal Judiciary. The recent orders handed down t« Columbia School Board No. 1 are but an example of what is happening throughout South Carolina and the nation. Over a year ago representa tives of HEW traveled to Columbia to survey the school system in that city. The schools in Columbia had been operating under freedom of choice plans in which parents of school chil dren could decide which school they wished their children to attend, regardless of race. The emissaries of HEW, how ever, decided that the pace of so-called integration was not rapid enough under this plan. Some of the parents of the school children did not choose to adopt the peculiar racial “mix” which the distant bu reaucrats in Washington, IK', thought advisable. The parents of both races did not see fit to accommodate themselves to Washington’s pleasure. They saw no reason to deprive their children of the benefits of familiar neighborhood associa tions, cultural and economic in terests, and plain ordinary con venience. For the Washington bureaucrats, race mixing seems to be an unhealthy fixation that warps their scale of values. CHILDREN VICTIMIZED Although HEW did not insist upon its demands to rezone junior high and high school dis tricts until 1969, the bureau crats threw the full force of their power immediately against the littlest children in the low est grades. They ordered that four elementary schools hi' “paired” by combining the first through third grades in two of the schools, and the fourth through the sixth grades in the other two. The plan hits hard est upon lower income [X'ople of both races who cannot af ford to move to provide their children with the environment they wish. As usual, HEW singles out the youngest chil dren and the most defenseless groups to be the victims of its social experimentation. Parents who attended a stormy hearing last week were indignant to discover that they had lost the freedom of choice plan and were unable to decide which school their young chil dren should attend. They dis covered that the decisions will be made In Washington. The Administration plan will have first graders walking up to l 1 /* miles, often crossing main high ways and railroad tracks, and passing through unfamiliar neighborhoods. Some youngsters who live farther than that may be bust'd up to eight miles to satisfy the Administration’s zeal. Young brothers and sisters who were able to attend the same school near their home will now bo separated with the first through third graders at tending one school, and fourth through sixth graders another. The U.S. Constitution says nothing about education. Even the States have seen fit to leave ordinary control in the very locality where the chil dren go to school. But beyond that, the ultimate responsibility for education is a natural right which no nation can legiti mately take away from the parent. legislation which I in troduced in May would guaran tee the right to use freedom of choice plans. This bill, S. 3570, is pending before the Senate Constitutional Rights Subcom mittee, but its ultimate fate de pends upon the composition of the next Congress. Unless such a bill is passed, more and more parents will learn that they have lost freedom of choice. HAS OPERATION Ernest Oxner underwent sur gery at the Medical College of Charleston Hospital Tuesday. He is reported to be in satisfac tory condition. Homecoming at Bachman Chapel on August 4 The annual Homecoming at Bai ■hma n Chapel Lutheran I'llU ivh, which is held the first Sui slay in August, will mark the cut igivgat ion’s 82nd anni- \ e r :-a i y on August 4. - 1 he\ Iieaker far the occasion is to b r Dr. James C. Kinard, Wtii ii w ill bring the me: ssage. Th. fu Mowing “Golden Age” ; n , . mbel > will be honored: Hen- ! \ C Richardson, Mrs. Lola IFI ,b, Julian Rikard, Alice IE! ;as J and Nora Lollis. Sui'.Ue.v School will he at 10 a.m, aim Worship service at 11 mo. hr. K man! graduated from X' w'; t ry ( ollege with first 1 i,ia■ o' and immediately was ap pointed to ihe faculty. After M years as head of the de- put tiuent of Natural Sciences, hi- was elected president of his alma mater and filled that po- >i11on with distinction for 24 years. He resigned to assist in the organization of a life insurance company in Columbia and af terwards, became administra tive assistant in the State De partment of Public Welfare. In 1966 he assumed the presid ency of the newly-organized Newberry Academy, which is showing steady growth. He holds three honorary de grees: Doctor of Literature from Erskine College, Doctor of Humane Letters from New berry, and Doctor of Laws from the University of South Carolina. He is past district governor of Rotary International. He was for many years a member of the Newberry County Board of Education, and has been active in many civic and service or ganizations and programs. Members will bring picnic lunches to share in the Home coming Fellowship meal on the grounds following the service. Members, former members and friends will have an opportun ity to chat with Dr. and Mrs. Kinard, and with each other at this time. The Homecoming committee consists of J. E. Kinard, Sr., Ralph Kinard, T. P. Kinard and Malcolm Kibler. The Rev. William H. Link, pastor, invites all members, former members and friends of the congregation to participate in all of the activities of the day. Where You Save Does Make A Difference WHY? Your savings add up fast. Your savings are always available. Your money supports community growth. You are saving with an old established institution holding a Federal Charter with large reserves and Insurance of Accounts to $15,000.00. The word “Fedei^al” in our name implies that we are Chartered and Supervised by an Agency of the Federal Government. You can open a savings account for as little as $5.00. DIRECTORS John F. Clarkson J. K. Willingham E. B. Purcell W. C. Huffman A. E. Morehead P. M. DeLoache, Saluda, S. C. Robert M. Owen, Batesburg, S. C-