THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Q: I believe the so-called GI Bill also allows federal money to go to private and religious schools, even to the training of clergy at seminaries. So, in addition to the Pell grants (which are loans and must be paid back) and other programs, there is the educational funding for vets which is spent at the institution of choice.
A: Dave, I used the GI Bill and obtained a degree majoring in religion at a private church related university (Baylor). GI Bill payments are not grants; they are payments for services rendered and are based on actual service to the nation--military service. Such payments are no different from wages for federal employees who are paid for services rendered with public money and who may spend that money wherever they choose because it is upon payment for services rendered that it becomes private money, no longer federal or public money. That is a distinction.
There has also been a distinction made by the courts in regard to public money going to institutions of higher education, in contrast to institutions of elementary and secondary education, based upon the difference in age and the impressionability factor. The assumption is that older students are more capable of thinking for themselves when confronted with religious indoctrination.
Furthermore, because I personally accompanied the attorney who filed the 1974 challenge to the Kansas tuition grant program for students attending the private church colleges of Kansas, I will relay to you the essence of the decision: The Court ruled in favor of the grants, but the private church colleges are no longer allowed to require religion classes, chapel, or a religious affiliation on an application for enrollment. What the government finances, it has the right to regulate. The case was not appealed. Do I agree with the Federal District Court's basic decision to allow state tuition grants to students attending private colleges? No, but I do agree with the Court's decision to regulate required religion out of those schools. Nevertheless, in America we are a nation of law--the Court has the last word as to what will and will not be allowed in regard to constitutionality. That is the way the system works in America. The Constitution is not a blueprint for anarchy; we obey the laws. And, just as you would possibly vote to amend the Constitution to allow for public funding of private schools, I will work to continue the traditional conservative American principle of public funds for public institutions and the unique American principle of separation between religion and government--a wise lesson from history. By the way, a person who wants to rewrite the Establishment Clause and add another financial pap on the federal sow or state nanny is not a conservative.
