The little friends returned to class in September of 1970 being introduced to a new subject – politics. The Michigan Nonpublic School Aid Amendment, Proposal C was on the 1970 ballot in Michigan as an initiated constitutional amendment and the parish of St. Albert’s was concerned. Students would wear stickers on their book bags saying “NO” to Proposal C.
At that time St. Albert’s School had never charged tuition as such. In its place, each family with children in school was asked to contribute an additional $4.00 per month to the building fun while school was in session (10 months). In 1968 this amounted to an additional $40 per school year, or $1.00 per week, or 20 cents per school day. To the best of St. Albert’s knowledge, there were no families in the Parish who could not afford this much (They knew this because the average parishioner who did not have children in the school contributed $100 per year to the building fund). In addition to this $40 there was a book rental fee for $10 per child so during 1970 when proposal C came around the average yearly tuition per child was only $50 per year. Proposal C would prohibit public aid to nonpublic schools and students which would directly affect the students and tuition at St. Albert’s.
The first hint of this was in the 1969 August 24th Chronicle (before the proposal had a name) which stated the following headline:
HELP KEEP ST. ALBERT THE GREAT SCHOOL OPEN
“Fortunately, our school was not one of the 132 who received letters from the Cardinal – this time – warning them of possible closing or consolidation due to their financial condition. You can help ensure that our school will not receive this kind of letter by coming to the PUBLIC FORUM being held for our area concerning state school aid for non-public school children.”
In the September 9th Chronicle of 1970 the school began addressing this issue directly with the following article.
PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO PROHIBIT PUBLIC AID TO NON PUBLIC SCHOOLS & STUDENTS.
This amendment adds language to the constitution to:
(a) Prohibit use of public funds to aid any non-public elementary or secondary school.
(b) Prohibit use of public funds, except for transportation, to support the attendance of any students or the employment of any person at non-public schools OR AT ANY OTHER LOCATION OF INSTITUTION where instruction in whole or in part is offered to non-public school students.
(c) Prohibit any payment, credit, TAX BENEFIT EXEMPTION OR DEDUCTIONS, tuition voucher, subsidy, grant or load of public monies or property, directly or indirectly, for the above purposes.
WHAT THIS PROPOSAL COULD DO IF PASSED
Repeal existing speech correction and remedial reading programs, street crossing guards, health and nursing services and assistance to mentally, physically, and emotionally handicapped non-public school children. Also repeal all teaching of non-public school children in public schools, including shared time and driver training programs. In addition, athletic contests involving non-public school teams could not be played on public school property.
In the 1970 October 4th, the Chronicle published the results of a letter sent to the legislative candidates asking how they would vote on Proposal C on the November 3rd ballot and to explain their position in 100 words or less. Below are the results of that letter.
DAVID A. PLAWECKI (D), candidate for the State Senate in the 12th District, said that he would vote NO, and explained his position as follows:
“I oppose Proposal C on the November ballot and I will vote against. The proposal would prohibit all forms of public aid to non-public schools, including auxiliary services such as eye and ear tests, remedial reading, visiting teacher services, and shared time programs. It would also remove the property tax exemption of private schools. In short, it could bring about the collapse of the private school system.”
REPRESENTATIVE ALEX PILCH (D), candidate for re-election as a State
Representative in the 32nd District, said that he would vote NO and explained
his position as follows:
“Adoption of this amendment would be akin to throwing the baby out with the bath water. Whether the
sponsors agree or not that the language means what it says, the amendment does eliminate all existing
public support of private schools. This may not be what the sponsors had in mind, but that’s what the
language says and that’s what the state would have to live with. Adoption of this amendment would
create one holy mess!”
REPRESENTATIVE LUCILLE H. MCCOLLOUGH (D), candidate for re-election to the State House of
Representatives in the 32nd District said that she would vote NO and explained her position as
follows:
“I have consistently supported legislation to provide for the health, safety, and welfare of Michigan’s
school children. Therefore, I cannot in good conscience vote for Proposal “C” which would interfere with
these services; cost the taxpayers millions more for schools; jeopardize federal funds; and hopelessly
swamp the public schools with additional students.”
Despite the best efforts of the little friends, on November 3rd 1970 the proposal was approved 57% (1,416,838 votes) to 43% (1,078,740 votes).
