EMERSON: TAX CREDIT MAY NOT PLEASE SCHOOLS

JACKSON -- Private and parochial school officials should think twice before asking the federal government for financial assistance, says U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson.

Emerson discussed the proposal of tuition tax credits for parents sending children to private schools during a visit to Immaculate Conception Catholic School in Jackson Friday .

"Generally I have opposed both the tuition tax credit and the voucher system," Emerson said.

"I believe the public has a responsibility to educate the public. Everyone has a right to a public education," he said. "Private and parochial education is a matter of choice. I think these schools, especially parochial schools, do a great deal of good for society.

"But I don't think parochial schools want the kind of regulation that would be inherent in accepting federal money.

"The federal government never provides anything without expecting something in return," Emerson said.

Emerson said a tuition tax credit is a considered tax money given to a church entity.

"I think the reason many of you are here is because your parents want you to have the religious aspects in your education," Emerson told seventh graders.

He said government money would likely be tied to restraints on how much, if any, religious training could be taught.

"I have said you better think twice unless you want the same constraints as public schools," he said. "State and local governments provide about 90 percent of the funding for public schools. The federal government provides about 10 percent, but there are so many strings attached that some public school officials have told me it's hardly worth the effort."

Cindy Frericks, mother of five and a member of the Immaculate Conception board of education, said, "If that string is that our kids can't pray when they want to, I don't want the money."

But she said the issue won't be dismissed so easily.

"More and more people are putting their kids in private schools. It's not just Catholics and Lutheran. Lots of private Christian schools are starting up. Parents are unhappy with public schools. And as the number of people who are dissatisfied continues to grow, we will become a bigger lobbying group," Frericks said.

"No one is asking for a handout. But we pay taxes. And it's hard to make ends meet."

Immaculate Conception principal Rita Fisher said, "Tax credits are already provided for private day care centers. It seems a natural progression to extend that credit to elementary schools."

Emerson was invited to tour Immaculate Conception by the superintendent of Catholic schools in the Springfield-Cape Girardeau diocese.

Fisher said, "The ideas was that sometime this fall we would get the Congressman into a parochial school. We were chosen to give him an idea what a Catholic school is about. Hopefully, he will carry this personal contact back to Washington."

Fisher said, "Education is something Catholic schools do well. We're good at it. Our test scores and other data show that."

Immaculate Conception has 186 students in grades kindergarten through eight. The school added a full day kindergarten last year, boosting enrollment, Fisher said.

Emerson said he believes private and parochial schools are strong. "I think they are as strong as they are because of the lack of governmental interference."