At Independence, Iowa, late in November, eight men of the Amish sect were sent to jail—having refused to pay fines—for maintaining the right to educate their own children. A court had ordered them to engage “certified” teachers for their Amish school, where thirty-seven children are taught reading, writing, arithmetic, spelling, geography, health, and history. They refused to comply, arguing that the Constitution guarantees religious freedom. Such dictation of educational methods by state authorities has been increasing in recent years, though it has been discernible all this century. Near St. Paul, Minnesota, about three years ago, Mr. and Mrs. Otto Kral tried to take their child out of public school and educate him more effectively at home. Though Mr. Kral was a mathematician with the 3M Corporation, and Mrs. Kral a certified teacher, the state educational authorities did their damnedest to have the law penalize the Krals. Since then, I believe, Mr. and Mrs. Kral have established a private school, with some ten pupils.
Have Parents the Right?
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