Professor Lekachman states that the public school. under such circumstances. would run "the grave risk of becoming a minority school. inadequately supported from public funds. and unfavorably regarded by the community at large." Mr. President. the American public school. more than any other single institution in our society. is responsible for the quality of American democracy. It was our public school system during the latter part of the 19th century and the early decades of the 20th century that created American citizens of the tens of millions of children of European immigrants. Those who would jeopardize our system of free public education would thus strike at the very heart of American democracy. And at a time when we need more than ever a unified national spirit we cannot afford the division and sectarian strife which would be initiated by Federal aid to parochial schools.
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immigrants