Parochial School Pupils Need Not Be Deprived

For 20 years, public school teachers in San Diego and elsewhere have provided remedial classes in reading and math to disadvantaged students--at both public and parochial schools. At least until this school year.

But this year most of the 1,243 eligible children in San Diego parochial schools have missed out on the classes, as administrators of the San Diego Unified School District and the Catholic diocese struggle with how to comply with a July 1 U.S. Supreme Court decision that prohibits public school teachers from providing instruction inside religiously affiliated schools.

While we agree with the Supreme Court’s strict interpretation of the First Amendment’s inviolable wall separating government and religion, the implementation of the ruling in San Diego leaves something to be desired.

In truth, school districts all over the country had to scramble to revise their programs in the two summer months between the decision and the start of school. As a result, many children have been denied remedial classes this year.

But the problem here seems more intractable.

Last month, the U.S. Department of Education held hearings here on the problem--the first such hearings in the country. And on April 8, the California Department of Education concluded that the San Diego school district is violating federal law by failing to provide equal remedial education to public and parochial school students. The state gave the district until April 25 to come up with solutions. If solutions are not found, the district eventually could lose about $10 million in federal funds.

Some school districts have asked for, and received, delays in implementing the ruling. Others have risked continuing the banned practice while working out solutions. Some have set up portable classrooms on neutral property or held the classes in nearby public schools or community facilities.

The San Diego school district opted to convert old buses into mobile classrooms. So far, these are serving only about half of the eligible students, and students at eight parochial schools are receiving no remedial help at all. And the state recently found that the buses are noisy, cramped, insufficiently ventilated and subject to interruptions by passers-by.

These classes are not frills. They are basic instruction to help students who are already fighting enormous economic and social disadvantages. These students can ill afford to miss what will probably be a full year of help.

So, the challenge is put to those responsible for their education--administrators in both the district and the diocese, and parents--to be flexible. Not all of the solutions may be found this year, but all involved should be willing to suffer some short-term inconveniences and perhaps take some legal risks--since the state has said it would support the district if it is sued--to get these children back into their remedial classes.