Hooray for the South Bend Tribune, which joins the list of newspapers calling for the state to end one contradiction between the state constitution and state law. The constitution requires that a "free" education be provided for Hoosier children. But under state law, parents have to pay for textbooks, so that constitutional requirement isn't being met:
When the Indiana Constitution and the Indiana Code are at odds, which should take precedence?
Most would agree that the Constitution trumps the code. But that has not been the case when it comes to charging students for the textbooks used in public schools.
That's because the Indiana Supreme Court has succeeded supremely in dodging this issue. The solution is for the General Assembly to face up to the state's responsibility to cover the cost of public education, as the Constitution requires — including textbooks.
But we don't have the money. Well, they had money for all-day kindergarten, which is not required by the constitution and the value of which is debatable.
