Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1917-03-14


Were l to desire q university presi-
dency, or were l to desire promo
ton to better position than l now
hold, am firmly Of the opinion that
would greatly enhance my chances
Of such position or promotion by
getting the foundation interests be-
i nd me. And boards of regents are
helpless in this matter Should the
regents of Columbia University, or
the president Of any one Of four or
five other great leading institutions
supported by predatory wealth wish
to recommend president, some man
would certainly be named for the
place entirely satisfactory to the
foundations. Should the regents ask
any one OF several Of the presidents
Of certain Of our leading State uni
versities, the name first suggested
would very likely be entirely salts
factory-at least that Is the way
many of us educators believe this
matter works. The president of the
Ohio University and q very few 9TH
ers are bitterly opposed to founda-
tion plans and policies.
''lf it is true that these foundations
are making conscious effort to con-
troll public school ideals, as you be-
lieve, and If it is true, as | believe,
that, in their giving pensions, giving
men jobs in surveys, aiding men in
securing desirable promotions, and
in giving others help and preferment,
they are doing these things simply to
increase their prestige, and to give
them recognition which will enable
them to outline and direct every
thing fundamental in public school
affairs; then this Senate action is a
most fortunate deliverance for our
cherished democracy in education. |
do not believe our government can
afford to 60 into partnership with
Mr.. Carnegie, Mr. Rockefeller, or
still worse, with their paid agents,
OH Il thing SO vital as that of shap-
ing the school policies Of our coun-
try.
'ln regard to the free foundation
surveys throughout the country, the
fact that the funds are provided by
the predatory interests through the
foundations naturally arouses suspi-
cion. What do we give the predatory
interests in return ?--is q fair ques.
ton. Possibly more Of a share in
shaping our educational policies
than we are aware of. 1t is certainly
an easy matter in conducting a sur
vey to find fact basis for all con-
clusions previously decided upon and
to substantiate nothing which is not
In absolute harmony with the stand
ards and ideals Of the paid officers
of the foundations. Perhaps the
chief reason the Carnegie foundation
is repudiating its pension is because
the survey club accomplished more
rapid and certain results than the
pension club.
There are two kinds of govern
mcnt--the one handed down from
above, and the other coming through
the people. Corresponding to these
two theories in government are two
policies in education. The one which
is handed from above is plutocracy in
education. and the other is democ-
racy in education. 1T stands to rea-
son that foundation leadership
would develop plutocracy in educa-
tion rather than democracy in edu-
cation.
Il have wondered whether this
drastic resolution of the Senate was
not fastened by the announcement
In the press of the beginning of a
great movement under the auspices
Of the foundations and financed by
them, to revolutioniZe elementary
and secondary education in America
have also wondered whether the
action taken by the Federal govern
mcnt will not interfere seriously with
foundation plans of surveying State
normal and other teacher-training
schools Of the country. The fact
that the Senate looks upon this gra-
tuitous surveying and other work Of
the foundations as most serious
menace to democracy in education in
our public schools, will doubtless
make it embarrassing for any State
superintendent, State board of edu-
cation, Or even city boards of educa-
ton to make use Of foundation men
~ foundation money for these sur
vevs OF teacher-training schools or
OF the teachers work in the public