The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1919-07-01

Enough, Declares DIR.
George D. Strayer
NEED FINANCIAL SUPPORT
Institutions Must Have Liberal
Funds to Provide Equipment
and Pay Teachers
Milwaukee, Wis, July 1.-The re-
sronsibility of the public schools for
the Americanization Of the youth Of
the country was emphasized by Dr..
George p. strayer, professor Of educa-
.tiOnal administration in the teachers
college at Columbia University, who,
addressing the National Educational as
sociation Monday evening on "Read-
justing Education to the Changing
Needs of Democracy" said:
TOO MUCH ILLITERACY.
We have long been committed in
the United States to the principle Of
universal free public education, That
we have not yet realized the ideal en-
bodied in this principal is matter of
common knowledge. But few American
realize how far short we have fallen.
The army tests indicated twenty per
cent of illiteracy among our adult pop
rlation. One man out Of every three
was found to be physically unfit for
general military service. Hundreds Of
thousands of foreigners who live among
us have had no opportunity for that
kind of education which would enable
them to understand our government
nor have they had provided for them
the instruction which might lead to an
understanding of our ideals. Only
those children who live in the more
favored communities have any ade-
quate educational opportunity.
Millions of Americans, boys and
girls, are being taught during six
months school term by boy and girl
teachers who have less than high school
education. The great ma jority OF our
children receive no education beyond
fourteen years of age, It is a matter
OF comon knowledge that ideals and
purpose which govern in life are COM
monty developed after fourteen and we
krow that the intellectual maturity re-
quired to understand the principles un-
derlying our republican form Of gov
ernment is not developed before that
age.
THE FUTURE OF DEMOCRACY.
The future of our American democ-
rlcy depends upon a recognition OF
states a system of public education: !:
~ which will remove illiteracy, (2)
which will provide for the Americana
zation of every foreigner who would
continue to live among us, (3) which
will include program Of physical ed
ucation and health service, providing
for every boy and girl an opportunity
for normal physical growth and de-
yelopment, a. which will guarantee
sufficient support for public education
to make possible well equipped school
in which properly trained and ade-
quately paid teacher will teach for a
minimum of one hundred and eighty
days in the year, ~ which will make
compulsory education to eighteen years
of age on full time, for boys, and girls
until sixteen years of age, and on part
time, in daylight hours, on the en-
ployer's time, for those who work be-.
tween sixteen and eighteen years Of
age.
The responsibility for educating our
fellow citizens with respect to the short:
comings of our school system and OF
enlisting their support in the develop
ment Of a program of education which
will make good the promises OF our
democracy, rests upon our profession
We may not hope to meet our re-
sponsibility except as we organize our
ri ofession in such way as to make
effective in our states and In the ma
ton our demand for the development
Of our public school system.
REORGANIZATION URGED.
There is immediate need for the re-
organization of the National Educa-
tional association to the end that every
local group of teachers may feel their
responsibility for the schools OF the
state and of the nation, and in order
that the National association may be
able to accept responsibility and to
offer expert service in the solution OF
state and local educational problems.
1t is possible to bring. to pass an or
ganization of the seven hundred thou
sand teachers, supervisors, and admin
istrators of our schools which Will
serve as a powerful force in bringing
to the attention of every true Amer
lean, the needs of our public school
system, and which will stimulate every
member of our profession to renewed
endeavor in the public service. This
reorganized N. E. A. will be working
organization.
At the annual meetings, the repre-
sentatives from every state and local
ity will meet for the consideration OF
current problems There will be de-
bate and discussion. AS a result OF
the deliberations of this representative
professional group Of men and women,
there will be adopted a program for
tine development of our school which
will challenge the attention and COM
mand the respect of every intelligent
citizen.
MAYO SPECIALIST