The Irish standard., 1919-04-05

georgia. IN faCC the clamOrOuS SUI
porters of the Smith bill, viz. the Ma
tional Education Association and the
Bureau of Education, announced that
the new bill contains certain amend !
ments, which appeared necessary on
account of bad features of the Smith
bill, and that the enthusiastic patrons
of the latter had agreed to adopt these
Towner amendments.
irhe Towner bill seeks to establish
federal control of education, /. e. a
Department of Education with Secre-
tary, equal in rank to the secretaries
of other Government Departments.
The Secretary is to have salary Of
$4,000, and host of assistants. The
bill appropriates $10O,0o0,000 annually,
the first payment to be made at the
end Of the scholastic year 1920, to en-
courage the educational work in the
single States, on condition that the
States shall have enacted and enforced
adequate compulsory school-attend.
ance laws and shall have made the
basic language of instruction in the
common school branches in all schools,
public, private and parochial, the Eng
lish language only. No part of this ap-
for religious or privately endowed,
owned or conducted school or college.
i A circular of the National Education
Association claims indeed that this bill
leaves the administration and control
of education to the States, but the bill
demands in unmistakable terms that
the Secretary of Education will devise
an auditing system and that Federal
auditor will examine the accounts kept
by the States. Courses Of studies must
be submitted to the high authority in
Washington, and moneys will be con.
trolled by the same high secretary, to
whom reports must be made in detail
If these provisions are carried out,
what will remain for the States to
troll?
This paternalism is camoufaged by
five lofty purposes, highly lauded by
the N. E. A. The purposes are osten-
sibly: I'D to encourage the eradication
Of illiteracy, appropriation $7,500,000:
(2) to encourage Americanization of
foreigners, appropriation 81, 500. 900; (3)
to encourage equalization of education
al opportunities and teachers salaries,
appropriation $50,Oo0,000; (4) to en-
courage physical and health education,
appropriation $2O,OO0,Oo0; and (5) to
provide for preparing and supplying
better teachers, appropriation 100000
OOO..
Reference is made in the propagah-
da literature to other nations such as
France, Italy, and England, with the
suggestion that America must initiate
these nations. In England, however,
the Fischer bill, which is praised as an
advanced measure, has met with great
opposition and was radically changed
before its final adoption. France, with
it's brutal attacks on the freedom OF
education in this regard, is not fit
model for America nor is Italy. In fact
the Smith-Towner bill out-Bismarcks
Bismarck's attempt at controlling edu
Cation in Prussia.
The propaganda conducted by the
N. E. A. has assumed vast propor
tons MI. Crabtree, Secretary o.
Z the N. b A. reports with great salts
factfSh that Hugh S. Magill, Field
Secretary of the National Educationa
Association, gives his hearty endorse
ment. Further, Mr.. L. v. Lampson
National Organizer, American Fedora
ton of Teachers, approves of, 9TH
Smith Bill as amended by Rep. Tow
ner." The American Federation q
Labor. has been marched out reppea'
edly In favor Of Federal Centfahzatio
Of Education. The latest endo1semeu
has been given the movement by HeI
~ Sterling. Legislative Rspresent,
tive Of the Federation.
.school Life" q Government pull
licatlon, dedicated % It seems to til
project of Federalized control of ed
cation boasts Of other endorsement
But we have reason to doubt the q
curacy Of 1T least some Of them. M
Crabtree states. for lnstAhce, that .
cry day he receives resolutions and le
tsss hun Michigna, btn docs not q