The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1919-02-28

Mrs. Nagle had. FosterMllbnrn Co,
Mfgrs.. Buffalo. n. Y.
was S630.64, which is s24S.OO less per
annum than the average wage paid TO
scrubWnmen IN the United States
Navy Yard. Il there any wonder that
results are not always satisfactory
inefficient schools are almost In
yarlably the result OF inadequate sup
port. Low salaries are driving many
good teachers out of Inc profession
and filling the ranks With the inn
mature. inexperienced and unframed.
OF the 100000 teachers in America.
! 1901 00 are less than u years old
100000 have served two years OF less
30 000 have had no education beyond
the eighth grade 100000 have had
less than high school education.
The Federal Government should in
yestigate this great problem 20 vital
10 the welfare Of the more than = 600
900 children O America. and give aid
and encouragement Il the states In
it's solution Our government has
been accused Of giving more thought
To- agriculture and commerce tHan TO
education, more attention 10 live
stock Than TO children. The govern
ment should give no les attention to
those highly important agencies. but
more 10 education.
The promotion OF social Justice and
the general welfare demands the
equalization Of educational Ippor-
tunitlez throughout tn country. We
sometimes boast that this lA a land Of
equal opportunity. and yet We know
that nj the children IF America do
not have an equal chance ior al
education. The heaviest burdens
often all upon those least HBie to
bear them. Every American. how
ever fortunate his condition should be
deeply concerned In the fact thai We
have N our country 81 900 native
born whites. 2.227 o0e eolored. and
100000 foreign-born who cannot
read and write. Where are these
foundz Principally IN the eonKeBted
cities Of the north and In the remote
districts OF The south where sdEGa-
! tionai advantages are poorest. and
where they should be best, The light
must be turned on in these DARK place.
] We have spent billions Of wealth AMI
thousands Of lives - Uphold our
! ideals of liberty and Justice. nor have
We eaYlled over who was paying
most shall He. as a nation. begrude
ieR hundred millions TINT every
child IN America, whether born in
the crowded city or IN the EparBoly
i settled rural district. shall have the
advantage Of : good common school
J education? This is simply guarantee
! ing equal rights and square deal to
all
That the Federal Government
should bear is part IN the support Of
! public education is the natural re
suit Of process Of development
! Our school system began as ; local
Institution FIrHt there was IL sub
gcripfIon school for The benefit Of
. the families IN a neIEhboFhoaI who
were able and willing % contribute TO
rs support. Then there developed In
some localities schools supported By
local taxation. Offering free TIE rudi.
ments Of education. Finally certain
states came 10 recognize the impor.
lance u education. and passed laws
establishing more OF less imperfect
#iIHH ZAhbNi z4HANilA## #3inHT HNHNEH
/. followed. and gradually free schools
became general. but even today educa=
tionaI opportunities vary greatly in
different parts Of the country. Now
the broader aspect Of public ednca-
ton i being recognized, and this
great institution thai Ras hraI local.
and Ihen received consideration from
'e states. L now commanding in
creased attention from the Federal
Government. Il Is fundamentally
sound that the nation. the alaIe and
the local community should share In
the support q an institution essential
TO the highest good Of all. The prin-
chile Of federal aid has already been
established along lines which are M
more intimately related TO national
welfare than Is education.
The other great nations are giving
particular attention 10 public educa-
ton since the war and notwithatand-
Ing their enormous war debts are ap-
propriating more for this purpose
than ever before. The Fisher nduca=
tional Bill, recently enacted By the
English Parliament, Is ; most advanced
measure Education il represented in
the Cabinets Of England. France and
Italy The time has come In America
when the great importance of educa-
ton from the national standpoint
makes 1t appropriate and necessary
that department of Education thall
be established to coordinate and al
minister the various educational ae-
tiWties Of the Government, and thai
the Federal Government shall give
aid and encouragement to the states
in the removal of iiliteracY. the
Americanization of immigrants. the
emotion Of physical and health
education and recreation, the pre-
baratIon Of teachers. the equalization
of educational opportunities. and the
improvement Of our public schools, to
the end that every child and every
citizen in the land. entitled 10 the
protection of our flag and the biess-
lngs Of liberty guaranteed ly our
constitution. shall receive freely what
Abraham Lincoln asked for al. IAN
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