The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1920-01-22

VIII II OCVNEIMl
OF EDUCATION
(Hugh S. Magill, Field Secretary Ma.
tional Education Association)
From the January number of "The
N. E. A. Bulletin" we print some Of
the views Of Mr.. Magill in favor Of
having secretary of education who
would be a member Of the cabinet OF
the president. -
The Smith Towner Educational Bill
now before Congress contains two
principal provisions, the creation of q
Department of Education with Sec.
rotary of Education in the Presidents
Cabinet at it's head, and the authorize
ton Of an appropriation OF $500 ,O00,'
900 to aid and encourage the states in
the promotion of education. The bill
embodies two fundamental ideas, 8
Secretary of Education and Federal
aid.
It has been suggested that the ap-
pointment of a Secretary of Educa.
ton by the President might bring edu.
cation into partisan politics, and it is
pointed out that in the state and local
communities it has been found wise
to keep the administration of educa-
ton free from all political influence
It seems to me that those who hold
this view have not given sufficient con-
sideration to certain facts which are
quite fundamental in determining the
question.
The Federal Government Cannot Ad.
minister Education
In the first place, the Federal Gov
eminent cannot control or admin ste1
education. Any attempt to do SC
would be in violation of the tenth
amendment to the Constitution. The
Smith-Towner Bill expressly provides
that the purpose Of the act is "to en-.
courage the states in the promotion
of education and that all educational
facilities encouraged by its provisions:
'shall be organized, supervised and
administered exclusively by the legally
constituted state and local educational
authorities of the several states"
It is clear, therefore, that the argu-
ments which may be advanced in be,
half of keeping the administration Of
education out of politics do not apply
to the Secretary Of Education as pro
vided by the Smith Towner Bill. He
is authorized to administer his depart
ment, but he cannot administer the
public schools. The administration
and control of education in the schools
is reserved by the federal constitution
ito the states, respectively, or to the
people," and by the terms of this bill
to the estate and local educational au-
thorities of the several states"
Offensive Partisanship Unlikely in De.
partment of Education
I do not believe that the appoint.
ment of a Secretary of Education by
the President is at all likely to bring
the administration Of the Department
of Education into partisan politics. A
prominent United States Senator
whose name has frequently been men
toned in connection with the Presi.
dency, recently remarked that he did
not know of any action that would be
poorer politics from a purely partisan
standpoint than for President to un-
dertake to "play politics" with a DE.
partment of Education. He declared
that in his opinion any President
would recognize that failure to keep
the Department Of education on very
high plane of efficiency and profes:
sional service would be condemned
by people of all parties and would be
most disastrous even from a partisan
standpoint. This view is held oy
every member of the committees on
education of both the Senate and
House with whom / have talked:
Education in Relation to Federal
Budget -.
But there are some very posltlVe
reasons why there should be a Secre-
tarv of Education in the Presidents
Cabinet. It is quite generally con.
coded that the Federal Government
should make appropriations to en-
courage the states in the promoter
Of education 1t is also recognized that
a budget system should be created: A
hill establishing such a system has
been passed by the House OF Repre-
sentatiyes, and is now under consla-
Grafton in the Senate. A federal pud-
Get must, of necessity, be prepared by
the Executive Department under tne
direction of the President. Its prepa-
ration will become an important ad'
ministrative function and will un;
doubtedly be carefully studied and
discussed by the President and ms
Cabinet. If education is to receive
lust recognition and support it sh0ulo
he represented in the Presidents CAB,
met. the same as other great national
interests. The Department OF Agrl'
culture. which has enjoyed such recog-
nition since 1889, now receives more
than S33, 900, 900 a year for the promo.
ton Of agriculture, while the Bureau
Of Education, which does not have
such recognition, RECEIVES less than a
million for the promotion OF educat1on
The Need of Educational States
manship
Rut the most important reason io1
q Secretary of Education is that the
vital relation of education to the so,
cial. industrial and economic life OF
orr nation may receive due consider
alton by those highest in authority
Someone should be in a position &c
bring this fact to the attention OF the
President and other high officials, tina,
It may be recognized as an important