The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-06-06
BETTER EDUCATION.

A Federal Department of Education,
headed by member of the presidents
cabinet, is advocated by ninety percent
of the members of a special commit
tee of the National Economic League
as one of the best means of promot-
ing education in this country. One of
the purposes of this department would
be to visit, advise and report upon the
education systems of the United States
SO as to promote unity in effort and
ideals. and efficiency in operation.
The committee is made up of lead
ing educators from all parts of the
country. Among the members are
Paul HI. Hanus, Professor of Pedagog,
AT Harvard University; David Starr
Jordan. Chancellor Emeritus of STAN
ford University; Kenneth c.. M. Stills,
President of Bowdoin College; Pay
son Smith. Massachusetts,, Commits
sioner of Education; William T. Fos-
ter President of Reed College; and
Robert E. Vinson, President of the
University of Texas.
The committee has prepared list
of eleven questions covering the most
fundamental problems of immediate
Importance on the subject. Two of
these deal with vocational education.
The first: Should vocational educa-
ton be provided in all school systems
for pupils fourteen years of age and
older?" is favored by sixty eight
members of the committee and OPP
posed by twelve. The second: Should
all schools, whether avowedly voca-
tional or not, aim to prepare students
for the proper use and enjoyment of
1,nt,. late
them for their responsibilities as work
ers and as citizens?" is favored by all
two of the eighty mine members who
voted upon it. All but ten per cent
of the committee agreed that vocational
guidance should be adopted in second
airy schools and collegiate institutions
About the same proportion believe that
'the national government should pro-
vide aid. administered in such a way
as to stimulate increased local ex-
ored people in the southern states
particularly in rural communities"
On the subject of wages the ques-
ton is asked: SHOULD there be es-
tablished a minimum wage, not less
than the wage of skilled artisans, for
teachers in public graded schools
throughout the United States ?" The
vote of the committee on this ques-
ton is seventy-two YES and ten no
With regard to the education of
adults. foreigners and workers" the
following questions are presented:
Should educational facilities be pro-
vided for adults to the end that for
eigners may become familiar with uor
language. our government and our
country, and that adults may continue
their education beyond the period of
ordinary school and college training?"
and Should the educational resources,
of public high schools and college be
made available to the workers of
America, in the form of systematic
courses of struction-employers be-
ing invited to cooperate in facilitating
arrangements for such instruction ?"
Upon the merit Of these two sugges-
tions the members were practically in
accord, only one negative vote on the
first and two on the second being
recorded.
The greatest disagreement was on
the proposal for a federal commission
to study and recommend a system of
moral and ethical training for schools"
This was supported by only fifty-eight
of the eighty-three members voting.