Omaha daily bee., 1920-12-12
The Bees Platform,
FUTURE OF EDUCATION.

With various elements of national life raIy-
ing to the support of the Smith Towner bill,
that measure seems likely to secure considera-
ton that will lead to its passage 1t is interest
ing to note that most of the support that has
come to it arises from the strong desire to
obliterate illiteracy, giving to every child in the
United States at least rudmentary cultural
education Some OF these elements lay great
stress on the connection between general educa-
tional training and "Americanisn," although
this latter term is for the present so compre-
hensive that it is not easy of definition in exact
terms. Admitting for arguments sake, the
claim that a working knowledge of the English
language is essential to good citizenship, and
this does not always appear, the more important
question of its teaching comes to the front
The Smith, -Towner bill, among other things,
contemplates the creation of department of
education, to be a cabinet position in the gov
ernment, or, failing in this, bureau of such
importance as will have the effect of cabinet
position in the matter of control Of the educa-
tional activities of the country Under this
central federalized control all public schools
will be finally grouped, standardized and oper-
ated as nearly as possible as unit. Objections
10 SUCH pidu are ludHy, anu SOME are vital,
but they are answered by the fact that with
the states in control illiteracy has been allowed
not only to exist but actually to spread. In
this connection most minds will revert at once
to the southern states, where the negro has
been denied the privileges of schooling at public
expense. However, it should be borne in mind
that the states where the negro problem is the
most acute are not the only nor altogether the
worst offenders.
Much of the increase in illiteracy is ascrbable
to the pre-war influx of aliens, and these were
largely domiciled in the industrial states, such
as OHIO, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and New
York. Even Nebraska did not escape the effect
of this tide of ignorance setting in from the
eastern countries of Europe. Immigration regu-
lations checked the flow previous to Our en-
trance into the war, and may have worked an
improvement.
But the problem now is how to take care of
those who are already sitting in darkness in our-
midst; how to give them the needed training
and to provide for the future in this respect
Experience in Omaha has shown that the for
egners who come among us are generally avid
for the training that will give them working
knowledge of the language of the country, and
this means reading and writing it as we'll as
speaking. 1t is this thirst for knowledge that
smooths the way to Americanization efforts
The great problem is in those communities
where adequate provision has not been made
Shall the enterprising, energetic states of the
north and west, where public schools are main
tanned on the basis of utmost liberality be taxed
again to set up schools in those states where
the citizens have deliberately, shirked the re-
sponsibility laid on them to provide schools for
the training of all children?
This question must be answered. Iliteracy
is menace to the whole nation, and all are
equally interested in its elimination. but as
matter of justice to those commonwealth that
have rightfully met the need, should not the
1aggards be compelled to get into line before
the whole subject matter is referred to national
control? This is the great objection to the
Smith Towner bill as it stands, and one that
must have careful consideration before It is
answered. Then some OF its other phases may
he considered