Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-05-25
From Other Viewpoints
We Need n National UnIversIty.
RY FRANKLIN IL. LANE.

Al various times during ply Office in the
Department OF the Interior | made attempts
school but this effort was not successful
though ii was ono expression OF the move
mcnt against illtcracy which Is now taking
shape.
The plan then projected was that Congress
should amp opriaic a small amount for the adj
minisiration OF campaign by which rura!
schoo! teachers of all the states would have
al opportunity to see in operation and par
t!cipatc for month or two In the conduct OF
the few mode! rural schools which have
The support OF the newspapers was to be
listed in selecting representative teacheIs from
the various states who would he gathered ma
Instructed At these model schools and rctu:n
home 20 spread the gospel they had learned
III" congress h?s never taken kindly TO amy
participation % the Federal government in
school affairs and no Roadway was made with
the plan
There is i, seems to me- a very definite line
that can be drawn between school control by
The central government and school sudY nee.
Washington may we'll he clearing house for
the hest methods Of teaching and source OF
Invaluable suggestion without in any way i'm
iairng the authority or responsibility OF the
--vcral States.
II takes from ten TO twenty years for
idea TO pass from ono state TO another. because
there IL no correcting influence, one central
authority which make known to all the
schools the discoveries made by few Fed :
cral control OF schools would be q curse be-
cause the inevitable effect OF Federal control
it to SiandardiE". but we might perhaps do
something less FOR our boys and girls than we
do for our hogs and cotton without straining
me CONSTITUTION OF odhNihDtIns the TrcnS-
som" day the Congress may enable the De-
partment OF the Interior TO make Washington
the school center OF the country. we should
have there national university OF an original
kind. not fashioned and organized after
the style of Harvard. Yale Columbia in
which youth are taught, but great heart for
all the schools and universities in the land a
i"w thousand dollars would make n beginning
We had thought of making the venture on a
simple scale, but the money could not be
found.
1t should be a university for scholars and
the special themes with which II would from
time TO time deal 1t should have no faculty
and set year But throughout the year
those most distinguished in certain branches
OF knowledge should be sent there to give
their learning to body OF students interest ed
especially in those certain subjects
The purpose being that all parts of the
country might quickly know Of the latest rev
elations in science or the newest methods in
the arts. End this at first hand from the mas
ter whoever lie might be.
There should be some place into which tho
thought OF America and of the world would
head. The greatest things done BY our people
ere not the expression OF government but he
expression OF the advcntu.ing mind 10 which
liberty gives opportunity and occasion gives
challenge.
Our people seeking for solutions for
problems OF every kind and some are finding
such solutions. But they have no universal
ear into which to speak. The machinery for
distribution In the world OF thought Is not
efficient and stimulus is greatly needed.
This may be rcmcdi1l and doubtless will DO
by the creation OF a Rdional center through