Arizona republican., 1920-03-07

ment and a dance on the following evening for the benefit of the |. " 1 CA.
 1 That the General Federation of 1 Women's clubs has endorsed certain bills and proposed measures was the word received by Mrs. ]. L. B. AIexan- der, chairman Of the legislative depart ment O fthe state federation Mrs. Alex ander is~ bringing these measures to 1 the attention of the different clubs, es- pecially emphasizing the following:
 Recommend that home economies be l placedonequaIbasis Agriculture nm l placed on same basis with agriculture and industries in the Smith-Lever fund
 Recommend the extension of the United States training corps for wom- en to the operation of summer camps, where they may receive such instruc- tion and military drin as shell develop quiclSness Of perception, keenness of intellect and prompt response of muscle to mind.
 Smith -Towner bill, H. B. ITO ere ate department of education with a secretary as head who shall be a mem Der of the cabinet-to authorize appro- priations to aid the states in stamping 2 out iIliteracy. in Americaniza tion. the equalization of educational opportuni- ties, the improvement of rural schools. the promotion Of health, education and recreation and raising the standards of teacher training and con1pensat ton. (This is practically the STaith-Bank head bill to eradicate illiteracy, en 2 dorsed by the General Federation, which failed to pass the last session.
 
 Margaret s. Mcknight chairman of the committee Of school revenue. has prepaerd the following articles on "A National Department of Education" which will be of general interest to club members:
 A National Department of Education
 On January 90. 1919, the Hon. 1T. NJ Towner of Iowa introduced into the house of representatives a bill ito ere ate a department ofg education, to au- thorize appropriations for the conduct of satdN department, to authorize the appropriat ton Of money to encourag ge the states in the promotion and sup port of education and for other pur- poses"
 Though the bill was approved and supported by the&ational Education association. the American Federation of Teachers and the American Fedora ton of Labor, and was generally com mended by the press and eminent pub- licists throughout the country, the pressure of measureS connected with the war prevented enactment. IL re- mains. therefore. matter for popuiar consideration and discussion.
 Next year there will be a presiden- tial election. and consequently there is danger that members of congress may be so absorbed in partisan issues as to again neglect the bill unless it be reso- lutely pressed upon their attention by the voice of a public sentiment too strong tp be ignored All persons in terested in the bill are therefore urged to be active and persistent in keeping the issue before the public. They should not content themselves with a tacit ap proval. but be outspoken and energetic in advoca ting it's enactment at the next session of congr
 The need for such department : arises from many causes. At the pres ent time the educational activities and supervisions of the federal government are divided among more than so diff ferent bureaus and boards, separated among various departments. The re- suit is an inevitable confusion. Some activities overlap, while in several inn portant directions there is no activity nor supervision whatever.
 It is self-evident that where so much work is carried on there should be a systematic arrangement of the machin cry for doing it. II is equally evident that where there is need for work that is not being done there should be pro- vision for it. We cannot reasonably expect either of these things with the present state of confusion. We could reasonably not only expect but demand all of them, were federal department of education established and all the