Evening star., 1920-05-21
URGES EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT IN us.
Representative Towner, at
Conference, Advocates
New Cabinet Position.


remedied. may result in grave dis
aster for the republic, should be met
squarely by the people. according to
Representative Horace NJ. Towner of
Iowa, who addressed the national citi-
zens' educational conference today at
Keith's
In urging establishment Of a federal
declared lit is a disgrace that the
United States stands almost alone in
not making education Of prime inter-
est in the government" He said that
Commissioner Claxton of the bureau
OF education should now be a member
of the Presidents cabinet.
The fact that "a per cent of the
country's manhood called to the col
ors during the war could not read a
newspaper intelligently or write a
letter to the home folks should stimu-
late increased interest in educational
matters in this country, he said.
Sees No Greater Menace.
There can be no greater menace to
the United States than this" the
speaker continued. If the United
States allows large proportion Of
its population to be illiterate, / fear
under the present conditions of un
rest there is at least grave danger
that the republic may fall-dishonor-
ing itself amid the contempt of man
kind and the maledictions Of his
tory"
Speaking of the Inadequate salaries
given school teachers. Mr.. Towner
said that the average salary paid to
!essa tsscneEs ,s. la.t year was $500. Or $40
the public buildings ~ pfWashtngtou.-a,
SIR AseaIanx Eea6esp Ad4fe & Vi sssa
The Hrftish educational systeti ,sss
described In q paper read By Hif
Auckland Gedees, British xm66ssador
to the United States. In describinr
the ideais which animate the new
Britain. Sir Auckland said:
First. you, must realize that Brit
ain is thoroughly democratized. It's
government is in fact more immedi-
ately and directly under the control
of the people than that of your coun-
try. Outside observers are inclined
to think that because the head of our
state is a king, there is some mysteri-
ous subtraction from the peoples
poWer-what hear some Of you call
the kings business It is not 20. We
like calling our hereditary president
king. because it is an old term with
wealth of association and an ad-
miration for his family's service to
the state. but. in truth and in fact,
King George has good deal less di-
time to time Of the office of President
of the United States"
The speaker said that education
with the British is tending to become
less and less directed toward the con-
scious end of simply fitting a man
to earn his daily bread. '.for man does
not live for or by bread alone: II he
does he is hardly worth keeping
alive"
Education in Britain cannot be vo.
cational. he said; it must be moth
ing less than q preparation for the
whole of life.''
Profit BY U. 8. Example.
That the United States by it's ex-
ample. is responsible in a large meas-
ure for the increased educational
facilities Of the South American coun-
Jacob Verela. the minister from
Uruguay.
Educational methods in Latin
America have advanced by leaps and
bounds in the last fifteen or twenty
years. he said. In Uruguay alone,
today as there were in 1906.
Prof. Chacard Of the University of
Paris. represented the French ambas-
sador at today's meeting. He outlined
the educational system of France. He
said the French system aims to be
thoroughly democratic, and educa-
ton is one of the most important ques-
tions before the French public today.
Urges Teacher Bonus.
A bonus of $500 for teachers of the
District of Columbia was indorsed by
the national conference yesterday in
resolution urging Congress to come
to the financial assistance Of the
teachers before July l. Every dele
gate was urged to call on his or her
representative in Congress. with q re-
quest for immediate action.
At last nights session, held in Con-
tinental Memorial Hall, Matthew
Vol, vice president of the American
Federation of Labor, pledged the sup
port Of trades unionists to a program
Of better pay for the teachers.
Senator Ransdell of Louisiana was
chairman of the meeting last night.
Speakers included Maj. Gen. william
6. Haan, who described the educa-
tional work of the Army, and Repre-
sentative Towner of Iowa