Arizona republican., 1921-05-13
The Towner Educational Bill

The Towner Educational Bill
 There is educational bill pending in the house Of representatives which becomes law will be of assistance to Arizona and other similarly situated states of the supplementary financial assistance will afford to the cause of education.
 It does not propose the federanzing educational work but the supplying of money to the states on certain conditions. all of which Arizona believe easily though of the states in order qualify would find additional legislation necessary
 The bill proposes the creation of federal de- partment of education the to it the duties present bureau of education and other departments and bureaus in any way dealing with the subject of education It is be invested with such other powers congress may from time determine
 There is appropriated the administration of this proposed department s5Oo0o0 annually
 There is outlined as follows general scope the department Research to be undertaken in init immigrant education, public education nnd especially education, physical education, clading health edueation recreation and sanitation preparation supply of competent teachers for the public schools: higher education n such other fields in the judgment of the secretary of educa sion, require attention and study. Provision is made carrying this farther by the representation of the department education by educational attaches foreign embassies and such ansessigators and representatives may be needed.
 The<>Sis appropriated for rendering assistance by the department the states annually the of s1eooooooo Ssrided into five sums for various pur- poses In order to encourage the states sIiteracy there is set aside $5oooo0 the instruc ton of iIerates fourteen years of This amount to be distributed among the states which qualify under the provisions of propor- sions which their respective ierate populations fourteen years and bear to such total iterate population of the United States But there may be included states illterate proportion ing apportionment, foreign born illiterates
 Arizona stands fifth from the bottom in illiteracy Below it is the order named Mississippi Alabama, south Carolina and Louisiana Arzona's high per- censage of illiteracy is commonly attributed it's large Mexican population. but we think that is an error; is population. Mexico with much larger Mexican population makes bet showing
 But whether it is the Mexican population or not will avail in the distribution this fund since only comparatively small part of such Mexican iilsterases as there may be are foreign born.
 There is also appropriated s7,500.ooo encourage the states in Americanization This sum is to be apportioned to the states proportion which sreir foreign born populations bear the egn born population of the whole country incud- ing outlying possessions
 To be used in public elementary and secondary schools for partial payment salaries providing better instruction and longer school terms in rural schools and sparsely settled communi ties and generally providing equally good opportunities children s5o,00O0O is appro- priated This sum is to be apportioned in ways: one-half in the proportion which number ot children of school age bear to the total number ir the United States and one-haf in proportion to number of school teachers in state to the tota number
 There appropriated $2o.ooOOoo for physica education This is to be apportioned among the states according to their population shown by Lastly there is appropriation of s15- ooo-ooo to provide and extend facilities provement of teachers in service and for more adequate preparation of prospective tt provide increased number of trained compe tent teachers by encouraging through the establish rnent of scholarships and otherwise greater numbe of talented young persons make adequate prepara ton for public school service.
 The money apportioned to the states which accep he provisions of the act is given without string stfached to expended by school authorities a tate school money is expended, for the purpose sssignated the act It is only provided that nom ar the money shall be expended the purchase arection or rental of school houses
 States may qualify participation in all or an or these funds by the enactment of proper legisla ion If at the time of the enactment of tn rowner bin there should a year intervening in an state before the assembling of the legislature, tn governor could temporarily accept the bill
 The BergdoI Affair
 An outstanding fact in the Bergdon whic