The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1921-07-01

public. - s.
These propositions are s. ser Ell.
dent nas they might be accepted u
axioms. - -
Nevertheless, a bfll is pending |,
p0n houses of the Congress Of tho
United States which violates these
automatic principles and menace,
beth good education and good govern.
ment.
i is House Biz I and sena-e PSI
l017, and is EMIT ed "A Bill to Crea.e
Department of Education. to author
lie the appropriation OF money To-
encourage the states in he promotion
and the support of edacation, and for
ether purposes
Although the caption Of the BIZ!
reads thus ptausibly. its contents are
most Objectionable. and it should meet
with the most vigorous opposition
from al good friends of education and
ali the foes of centralized g government
In recent number Of eThe Joura-
al, legal periodical issued BY the
American Bar Association Hon. Wi.
nam D. Guthrie member Of :ts
New York bar, has pointed out most
clearly and conclrsive'y some of the
main objections 10 this mischievous
measure and whas he SAYS deserves
Jae most serious consideration BY
wise educators and patriotic citizens
alike. He shows that the bill is
fragrant violation of the Federal Con-
s.itu ion and that, if it shou-d becom
law, 1t would be most hurtful to ths
cause of education and very injurious
to the country.
The main points in Mr.. Gu hrie'.
article are summarized as follows:
Il. Under the Constitution OF the
United States, no power has Eeec
delegated to Congress to regu a}e or
control education in the several
states. The subject was left within
the exclusive domain AID government.
al duty and responsible OF the
several states and Congress- cannot /
consrisutionally seek directly or in
directly 10 regulate or control educa-
ton in the states without violating
the reserved righ.s of the states ana
the fundamental principe ,of local
government.
-. The provisions of the Smith
Towner Bill would, in my judgment,
inevitably Involve an attemps tot
interfere in the local affairs of ne
states and the policy OF so-called
liberalization of educaf ion once es-
tablished would lead to an agitation
and demand for cons itutionat amend
anent in order to vest in Congress
adequate and effective power OF
centralized supervision and control.
'3. Any such increase of federal
power and diminu ion of state author
ity, responsibility and duty would be
sprejudfciaf to the best interests OF
the nation and Of the states.
"a The creation of a new eS
ecutive depar ment 10 be known az
the Department of Education. with
the Secretary of Education as
head Hereof and as such, a member
of the Presidents Cabinet, would
bring the subject of education into
politics, with the danger of constantly
varying policies, and constantly pur-
sued efforts TO control the patron
age of the department in the interests
Of the party then in power.
IS. The tendency Of federail inter-
ference ard direc or indirect consroi
WCflsd be toward the Capitalization |
and standardization would in all
probability prove to be prejudieiai
not only 20 the pub ic school system
but 10 the Independent and satisfacs-
orv operation of existing private
schools, INCLUDING those maintained |
by he various religious denomina
tons for the purpose OF especially
securing to the younger children q
the country the benefits Of adequate
religious training as ven as secular
educa ion.
These points of objection are well
taken and there are other reasons
for opposition to the bill which are
scarcely Tess weigh y.
With the liberalization OF educatlon
through the National Department 81
Education. with Secretary OF Edu-
cation al its head, political interfer
ence with racial issues in the COM
n,on schools. such as the Japanese
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