Evening star., 1921-04-02
Editorial Digest
Diamonds and School Teachers.

UlamOuQS ana SCHOOL xcac0erS.
The statement of Commissioner
Claxton of the federal bureau OF edu-
cation that lin all our history We
have spent only $16,645.00O.0 900 for
education" while in 1920 alone "the
bill for luxuries of all kinds was s22,-
700, 100000 scores at least to the en-
tent of calling forth expressions of
shocked surprise from the press. To
many it is "a rude awakening" as
one paper puts it. from our usual at
titude of complaisance over our edu-
cational standards A few writer's
criticize the statistical comparisons
as unfair or irrelevant. but on the
whole the feeling is that the commits
sioner has pointed out conditions
about which something ought to be
DONE"
republican, believes that 'the COM
missioner of education is doing a
magnificent service" even though "it
may hurt our pride to be told raw
facts in raw way" One of the
great American illusions" according
to the Leader. is the claim that "ed.
ucation Is more diffused. more gen
eral. more popular in the United
world the illusion is shat
tered by the cold figures in which
Commissioner Claxton illustrates "the
difference between what We say we
believe about education and what we
actually do to prove " hat we believe"
These figures convince the Wheeling
Intclligenccr trepublican) that from
financial standpoint education in the
United states is a minor matter
The ILLUSION" is apparently strong
er in the large cities. where public
school systems are highly developed.
since rRDTpSpntatiVp
our two great cities come strongly
TO the defense Of our educational stand
ards. The Chicag go News independently
comments on Mr.. C1axton's efforts ito
American delusion" and grants that
his comparisons are astonishing. But.
it adds. still the fact remains that
Americans pay more for education
and research than any other people
on the face Of the earth" And to the
more suggestive thing even in the
face "of the showing that the Amer
ican people spent $4,000. 100000 for
luxuries last year." is the fact that
they have spent an average of 1880
100000 annually for fifty years on
ord. the World maintains. shows "a
prodigious expenditure for education"
which no other country can match.
But the answer of the Cleveland
Plain Dealer independent demo-
cratic) to this position is that "a
nation which can afford to spend
s22.700. 100000 for luxuries in sim
gle year can afford to be far more
liberal than America is in supporting
public education The Pittsburgh
Sun tdemocratic) urges that the plain
inference from the commissioners
investment in the world" is ION the
counter at bargain rates"
The Manchester Union independent
republican, draws the conclusion that
the idea that "education is luxury
viIl have to be abandoned" II that
were true 1.-The American people
would be shoveling money into it. in
stead of handing it out begrudgingly."
since it is apparent that that is their
way with luxuries." The Los Ange-
les Express OndependenD believes
there Is no suggestion in Mr.. Clax-
toms observations of campaign
against the use of luxuries. SUCH a
movement. 1t thinks. would be worse
than useless. 1t would be foolish.
But the unacceptable answer is that
country which can easily afford luxu-
ries in such vast amounts cannot af-
ford to pay niggardly. discouraging
salaries to the teachers in its school
rooms or deny them adequate physical
equipment for their work" and II
should, therefore. loosen it's purse
strings to the call of it's educational
requirements"
Curtailing indulgence in luxuries
would in no wise solve the schooi
problem. the Columbia (S. c. state
(democratic) holds. and it is even
mot certain that Americans enjoy
too many" In its opinion. lit is wide
spread ignorance that prevents mil
lions of them having the 1uxuries
they ought to have" and II all were
educated as they should be there
would be $40 for luxuries to one that
Is now available"
The Baltimore Sun independent
democratic) seems at loss to read
into the figures q promise Of better
ment for the schools. since "it is un-
likely that means can be devised
for diverting to such uses the funds
which now go for soda water movies.
talcum powder and tobacco"
Possibly the way out of the diff
Guilty. the Sioux City Tribune Unde-
pendent) suggests, 'is to list educa-
tion as a luxury"