The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-10-19
new SCHOOL PLAN
President Harding Urges Better
Educational System in q. s.
Must Have More and Better
Teachers, He Declares.
TALKS At WILLIAMSBURG, VA.
Honorary Degree Conferred on
Nations Chief Executive.
Asks Greater Support for Small
er Colleges Of Country.
TALKS At WILLIAMSBURG, VA.


Williamsburg, Va, Oct. 19.-Declar-
ing the nation confronts an "educa-
tionaI crisis thru lack of teachers and
public school facilities. President
Harding appealed in an address here
today for patriotic support of an edu
cational system commensurate with
national resources.
ct wish it were possible" said the
president, ito drive home to the whole
American people. the conviction of
needed concern for our educational
better teachers and to get them, the
profession must be compensated as it
deserves"
Speaks at William and Mary College.
Mr.. Harding spoke before gather
ing of students and alumni of the Col
lege of william and Mary, as part of
a ceremony which indicted DR.. J. A
Chandler into the presidency of the
institution.
An honorary degree was conferred
on the chief executive who came here
with a distinguished group of govern
ment officials after delivering an ad-
dress during the morning at York
town.
ut is no exaggera tion," said the
president, ito say that the nation con-
fronts an educational crisis. From
every corner of the land, from coun-
report that the housing capacity, for
our public schools is inadequate; that
tens of thousands of pupils have no
place for their studies; that teachers
cannot be obtained in sufficient num-
bers and that school revenues are in
sufficient.
TT may be said that, in this realm
of education, we have been drawing
on our capital, instead of spending the
annual increment only; we have been
taking the teachers away from the
schools, and leaving a constantly in
creasing deficit in our capacity to turn
out that product of disciplined minds
which only can be insured thru ever
expanding facilities.
Let me hasten to add that this is
not a condition which leads US to pes
simism or misgivings. L would not
wish it to be otherwise. No people
ever approached the lavishness with
which from public revenue and pri-
vate purse Americans have given to
support education, yet the more gen
erously we provide today, the greater
Is the deficiency tomorrow; and I am
glad it is thus. So long as the eager
ness for education outruns our most
generous provision of facilities, there
will be assurance that we are going
ahead, not backwards. H-
$50 long as I find that the proper
ton of public revenue properly de-
sire to be counted among those in pub
lie life ready and anxious ito struggle
with the problem of raising the neces-
sary revenue.
A Macedonian Call.
"I would lift up a Macedonian call,
in behalf of our schools and colleges,
to men and women who feel the urge
to public usefulness. More even than
money and endowments, our educa-
to his cE dPVOllG
unselfish sustaining support of people
moved by instincts of patriotism and
service.
at am not sure that our young peo-
pie are living up to that full estimate
| of an education's worth. 1 doubt if
there is as much of plain living and
| high thinking in academic shades as
there was once, or might well be now.
I cannot prescribe the cure, but much
| of the unrest of the world today Is
| chargeable to our living too rapidly,
and too extrava gantly, and colleges
| have seen the refle-- of it.
To Encourage Small Schools.
| "Along with all this there is the
obligation to maintain and encourage
| the smaller colleges, among which
none is entitled to claim SO romantic
and appealing a history as the insti-
| tuition whose guests we are today. II
is the small college that democrat
]
| brings it WITHIN the vision and means
of the average young man and woman.
1--WE hear much of the traditions OF
! famous universities. but if we look
| into them, we commonly find that
| they concern men, men who have
| stamped their personalities, who have
| given of their generous natures who
| have colored the intellectual atmos-
phere about them. And men who are
| big and strong enough to do that, are
as likely to be found in the modest as
| in the impressive environment"