, 1921-12-08
AMERICAN EDUCATION WEEK
December nth TO 10th INCLUSIVE Set APART AS
AMERICAN EDUCATION Week. PRESIDENT
HARDING ISSUES PROCLAMATION

about one-twcntieth as much as the
amount spent for Injuries listed
above.
But Il more striking comparison
than the foregoing even is that of
education with other items in the list
OF Fedora Government expenditures.
In 1920, out of Il total of S4.582,-
900. 600 spent by the United States
Government. the sum of $59,OOO,O o
was spent for Research. Public
Health, Education. and Development.
this being about ID per cent of the
total amount. Contrast this mount
with that spent for ornaments. or
the total expenditures for the year,
92.6 per cent was spent for wars,
past and future. Almost SO per cent
was spent for military purposes with
1.3 per cent for education and kim
dred works. 1t is no wonder. in the
light OF these figures, that the world
is watching with intense interest the
proceedings of the Conference to
Limit Armamcnts which is in ses-
sion at Washington.
That there is much work to be ac-
complished in the field Of education
is shown by the following facts COM
piled from the results Of an official
investigation conducted by a Con-
gressional committee recently:
Twenty-Five per cent OF the young
men In our army during the World
War could not read or write;
The United States at present occu-
pies ninth place among the nations
of the world in regard to the status
of education:
The annual cost OF illiterary in the
United States is sS25,OO, 900;
Out OF $1,000, 900 foreign born In
this country. 5.00O,0 900 cannot read
or write English, and 1000, 900 Of
these cannot read or write any lam
guage. The problem of illiteracy is
one that needs immediate attention.
In a government like ours, where 1t
is easy for the alien to become
naturalized and a voter, it is impera-
tive that the foreigner be educated.
II this be neglected, the results may
be disastrous for this country OF
ours.
If we would realize our educational
ideals, our educational system and
program must be laid out along broad
and comprehensive lines. 1t must be
nationwide in character. 1t must
enlist the active cooperation Of the
Federal Government and not leave
the whole responsibility to the local
! government. 1t must look into the
future and anticipate the educational
needs Of generations hat are to
come. Any such program or plan
should include the following points:
1. The Federal Government will
need to revise its budget and spend
less for ornaments and more for
education. AS indicated above, the
proportion is out of all balance. BY
taking some of the money which has
heretofore been spent for ornaments
and devoting it to education, the need
for ornaments will thereby be les
sened. 1t is to be hoped hat the
Conference to Limit Armaments, now
in session in Washington will see this
clearly and be able to work out some
solution. The whole world Is anxious
to see a revision Of values-a differ
ence in viewpoint which will reduce
the staggering burdens of past wars
and preparation for future wars.
2. n figures given above indi-
cate that n of our great problems
Is that Of lessening il%literacy. The
wal revealed a startling condition in
that II out Of every four of the
men in service were illiterate. This
Is a serious Indictment Of our educa-
tional system. 1t will be necessary
to secure funds to carry out an eff
fective program OF Americanization
and to wipe out illiteracy. This is
not work of a philanthropic nature
but Is necessary to the preservation
Of our government. A government
such as ours. a government by the
people, cannot exist when the cleo
torate is uneducated or ignorant of
the duties. privileges and RESPONSE
bilities Of citizenship.
3. Many Of the friends of educa-
ton and those who have given seri-
GUS study and consideration to the
matter are convinced that the Town
e~r-Educational Bill now pending in
Congress. would be of inestimable
value to the cause of education. This
bill provides FOR a Department Of
Education with a Secretary in the
Presidents Cabinet. This bill would
lift education out OF the subordinate
position in which 1t has so long been
submerged and give it equal recogni-
ton with agriculture, commerce and
labor. each Of which has a secretary
in the presidents Cabinet. Among
the arguments advanced by the sup
porters OF the bill are the following:
(a) 1t would raise education to a
higher plane and give the profess
sion greater dignity. Instead of
education being looked upon as a
sort OF minor business, the new plan
would give to education the import
ant responsible position which right
fully belongs to 1t.
90 The National Government
through a Department Of Education
could help equalize the great differ
ence in educational opportunities
throughout the country by giving
financial aid 10 the different states
for educational purposes.
(c) While the details Of educa-
tional matters should be left almost
entirely in the hands OF individual
states and local communities. yet 1t
would ha nDaSih1a n n arry 1ut broad