Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-02-08
PROTESTS AGAINST
FEDERAL CONTROL
OF EDUCATION
Wilmington Citizens Send Peti-
tions to Senators Wolcott
and Ball.
FEAR EFFECT ON SCHOOLS
Special Dispatch From Every Evenings
Washington Correspondent.

spec,al Dispatch FROM Every Evenings
Washington Correspondent
Wash. Feb. S.-Judging from the
number Of protests received from Will
mtngton citizens and also from citizens
of other parts of Delaware against the
proposed creation of n National Depart
ment of Education. the scheme is very
unpopular there Senator Wolcott ana
his colleague. Senator Ball. have re-
ceived a number of petitions from citi-
zens of all shades of religious and po-
litical faith uring them to use all the
influence at their command against
tho measure.
John +. Grant. Charles e. Grant,
Mother Augustine. presidnt of the
IJrsulene Community: George w. Bad
er. Fannie Z. Bader. John p. Forrest
and ]. T. Hoy. representing the Benev-
olent Pioneer Literary Association.
have Informed the two Senators that
they are unalterably opposed to the
plan. which. they believe, will involve
the national supervision OF all educa-
tional effort
The remonstrances of the Whining
ton citizens were referred to the COM
rnittee on education and labor. Since
these petitions were filed a number of
individuals at Dover. Georgetown, New
ark and other sections of Delaware
have added their protests. In all cases
the Senators are informed that in edu-
cational matters the United States gov
ernment should take no other course
than TO encourage all legitimate edu-
cational enterprise In all communities.
Ii is feared by some OF the Delaware
remonstrances that If the Federal gov
ernment takes control of tho education
system of the nation. localities will be
denied the right to train their children
az best suits their own needs. 1T is
impossible. they contend. that a COM
missioner of education administering
the proposed new department can have
more than a very scant knowledge of
local needs.
Mother Augustine is opposed 70 the
plan because she fears that interference
with the rights of parochial schools
might result. II would be difficult. II
is contcnded, to deal effectively with n
supervisor OF schools who has the back
ing and authority OF the United States
government: therefore, the States and
communities within the States should
be supreme when II comes TO training
the young.
Moreover, the Wilmington citizens
who are protesting, say that such a
department would encourage national
paternalism. and if paternalism is to be
exercised they say the States and COM
munitics within the States are most
competent TO exercise II. They are op-
posed also to the creation OF the new
department because they say it viii
place the schools in national politics.
This they regard as a calamity.
Senator Wolcott. in presenting the
remonstrances, made no. remarks and
offered no opinion as to their merits.
Senator Bah followed the same course.
They VIII study the proposed bill and
each will probably have something to
say later on.
Congressman Caleb Layton. however,
is outspolxen in support OF the remon-
strants. He said they were well within
their rights in protesting against the
creation OF the proposed new depart
ment and the farther the national gov