The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1921-04-13

"HE STATEMENT of Commissioner Claxton
of the Federal bureau of education that Gin
all our history we have spent only SIG, 645,-
100000 for education" while in 1920 alone "the
bill for luxuries of all kinds was $22 100000"
scores at leaststo the extent Of calling forth
preston of shocked surprise from the press. To
many it is "a rude awakening" as one paper
puts it, from our usual attitude of complasance
over our educational standards. A few writers
criticize the statistical comparisons as unfair ir
relevant, but on the whole the feeling is that the
commission has pointed out conditions about
which something ought to be DONE"
BY exposing the popular fallacy about the
cost of education in this country, the Pittsburgh
Leader believes that the commissioner Of edu-
cation is doing magnificent service" even though
set may hurt our pride to be told raw facts in a
raw way" One of the great American illusions, .
according to the Leader, is the claim that educa-
ton is more diffused, more general, more popular
in the United States than anywhere else in the
world. We not only say this, but we believe it so
well that we fail to see that we are deceving our
selves" Now the illusion is shattered by the cold
figures in which Commissioner Claxton illustrates
"the difference between what we say believe
about education and what we actually do to prove
what we believe" These figures convince the
Wheeling Intelligencer that from a financial
standpoint education in the United States is a
minor matter" AS this paper views it, 1--WE do not
have the satisfaction of being ahead Of other ma
lions either, since we rank ninth in education"
The "illusion" is apparently stronger in the
large cities, where public school systems are
highly developed, since representative newspapers
in two great cities come strongly to the de-
Tense of our educational standards. The Chicago
News comments Mr.. Claxton's efforts ito dis
sipate what he calls the great American delusion"
and grants that his comparisons are astonishing.
But it adds, "still the fact remains that Ameri-
cans pay more for education and research than
any other people on the face Of the EARTH" And
to the New York World "the more suggestive
thing" even in the face "of the showing that the
American people spent $22 00000,000 for luxuries
last year" is the fact that "they have spent an
average of $3.50, 900, 900 annually for fifty years
on institutions of Earnings" That record, the
World maintains, shows "a prodigious expenditure
for education" which mo other country can
match Furthermore the Claxton comparisons
are deceptive in its opinion, since they are bas
ed on tax returns on "luxuries" which are purely
an arbitrary distinction" for taxation purposes,
and which in many instances are really plain
necessities
From an analysis Oh THESE comparative StdIiSIiSo
to this position is that nation which can af-
ford to spend $22,7oo,Oooooo for Injuries in
single year can afford to be far more liberal than
America is in supporting public education Since
"the cornerstone Of democracy is popular educa-
ton" we cannot afford Ito be always bargain
hunting for cornerstones," and, the Pittsburgh
Sun adds the plain inference from the commits
soners figures is that education, the best invest
ment in the world" is ION the counter at bargain
rates."
From an anlysis of these comparative statistics
which show, among other contrasts that "in 1920
we smoked in cigars and cigarettes
three hundred millions more than used for all
educational purposes in 1918" that "our bill for
cosmetics and face powder was only twelve mil
lion less than the total amount expended public
elementary and secondary education" and that
1--WE paid almost hundred million more for jew |
elry in 1918 than for the salaries of all the ele
mentary and high school teachers in the country"
the Manchester Union draws the conclusion that
the idea that education is q luxury will have to