Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1922-02-16
FEDERAL CONTROL OF EDUCATION

DR.. David Kinley, in an address following has installation a.
president of the University of Illinois recently, took Tor the sup
jet of his address THE Federal Control OF Education, ana IN
dealing with the subject issued the warning that II mas IN II tn
possibility of destroying the initiative and independence u every
school district in the state"
In the above quotation the people of this section in particular
and of the rural districts of Cascade county as a whole an ex
act counterpart of the results of the workings OF the unit school
system. Any time the control of education IS taken away from the
people of the community, education as a whole suffers, even
though the new plan may work out to the advantage u a smah
minority of the people at large. -.
" If this is so, as the great majority of the people of the Belt
Valley will agree it is, of the results of the workings OF the unit
school system, how much more true IS 1t apt 70 D II the educa-
tional system of the country should come under the control OF the
federal government. That federal control is not believed TO De
for the best interests of education as a whole by the leading educa-
tors of the country is shown by President kinleys remarks. he
says: IL
most astonishing facts of our history, is the most important ques-
ton of internal administration before the American people today.
eThis onward sweep of federal control is breaking down our
state authority. Are we to allow it to gain control over all the de-
tails of our local affairs? The invasion by federal authority IS
admitted. Shall we permit it to extend to the new field of edu-
cation or new methods which, to many seem sinister IN their fu-
ture influences? Shall we accept the doctrine that we are destined
to become a great continental democracy, governed in all important
activities from Washington, or shall we try to preserve the local
autonomy in communities and states which is necessary to our hp
critics? :,
Education is one of the matters not delegated to the federal
government by the constitution. 1t is a state function.
we are on the threshold of a new educational policy and
many citizens are raising the question about the wisdom OF edu,,
cational proposals now before congress. Inc class OF educationai
bills which now attract attention involves a different principle OF
federal aid than the principle involved in the land grant Of 1862.
Under this law the government allows the states or institutions TO
use their own discretion. The more recent S~mith-Lever and
Smith-Hughes acts, however, involves a principle which IS vicious
because it tends to undermine local authority in educational mat
The provision that the states viii match the federal appro-
priations with equal amounts contains within itself the germ OF
power that, when developed, will determine the extent and char
acter Of our education. 1t has in it the possibility of destroying
the initiative and independence Of every school district IN The
country
tiers have been brought before congress in the past two or three
to bills establishing a department of education and providing none
tary aid under prescribed conditions. 4